The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-05
Mentioned.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNroN.
WASHINGTON, June 4.-There is no
longer any reasonable doubt that the
President has fully determined to ask
Attorney-General Olney to accept the
State Department portfolio. The Presi-
dent has not intimated to Olney his pur-
pose. To other mem bers of the Cabinet,
however, he has stated in substance that
he should ask Olney to accept the place.
He is delaying the public announcement
in order that he might at the same time
name successor to Olney as Attorney
General.
1t is regarded as likely that Senator
Gray's visit to Washington may have
been In response to message from the
President, and it is possible he may have
been offered the Attorney -Generalship or
have been consulted thereon.
Cabinet officers after the meeting to-
day stated that no appointment has yet
boen made TO fill the vacancy.
Senator Gray of Deleware came over
from Wilmington to-day and went di-
rectly to the White House. Senator
Gray's visit was undoubtedly In response
to telegram from the President, who it
Is believed would not hesitate to offer
Mr.. Gray place in his Cabinet, were it
not for the fact that his retirement from
the Senate would almost certainly result
in the election of Republ successor.
Ii is thought that up to this time the
President has not definitely decided upon
Mr.. Olney's successor. A long list of
names are being discussed, but every
thing in that connection is purely specula-
tive. Ex-PostmasterG General Don NJ.
Dickinson, it is said, would be very
likely of appointment if he would ac-
cept. A possibility is Holmes Con-
rad of Virginia, the present Solicitor
General. He has the reputation of being
man Of brilliant legal attainments, and
enjoys the high regard of the mem bers of
the Supreme Court. The fact that Mr.
Conrad comes from Virginia, however,
may operate against his appointment,
but in case be is selected it is believed
that Mr.. hi, the present Assistant Sec
retary of State, would be a candidate for
the vacant r-Generalship. Mr..
Uhl was candidate for this place at the
time Mr.. Maxwell was appointed, and it
IS believed the change from the Depart
ment Of State to that of Justice would be
most agreeable TO him.
Richard Olney, who is now in all prob
ability to be advanced to the first place in
President Cleveland's Cabinet, has won
this distinction by the able service he has
thus far rendered the Presiden. on all
the more important questions that have
engaged public attention since the pres
ent Administration began. During tho
great strike at Chicago his services were
particularly notable. He developed each
step that the Government authorities
took, and President Cleveland was so
fully convinced of the wisdom of the
proposed policy that he gave it thorough
support and execution. In this ques-
ton Mr.. Olney was impelled by desire
to suppress disorder. He had shown in
another case his sincere respect for the
rights of labor. This was in a case of the
Reading Railroad, which sought to COM
pei one of its employees to either sever his
connection with a railway mems bene-
ficial organization or leave the company's
services. Although the Government had
no direct interest in the case, Mr.. Olney
secured the permission of the court to
present a brief on behalf of the en-
ployes, in which he held that the pro-
posed action of the company was against
Justice and right. The brief was marked
by a vigorous defense of the rights of la
bor to organize in any way it saw tit for
advancing its interests, so long as the
means We're peaceful and within the law.
The new Secretary OF State comes from
sturdy Puritan stock. His ancestor.
Thomas Olney, came from England and
SettleQ at Salein, MASS, IN Ii30. The
father of Richard Olney owned the cotton
mills at Roxford, and also engaged in
banking. His mother was a Sigourney.
descendant from French Huguenots, who
fled from France to this country. The
pew Secretary graduated from Brown
University in 1856, and from the Harvard
law school in 1858. He married Agnes.
daughter of Judge Benjamin f. Thomas,
with whom he studied law. They have
lived of late years at Boston, with sum-
mer residences near BuZzards Bay and
Gray Gables.
Mr.. Olney is man of medium hight
and robust form, and in general appear
ance he conveys the impression OF intense
vitality and physical endurance beyond
that of any man who has occupied the
position OF Secretary of State in recent
years. He has served one term in the
State Legislature Of Massachusetts.
In politics Mr.. OIney is an old-time
Democrat, but was unable to support Mr..
Butler for Governor. He did not take
part in the last Presidential campaign,
but rendered effective service to Mr.
Cleveland in an unobtrusive manner.
As lawyer, his success has been that of
a councillor, rather than that of an advo-
cate.