The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-07
Resigned His Judgeship and Took the
Oath of Gffice as Secretary of State.
Red Tape and Precedsnts Thrown Aside BY the
Judge. to the Surprise and Dismay Of Sub.
ordinates of the Department
All Members of Mr.. Cleveland's Cabinet
Promptly Confirmed BY the Senate.
Retiring Secretaries to Be Relieved To- Day or
o-MorrOw-Attsrney-G General Miller
Still Hard at Work.


NOW SECRETARY GRESHAM
The Judge Takes tho Oath of Onioe in
Hurry-No Tomfooicry for Him.
Epecial to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, March 6.-Judge Gresham
has formally taken the oath of office as Sec
retary of State and has entered upon the
duties of his new Office. The several formal
steps In the transition from Q private citi-
zen TO the head of Mr.. CleveIand's Cabinet
were all taken within the period of three
hours to-day. Promptly at 10 O'Clock the
nomination of Judge Gresham and the
other Cabinet officers was presented to the
Senate. Fifteen minutes later the Senators
emerged from an executive session and the
announcement was made that all of
the nominations had been confirmed
without the usuai reference to committees.
Thus was finally dismissed the talk at one
time INDUCED in that there would be oppo-
sltion to Judge Greshom's confirmation.
During the executive session not word
was said other than in commentator of
the appointments.
Mr. Cleveland was much pleased with
the speedy confirmation of the Cabinet At
1 o'clock he told Private Secretary Thurber
sworn in at once. while the swearing in of
the other Cabinet officers could go over
until tomorrow. The haste concerning
Judge Gresham was due to the fact that
next In Importance to the Cabinet appoint
ments are the first-class foreign mis-
sIons. which will probably be filled
the Arlington and notified Judge Gresham
of his confirmation and of the Presidents
desire to have him take the oath at once.
The Judge repaired 10 the State Depart
ment about o'clock. The officials had not
expected him, and there was considerable
agitation over his informal arrival Ofh-
cial red tape is very abundant In the State
Department. and the swearing in of the
Secretary is usually attended with all man.
ner of Ostentatious formallty. 1t was OK
pected that Judge Gresham would keep up
the record of diplomatic tOmfOOlery. Ihe
officials ex pected to receive him tomorrow
morning. They intended TO assemble ell
heads of bureaus, assistant secretaries and
high officers. Then o venerable Bible was
to be produced, aud q departmental relic
who has record of swearing in twelve
Secretaries was to administer the oath.
Then there was to be hand-shsking
made short work of all this programme.
He walked into the Secre tary's Office.
recently vacated by Mr.. Foster and tempor-
arliy occupied by acting Secretary What
ton. Assistant secretary AQ6o n6pp6DeQ
To be near and dropped in. But there was
no time for assembling the heads of
bureaus and bringing forth the venerable
Bible and venerable swearer-in.
"Ob, any notary public Will do to admin
lister the OATH" said judge Gresham. "He
is inst as fully qualified as any other otfi-
cer."
THE OATH ADMINISTERED.
Colonel Crook. q member of the White
House executive staff. who happened to be
present was notary public. so the cere-
mony proceeded without any further form
ality. Judge Gresham raised his right
hand and repeated the oath after tie notary
public. IL was quite dramatic, and the
Judge recited the words OF the oath with
the same compOsure that he would deliver
a decision of ON ordinary law case. The
oath was as follows:
Walter Q. Gresham, do soemnly swear that
/ will support and defend the Constitution OF
the United States against oil enemies. foreign
and domestic that will bear true faith and al
legiance to the same; that take this obligation
freely. without any mental reservation or pur-
pose of evasion, and that will we'll and faith
fully discharge the duties OF the office on which
am about to enter, so help me God.
Assistant Secretaries Wharton and Adee
bowed their heads while the oath was being
taken. and looked as though something
was going to happen. But 1t did NOT.
Judge Gresham. now Secretary Gresham
smiled and accepted the proffer of Mr..
Wharton, no longer acting Secretary Whar-
ton, TO take the large. easy leather chair
which Bayard. Blaine and Foster had used.
MIR. Wharton had already prepared the COM
mission Of Secretary Gresham. 1t was
written on parchment and sealed with the
seal of state. After talking for ten min
utes on various minor routine matters of
the department Judge Gresham withdrew
and returned to the Arlington. 1t was not
until after he had left the State Depart
H. -
had occurred. for the whole transaction
had not taken more than twenty minutes.
Judge Gresham to-day filed his resignation
as Judge of the Seventh Circuit Court, and
1t was accepted.
Ex-Attorney general Miller is etill at work
performing his late official duties. He ex-
poets to be relieved of his Office tomorrow,
vet to-day he was before the Supreme
COurt arguing government interests. Mr.
Miller and his family intend leaving Wash
ington on next Friday or Monday for their
home at Indianapolis. There have been
few men who have disch ar ged the duties of
Attorney general of the United States with
as much intelligence. fidelity and general
satisfaction as has Mr.. Miller.
Colonel LAMONT had n brief interview
this morning with Secretary Elkins in re-
aard TO several important matters pending
in the War Department. Secretary Elkins
partment until Wednesday afternoon,
when Secretary-eleCt Lamont will relieve
him.
Secretary Tracy took formal leave of the
Navy Department this afternoon. He
visited his Office earlv this morning, and,
after arranging some minor details, was
joined by Secretary ELECT Herbert. and the
two gentlemen were in conference for more
than an hour. At - o'clock Secretary
Tracy received the chiefs of divisions and
clerks of the department.. and. taking the
hand of each. said goodbye" After the
formal leave-taking the clerks were intro
duced to Secretary -elecr Herbert. who
stood behind General Tracy. There was
no speechmaking or presentations.
Secretary Foster. of the Treasury Depart
ment. was presented this afternoon with
set of resolutions signed by all the princi-
pal officials of tie Department. together
with handsome album containing their
portraits, as testimonial of the regard in
which he Is held by his subordinates. The
resolutions, beautifully eD2rossed. were
presented In the pr ssence of the officials by
Assistant Secretary o. L. Spaulding. in an
appropriate address. tS which Secretary
Foster happily responded. Mr.. Carlisle
called at the Department and had an ex-
tended conference with Secretary Foster.
AS now arranged, Mr.. Carlisle Will be
sworn In as Secretary of the Treasury
Wednesday morning
Mr.. Elkins will leave Washington to-
morrow for West Virginia TO visit his
father, who Ia lying i'll there.
Possmas general Wanamaker will
leave Washington Wednesday evening for
q tour of California and Mexico.
Josiah Quincy VIII Assist Gresham.