The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-02-10
Judge Gresham Said to Have Been
rendered the Premiership Under
Cleveland.
Also Reported That He Has Accepted
and Will Soon Resign His
Judgeship.
Some OF the Reasons for the Appoint
ment-Judge Gresham Not
Talking.

CHICAGO. Feb. 10.--A special to The
Herald from New York says:
Judge Walter @. Gresham, of CHI
cago, is to be secretary of state in the
Cleveland administration. This fact
has become known here during the day
to few persons. The offer of the post
has been made to Judge Gresham and
he has accepted. Mr.. Cleveland him
self will make the fact known in day
or two This selection will be sure to
create some sarprise when it becomes
l Gresham to Leave the Bench.
The rumor that Gresham was offered
the place was circulated here some time
ago, and was received with incredulity
by many Democrats. They did not
deem it possible that Mr.. gClevelend
would 20 outside the ranks Of his party
for secretary of state and did not
think that Judge Gresham would ac-
cept even if the tender was made him.
But the unexpected has happened and
Judge Gresham will in two weeks re-
sign his seat on the bench and prepare
to remove to Washington to take up his
duties as secretary of state. Thus a
man who four years ago was candi-
date for the Republican presidential
nomination is to become premier under
the incoming Democratic administra-
ton.
Mr.. Clcvcland's Idea.
Guax-aln,Nlfn
first has been that in the selection of a
secretary of state he did not propose to
stand strictly by party limits. He has
all along said that he wanted the best
man tibet could be found in the coun-
try. He wanted man strong and
learned, of perfect personal and public
! integrity, and one who held 10 an un-
usual degree the confidence, of the peo-
pie. This idea was more closely filed
by Judge Gresham than by any other
man Mr.. Cleveland could think of.
While Mr.. Cleveland was in this
frame of mind Judge Gresham hap
pened to come to the city. 1t is not
known whether he came by invitation
of Mr.. Cleveland or not, but it is known
that he was called upon bv Mr.. Whit
ney at his hotel and that Mr. Whitney
informed Judge Gresham that his name
had been under consideration for secre-
tary of state.
Judge Gresham Was Surprised,
and said to. Mr.. Whitney that he could
not think it possible he was in earnest.
But Mr.. Whitney urged the Judge to
call on M. Cleveland, and within an
hour or 80 an invitation from Mr..
Cleveland to the Judge to call at his
house was presented by messenger.
Judge Gresham did call on Mr.. Cleve-
land, and man who knows something
ofewhat took place at that interview
said that the call was of two hours
duration, but that he did not believe
the matter of the cabinet was directly
mentioned at that time. The two men
had never met and they spent a pleasant
two hours discussing the general potiti-
cal situation, and the favorable impress
sion which Mr.. Cleveland had already
formed of his visitor was confirmed by
this interview.
Presented BY Dickinson.
Shortly after Mr.. Dickinson made a
trip to Chicago and carried Mr.. Cleve-
lands offer. Judge Gresham was not
surprised at it, for, as already said, he
had had intimations that Mr.. Cleveland
might tender him the post. He did de-
cline in most positive terms. 1t is re-
ported here that his words were: ''Mr.
Cleveland cannot afford to offer me this
place, and cannot afford to take it.
Mr.. Cleveland then asked Senator
Gray, of Delaware. to take the secre-
taryship of state, but Senator Gray,
who had just been reelected by his leg
islature, declined. Mr.. Cleveland then
Turned Again to Judge Gresham,
and the astute and seductive Don M.
Dickinson was once more sent ON a
secret mission to Chicago. Finally
Judge Gresham was persuaded to ac-
cept. He did SO only when Mr.. Cleve-
lands great need and the country's
great need of his services was pointed
out to him. The argument which had
most effect with Judge Gresham was
that the new administration would be
brought face to face some of the most
important questions of the age, ques-
tons of delicate and possibly danger
ous nature, involving the peace and
welfare of the country, and that the
new president had almost a right to
command the services OF any dis
tinguished citizen whom he might
think most available for the duty of the
hour. With much reluctance Judge
Gresham gave his consent and Mr..
Dickinson carried the news back to this
% city, greatly to his own and Mr.. Cleve-
lands delight.
DISCUSSED IN WASHINGTON.