Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-05
HEIR TO THE THRONE.
Gresham Knocked Out by. His Ha-
waiian Course.
President Cleveland and Abe Lsndis-jug.
cling with The Truth.

WAsHrsGTos. d. c., Jan. 4. Especially
For several months n most vigorous and
persistent effort has been made to induce
President Cleveland to appoint civilianto
the post of paymasteS in the army. Though
large number of Democratic senators, in
Vulnerable congressman and the governors
VI thirteen states have asked Mr.. Cleveland
To appoint a certain man to one OF the va
cant paymasterships the president still
stands out, on the principle that none but
army officers should be appointed TO posts
in the army. An exceedingly interesting
story lies behind this matter. Itruns back
to the days when Mr. Cleveland was gov
ernor Of New York. Among his boon CON-
panions at that time, o member of the Fort
Orange club OF Troy, n. Y, and a man who
was famous for his devotion to the well
known Fort Orange punch-with which
beverage he was able TO drink all corners
under the table-was Mr. Abe Landis
When Mr. Cleveland was promoted from
the governorship Of New York to the presi-
dency he took occasion to remark to Mr..
Lands: "a be, old boy, If there is anything
| can do for you do not hesitate to let me
know what it is. Anything You ask will be
granted for the sake of the good times we
have had together" Mr. Cleveland did not
anticipate the EN- Embarrassment this generous
promise was TO bring him. Ithappened that
Mr. Lands had in the war department i'll
this city q brother who had been mere
clerk for ~ years. 1t was his ambition to
be promoted to captaincy, and, OF course,
he wrote to his brother Abe to see what
could be done in that line. Abe approached
Mr. Cleveland and reminded him of his
promise, and said his brother would make
u very nice captain in the army.
A white House Tradition.
Mr.. Cleveland thought it could be ar
ranged without any trouble. But after he
came to Washington and gave the mattera
little attention hc discovered there was in
the army deep seated antagonism to the
appointment of civilians to army posts.
Abe Landis' brother had been so long n
clerk in the commissary department and
had been ordered and cursed about by so
many army ofiicers-for it is the habit of
the officers Of the army to make life miser
able for their interiors that it was n seri-
Gus question if Mr.. Lands could obtain any
standing in the army, even il he were APP
pointed u captain Moreover, he was at
that time 81 years old and would be en-
titled to retirement in eight years with
ample pay and allowances.
This look ed SO much like n soft thing for
the brother Of Abe lands that in the end
Mr. Cleveland found it necessary to write
to Abe and tell him the appointment could
not be made From that day to this the
most strenuous efforts have been made to
induce Mr.. Cleveland to appoint. Il civilian
to the one of the posts in the army. The
paymasterships IRE always in demand, and
men with the highest sort of Endorsements
and the most promising character of back
ing have appealed in vain for a breaking of
the rule. efg ~ fEf
1t is tradition of the White House that
till Abe Lands dies and the president is
thus relieved Of his promise no civilian will
be appointed to n post in the army. In this
instance Secretary Lamont is much grieved
by the firm stand which the president
takes. Mr. Lamont has a number of friends
In the city of New York and elsewhere Cor
whom he woald like to obtain appoint
ments as paymasters in the army, but until
the president breaks his rule and violates
the spirit Of the answer given to Abe Ian
dis, his old crony of the Fort Orange club,
Dan Lamonts friends will wait in vain.
Thus it happens that Secretary Lamont
has joined hands with the friends of the
most prominent of the civilian candidates
for appointment to army paymastersaips,
on the theory that if the rule can once he
broken n large number of appointments in
that direction will be sure to follow. 1t is
safe to wager that Mr.. Cleveland will have
his way about the matter, and that no civil
ian, no matter how strong his political
backing, will bre3k in at the back door Of
the army.
All the Way From Wall Street.
One of the queer phases OF life in Wash
ington is the frequency with which the
most startling stories come to this capital
from Wall street. For instance. one day
last week story came over from the street
to the effect that Mr.. Cleveland was losing
his mind. As the tale went, he had been
inveigled into a hunting trip by the mem
bers OF his cabinet, who were anxious TO
conceal from the public the real condition
Of their chief As the story continued, Mr..
Cleveland was losing his mind, had, in fact,
already lost it, a,d was sitting in the pres
idential chair as a mere wreck of his former
self
How such stories started in the first
place or where set in circulation is not
known But there is no truth whatever in
them. The president is not ill, mentally
or physically. He has not lost his mind.
It is not necessary for his friends of the
cabinet to step in and protect him against
discovery. It is true that the president is
feeling the strain under which he has
labored for number of years, just as
many business asd professional men in
time are made conscious of the fact that
they have worked too hard and must have
rest. But aside from triling WEAKNESS
or lowering Of the tone of his physical and
nervous constitution, Mr.. Cleveland is well
and hearty. How Wall street ever got
such ideas into its rattly head is one of the
mysteries Of the week.
Heir to the Throne.
Last week story went the rounds that
the president and Secretary Gresham had
had d quarrel. and that there was to be a
disruption OF the cabinet. As the tale ran.
the secretary of state had come to the con-
clusion that his Hawaiian policy was not
popular in the country, and that the best
thing he could do would be to resign. 1t
was said that he had been induced to take
this course more especially by the fact that