People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1893-02-24
A Correspondents Discovery.


Apropos Of the current Cabinet
gossip a good story is told Of the way
in which the selection of Hoke Smith
for the interior Department became
known. The first newspaper man to
get the news was Mr.. Stealey, Of the
Coamer-Joaunaz. While it was sup
posed that Mr.. Stealey obtained his
information from Mr.. Carlisle, such
was not the case. 1t happened this
way: Mr.. Stealey was strongly advo-
eating Col. Morrison for the Interior,
and he made q trip to New York
especially to see Mr.. Cleveland in be-
half Of the formers appointment.
Mr. Cleveland listened attentively to
all Mr.. Stealey said in regard to the
good qualities of Col. Morrison for a
Cabinet position, and, indeed, In
dorsed his arguments, but told Mr..
Steoley e-sH'1gh TO satisfy him te@t
Col. Morrison was not in it. He
came back to Washington and told,
among others, MRS. Carlisle, who was
also a strong advocate of Morrison,
the result Of his interview. Mrs.
Carlisle never had q doubt of Morri-
son going to the Cabinet. She could
not see how Cleveland could pass by
such splendid man and good old
line Democrat. SO notwithstanding
Mr.. Stealey's story she was SO conf
dent that she bet him pair of gloves
that Morrison would be Secretary of
the Interior. The next day Mr.. Car
Isle went to New York, and the part
ing words Of his wife were: "You
tell Mr.. Cleveland that if I were not
sick [ would have come with you,
just to urge him to put Col. Morrison
in the Cabinet" Mr.. Carlisle deliv-
cred her message, and also strongly
urged Mr.. Cleveland to give him
Morrison as yokemate in the Cab
met, but it was not to be so. Mr..
Carlisle returned from New York
Sunday morning, and on that evening
Mr.. Stealey called to hear the latest.
He found Mr.. Carlisle unusually nerv-
Gus and reticent. When Stealey ap-
preached Cabinet topics Carlisle
tried to change the subject. Stealey
was persistent, and finally Carlisle
said:
"Now, Stealey, you know I would
tell you anything in reason, but you
ought not expect me to divulge con-
tidential matters of this kind which
passed between Mr.. Cleveland and
myself"
every well, them" said stealey,
''but you can tell me whether or not
Morrison is going in the Cabinet"
ono, he is not" said Carlisle.
Stealey thrust both hands deep
down into his pockets, muttered, otis
a bad break" and walked up stairs,
where he found Mrs. Carlisle, to
whom he said:
"Well, the ex-senator tells me that
our friend Morrison is not in it.
eyes," answered Mrs. Carlisle,
"and if it is true, which I don't be-
lieve, it is shame-a downright
shame"
A pause here for about minute,
when Mrs. Carlisle turned round and,
facing Mr.. Stealey, said:
"NTr. Stealey, [ want you to tell
me who this man Hoke Smith is, any
how. I never heard of him in my
life"
This knocked Stealey out, but he
kept his wits, and repeated, "Hoke
Smith p
eyes, Hoke Smith; this man who
is going to get the place | wanted for
Col. Morrison"
"Oh!" said Stealey, the whole
thing flashing through him like a
revelation. "Hoke Smith, why doke
Smith, certainly. I ought to know
Hoke Smith. Of course I do. Hoke
Smith is a Georgia lawyer, and edi-
tor of the Atlanta Journal"
And this is how the Coetrier-Joan--
nal was the first newspaper in the
country to announce that Mr.. Hoke
Smith, Of Georgia, would be in the
Cabinet of Dir, Cleveland.