The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-06
TO the Democratic Throne We're
1t Not
For His Record on the Hawaiian
Question.
W WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
"a Fairy Story About q Cabinet
Disruption.


a large number Of Democratic senators, in
Vulnerable coneressrnen and the governors
of thirteen states have asked Mr. Cleveland
to appoint certain man to one Of the VA
cant paymaste rships the president still
stands ont on she principle that none but
army officers should be appointed to posts
in the army All exceedingly interesting
story lies behind this matter. 1t runs back
to the days when Mr. Cleveland was gov
ernor if New York Among his boon com
panions at that time a mem bero IF the Fort
Orange club Of Troy. nv. n, and q man who
was famous for his devotion to the well
known Fort Grange punch-with which
beverage he was able to drink all corners
under the table-was MIR. IA Zoe Lands.
When Mr.. Cleveland was promoted from
the governorship Of New York to the presI-
dency he took occasion to remark to Mr..
Landiss ABE, old boy, If there is anything
can IT'S for YOU DO not hesitate TO let me
know what Is is Anything you ask viii be
granted for the sake Of the good times we
have had together" Nlr- Cleveland did not
anticipate the EN- oarrassnent this generous
promise was to bring him. at happened that
SIR. Lands had in the war department IN
this city q brother who had been a mere
clerk far=27 wears. 1t was his ambition to
be promoted tx a captaincy and. Of course,
he wrote to lis 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
a very nice captain in the army
a white House Tradition
Mr.. Cleveland thought it could be
ranged without any trouble. But after he
came to Washington and gave the matter
little attention be discovered there was in
the army a deep seated antagOnism to the
appointment If civilians to army posts
"A be Lands brother had been so long 4
clerk in the commissary department and
fia-sna mn 1 ry- 1fa
many army offcers-for it is the habit OF
the officers of uhe army to make life miser-
able for their inferiOrs-that it was seri-
Gus question ia MIR Lands could obtain any
standing i'll the army. even if he were APP
pointed captain Moreover he was at
that time So years old and would be en-
titled TO Retirement i'm eight years with
ample pay ana allowances.
This looked So much like a soft thing for
the brother OF Abe Lands that IN the end
Mr. Cleveland found it necessary to write
to Abe and TEA him the appointment could
not be made From that day to this the
most strenuous efforts have been made to
induce AIr. Cleveland to appoint civilian
70 the enc Of the posts ia the army The
payma sterships are always FIN 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.
lilo IA Il tradition of THE White House that
tin Abe Lands dies and the president is
thus relieved Of his promise no civilian viii
be appointed To q post ia the army. In this
instance Secre larry Lamont lis much grieved
by the firm stand which the president
takes. Nr. Lamont has number offriends
in the city OF New York and elsewhere for
whom be would like TO obtain appoint
meuts as payIra Aters ia the army butt until
the president breaks bis rule and violates
the spirit Of the answer given to Abe Ian
dis, his old crony Of the Fort Orange club,
Dan i4amOnt's friends viii wait IN vain.
Thus it happens that Secretary Lamont
has joined hands with tie friends Of the
most PROMINENT of the civilian candidates
for appontmeat to army paymasterships
on the theory that if the rule can once be
broken q large nnm ber Of appointments in
chat direction VIII be sure to follow 1T is
safe 70 wager that Mr.. Cleveland will have
his way about the matter. and thatnO civil
ian. ne matter how strong his political
backing. will break Tia ut the back door OF
The army.
AN the Way from wan Street.
Ona Of the cneer phases of life in Wash
kngton IS the frequency with which the
most startling stories come to this capital
from y ali street For instances. one day
last week q story came over from the street
30 the effect that mr. Cleveland was losing
his mind. As She Gale went. he had been
inveigled into hunting trip BY the mem
bers of his CO binet, who were anxious to
conceal from the public the real condition
of their chief. -As The story continued. Mr.
Cleveland was losing bis mind, had. ia fact,
already lost 1T and was sitting il the pres
ldentIal chair as q mere wreck OF his former
self
How such stories started in the first
place or We're set it'll circulation IL not.
known. But there IS no truth whatever ia
them The president is not i'll. mentally
or physically II e has not lost his mind
At rs nCI necessary for his friends of the
cabinet TO step in and protect him against
Il ia t1,