The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-08
One Of his Confidential Messengers and Lobby
lists Informed that He Could Not Influence
Single Vote in the House.
Evidence that the President-Elect Erred
in Sending Willard to Washington.
The Schemer Not Liked by IllinOisans-Hil
Interestin the Secretaryship Of the Interior
-Morss, Shanklin and Bynum Triumph
CLEvELAND's LATEST MISTAKE.

The Unpopular Henry Willard Fails In Hi
Mission to Influence Representatives.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. THE first result OF
the knockout blow which a majority of the
elect Cleveland's autocratic command that
this Congress must repeal the Sherman
silver-purchasing act was the appearance
to-day in the corridors of the Capitol of o
special courier from Mr.. Cleveland in tue
person of Henry Willard. It is understood
that Mr.. Willard will be Joined either lato
tonight or tomorrow morning by Don NJ.
Dickinson, the other confidential courier,
who brought to Washington q week ago
Mt. Clevelsnd's uitimstum on the SILVER
question. Mr.. Willard occupied himself to-
day with calling members of the House out
of that chamber and impressing upon
them, in the name of Mr.. Cleveland. the
necessity of repeating the Sherman acr. or.
at least, of having the Democrats of the
House vote in favor of such repeal. there
by supporting MIR. Cleveland in his effort
to throw upon this administration tho re-
sponsibllity of settling the question. One
of the last members W HON Mr.. Willard thus
importuned this afternoon was q we'll
known Democrat Mr.. Willard introduced
himself to this Democrat In the corridor.
and dwelt upon Mr.. Cleyeland's anxiety for
the repeal of the Sherman act.
"Oh. yes, Mr.. Willard" said the member
from Illinois, although have never met
you before, /. of course. have heard of you.
and know we'll who You are Les me tell
you that If Mr.. Cleveland wishes TO influ-
ence votes In this House on the silver Ques-
tion he had better send to the capital al
his representative re Col. 'Bilp Nor rrison, OF
Illinois. He. better than any other man.
can straigbten out the tangle. You, Mr..
Willard, cannot influence a sir gle vote.
Good day, sir :" and with this the Illinois
man turned on his heel and disappeared
through the doors which MIR. Wizard had
not the privilege to pass.
Behind this curt interview there lies q
meaning which bears directly upon the
construction OF the next Cabinet. There
is no doubt in the minds of the friends Of
Chairman Morrison, of the Interstate-com-
merce Commission. that he was positively
slated month ago for Secretary OF the In
terror. They finally discovered the
African In the wood. pile. The op-
position to Colonel Morrison came.
they learned, principally from Mr..
Willard, Carl Schurz and Colonel Lamont
II.
lard. and his interest In the appointment
of the Secretary of the Interior Is attrib-
uted, by the friends of Mr.. Morrison, to the
fact that the Northern Pacific railroad
still has something like %. 5.0O0 600 acres OF
land grants TO which the title of that cor
poration is not clear. and which will prob.
ably be the subject of Investigation by
special commission. and which will almost
certainly be discussed In Congress. A
Secretary of the Interior of plant disposl.
tiOn could. in his reports and by hie rul.
ings favor Mr. Wizards railroad interests.
A eecretary of firm and unbending charac'
ter might be the cause of much trouble fol
friends Of Colonel Morrison are claiming.
may be found the motive underlying Mr..
Vlllard's opposition TO Mr.. Morrison.
In this connection it Is of In teFest to learn
from Democratic sources that the reason
why Mr.. Cleveland decided not to give q
OF Indiana, was because of the united pro-
test of John q. Shankln. editor of the
Evansville Courier; Samuel Z. Morss, editor
of the Indianapolis Sentlnel-the two
Democratic papers In Indiana that con-
spiouously favored the nomination Of MIR.
Cleveland In opposition to the candidacy
of Gray-and of Representative Bynum.
Mr.. Cleveland's decIsIon not to take MIR.
Gray into his Cabinet is. it is said, the
cause of annoying embarrassment to Mr..
Whitney, who at the Chicago convention
positively promised Cabinet place 20 Mr..
tion. as an inducements for Mr.. Gray to with
draw. 1t is said that the mission to the
Argentine Republic. which was four years
ago given by Mr.. Cleveland to Bayless w.
Hanna. of Indiana. will be offered to Mr..
Gray. 1t is reported that A. NE viilsrds % fiIss
Smith, of Georgia. but Mr.. Willard also has
q candidate from Wyoming.