The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-28
TWAIN TO MISS CLEVELAND.
Together They Exercise Pull on the
Administration in Behalf of Con-

AumAulsJraClon IN 6ena41 OF Con-
sui.
From the Chicago Record.
Washington, Dec. l6.-Mark Twain has
a pull with the administration That
has been demonstrated. He has a bigger
pull than Secretary Gresham, Josiah
Quincy and the democratic delegation of
Illinois put together Last snmmef. when
Mr. Quincy was engaged in his herculeac
labors in the cause of reform, he offered
prominent German of Illinois "a certain
place in the consular service, which
had been and still is occupied by one OF
the most efficient men ON the rolls of the
government. The removal and appoint
ment were made out with the concurrence
of Secretary Gresham, and Mr.. Quincy
took them over to the white house for, the
Presidents approval. But he brought
them back unsigned and with instruc-
tions to inform the consul in question
that he might make his arrangements TO
stay at his post as long as Grover Cleve-
land was president Of fhe United States.
The Secretary oftherStatee never knew
the reason for the Presidents action, but
it has since leaked out that it was due 10
a letter written by Mark Twain while he
was in Europe last summer. He had fire.
quently visited the place where this
consul is stationed, and knew HIM very
we'll One day he called at the consulate
and found his friend packing up his books
and papers for shipment home. He had
not been removed, but had received no
tice that his successor might be named
any day. This suggested discussion Of
the tenure of Office in the consular service,
and when Mark Twain returned TO his
hotel he sat down and wrote d letter to
Baby Ruth Cleveland on the subject.
II am mugwump,n he said, and |
cannot ask the President any favors. 1t
would be a violation of our creed, but
there is no reason why should not ask
you to say him that, in all my travels
throughout the world, during the last
twenty years, | have made the acquaint-
ance of a great many e0nsuls, good, bad
and Indifferent, and IhaNe never known
a better one than Mr.. So ana So, who has
just received notice that his place is
wanted for some experienced man. simply
because he is a republican or the other
fellow is democrat.
Here followed a review of the record
of the consul in. question:, a description
of the peculiar qualifications which fitted
him for the place, and Mr.. Twain views
as mug Wump concerning the manner
in which Assistant Secretary Quincy
was carrying on the work of reform by
turning out all the republicans in the
service and filing their places with demo
Gratis, regardless of their efficiency or
qualifications. In conclusion ne asked
Baby Ruth to use her influence with her
father to stop that sort of thing, and
particularly to prevent Mr.. from
being slaughtered like the rest.
The letter was posted, and in about
three weeks there came a reply written
on the stationery of the executive man
sion, in which Miss Ruth Clevement pre-
sented her compliments to MIR. Twain
and begged to say that she had commu-
nicated the contents of the letter to the
President. who desired her to thank him
for having brought the matter TO his at
tention, and to assure him that the gen
tieman of whom he wrote would be al
lowed to remain in ONCE as long as he
performed his duties as faithfully as he
had done in the past.