The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-09

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DON NJ. DICKINSON
matte. Mr.. Dickinson is IL bundle of nerves
dc moves, talks thinks, decides, acts with
great rapdity. His nervous forces are nm
der high pressure all the time Extremes
certainly have met in this rare and close
friendship.
A Political Adviser
1t is an open secret in the higher political
circles here that Mr.. Dickinson enjoys the
rare distinction of being Il man who refused
to take the secretaryship of state when it
was urged upon him by a president elect
Tor whom he entertained the warmest feel
1ngs of friendship and admiration Dick
1nson fairly worships Mr.. Cleveland He
thinks the president the greatest man that
was ever born i'll this western hemisphere
The president has almost as high an opin-
Ion OF his friend from Michigan. After the
campaign of last year was over, and Mr.
Cleveland had begun to look around him
Tor Il cabinet, he asked Don Dickinson to
become one of his official advisers He of
tered him his choice of the places and final
~ urged him to accept the state port folio.
But Mr.. Dickinson had had his fill Of Off
clal honors. He declined again and again
80 take any office under this administru.
ton. He refused to be moved from his pur-
OF number of years Of hard work mt his
profession for the honor of being postmaster
general under the former Cleveland admin
lstratlon, and that his present duty was to
return to his profession and make some
money for his family. Bat while he could
not accept Office himself, he did the next
best thing by helping Mr.. Cleveland form
the cabinet. The manner in which the
present cabinet was made up was due more
to the influence of Mr.. Dickinson than to
that of any other single man. the president
alone excepted
1t was Mr.. Dickinson who engineered
what was one of the greatest surprises the
political world has known for Il long time
the selection of Mr.. Gresham to he sccrc-
tary OF state Mr.. Dickinson was from the
very first i'll favor OF this somewhat radical
departure. He argued that the time had
come when the Democratic party could af-
ford 10 go outside the lines OF strict party
service and by recognizing men who had
been i'll sympathy with the party but not
members of it, attract still Tiers to follow
their example. In other words, Nh Dickin.
son believed the party could with profit
reach out for the ablcst and most distin-
guished men who had become dissatisfied
with the rival party and bring them into
the fold. Though Mr.. Cleveland was him
self the originator of the Gresham idea Mr.
Dickinson encouraged him in it and went
to Chicago to urge the judge TO accept the
Office.
lie Confounded His Enemies.
During last years campaign Dick inson
was very important man at the national
Democratic headquarters. Such energy as
he evinccd, such display of gencralship
and mastcrful activity, have rarely been
equaled in the history of campaigning
,J ha
thought Mr. Dickinson was swinging too
wide a swath. who did not like the Influence
which he had over the candidate and vino
were Tree 10 predict that the Michigan man
was SIMPLY working to get back into the
cabinet i'll case of MI C!evelands re-plcc-
ton. But Dickinson paid no heed to these
3ealousies and even when ugly remarks
were made about him by men associated
With him OH the committee, and malicious
tales were put iii circulation, he KEEP, his
temper, went on with his work and bdcd
his time. 1t must have been Il source of
great satisfaction to him to he able to re-
fuse the highest Office within Mr.. Cleve-
lands gift, and thus to confound his enc
mics. And it must be n source of still
greater satisfaction to him now to be able
to come down to Washington. virtually
take up his residence at the White House
for several days at a time, to be Mr. Cleve-
lands companion and confdant, to enjoy
the honor and influence of being "the power
behind the throne" without any of the cares
and annoyances of official life.
The Presidents Health.
There is great deal of gossip in Wash
!ngton concerning the health of Mr. Cleve-
land. Every once in awhile stories are set
In circulation that the president has had AN
attack OF cancer or of some other virucnt
dlsease. These stories contain but very lit
tie OF truth. Usually they are nanufac-
cured largely out of the Imagination, Orarc
suggested by state of facts for which the
newspaper writers are unable quickly to
md any other explanations Your CORE
spondent Is able TO state Oh satisfactory mn
thority that Mr. Cleveland's bodily health
is all right. He is in good condition. But
1t is ut the same time true that he is show
ing signs nf the mental wear ard tear 10
which he has been subjected during the last
10 years. There are unwclcomc evidences