Evening star., 1895-05-28
THE VACANT OFFICE
Gossip as to the Probable Successor
to Mr.. Gresham.
SEVERAL GOOD NAMES SUGGESTED
Thirty Days Allowed the President
for Choice.
TO CONSULT PARTY LEADERS

1O SONC L L LEADE ND
In the act approved February 6, 1891
Congress changed the law effecting the
succession to such an office as is now
vacated by the death of Secretary Gresham
SO to read: "a vacancy occasioned by
death or resignation must not be temporar-
lily filed (under the three preceding sec
tions) for a longer period than thirty days"
The old law had limited the duration of a
temporary appointment in such cases to
ten days, but the President may now desig-
nate Mr.. Uhl to act as Secretary of State
for thirty days at most. In fact, that is
just what President Harrison did after
Secretary Blaine's resignation, for Mr..
Wharton acted under his designation as
Secretary of State for the full legal period,
and Secretary Foster was not appointed
| until the last of the thirty days.
Speculation ms to IA Successor.
There was great deal of speculation
today about the probable successor of the
late Secretary of State Gresham. Those
people who are nearest to the administra-
ton are very far from being able to sug-
gest any name that will probably be select
ed by President Cleveland. There half
dozen candidates, but, so far as is known,
no one has even permitted his friends to
say a word in his favor so shortly after
the death of the Secretary.
1t is not likely that any ambitious can
didate who would like to be Secretary of
State would permit his friends doing any
thing in his favor, at least until after the
funeral ceremonies have been performed
and the body of the late Secretary is in
tered There have been several instances
in which efforts have been made to boom
candidates before the body of the office
holder was cold, and Mr.. Cleveland has eX-
pressed himself very forcibly on the I'M
propriety of such conduct. Mr.. Cleveland's
views of such actions are known to be SO
strongly against over eagerness to fill
dead mans shoes that it is generally be-
Ieved that it would tend to hurt the
chances OF any, man to start any cam
palgn in his favor al this early day.
While Mr.. Cleveland may have his own
idea as to who he wishes to be his Secre-
tary of State. it is believed that he will
consult party leaders on this important
subject in order to secure the greatest ad-
vantage from political standpoint,
Wen as TO secure some one well qualified for
the important diplomatic duties involved
IN the office of Secretary of State.
Assistant Secretary UhI Suggested.
There is considerable talk about the pro-
n otion of Assistant Secretary of State Uhl
to fill Mr.. Gresham's place. Mr. Uhl is a
man of polished manners, of diplomatic IN
stinct and one who has taken most active
ment connected with the State Depart
ment since his occupancy of his present
office If there but few more
months for the administration to exercise
power there is little doubt that Mr. Ihl
would be promoted. The assistant secre-
terry has hosts of friends and he is as pop
ular with members of the cabinet with
whom he has had intimate relations as he
is with all persons who have transacted
business before the State Department. Mr..
Chl is a Michigan man and there is little
doubt that the congressional delegation
from his state would readily indorse his
promotion as just recognition of service
and of the merit system as we'll as an
honor which their state would appreciate.
hut it is not thought likely that Mr. Uhl
will secure this important position.
1t is generally believed that in making
his selection Mr.. Cleveland will keep in
view the giving of the appointment to a
section of the country not now represented
in the cabinet He will also want to
strengthen party unity.
Senator Gray Handicapped.
Senator Gray of Delaware has been men
toned as a possible successful candidate
to be Secretary of State. There is no pos
sibility of such choice. however To be
sure, Mr.. Gray has been one of the strong
est administration men in the Senate, and
he is regarded by Mr. Cleveland as not on
ly one of his most earnest supporters, but
as personal friend. But Mr.. Gray's cam
should he leave the United States Senate
his seat would be filled by republican. OF
the thirty memt of the state senate of
Delaware nineteen are republicans. Even
were the administration willing to lose Mr..
Gray's support in the United States Senate
in order to have him in the cabinet, it is
not at all probable that such a move would
be indorsed either by the democrats of
Delaware other party leaders. While
Mr.. Gray has taken an important part in
Senate debates on the Hawaiian and other
questions relating to foreign affairs of the
government there are many who regard
him as very far from being an ideal Secre-
tary OF State.
The old rumor that Mr.. Carlisle may be
transferred to the State Department is
again revived, but 1t has no foundation in
fact When Mr.. Gresham was talked of as
the probable successor of Justice Jackson
of the Supreme Court this story gained
considerable currency. But Mr.. Carlisle's
old reputation is that of a financier rather
than a diplomat and he would doubtless
regard any effort to transfer him to the
State Department as condemnation of
his administration of the finances of the
country.
Ambassador Bnyard.
Ambassador Bayard, who served Mr..
Cleveland Secretary of State in his first
administration, is regarded as a possibility
in the present emergency 1t is argued
that Mr. Bayard's residence abroad has
all the questions now between this country
and Great Britain and mas given him an
insight into present-day diplomacy that
few other available men possess. On the
other hand, it is argued that Mr.. Bayard's
knowledge of disputes between the United
States and England may be quite as we'll
employed as ambassador at the court of
ST. James as it would be as Secretary of
State.
Ambassador Eustis, who is regarded as
having positive ideas about firm Ameri-
can policy, is also named for the office
Although southerner, it is thought he
would please the north, but the fact of the
south having in Secretaries Hoke Smith,
Herbert and Postmaster General Wilson
three members in the cabinet, the idea of
a fourth member from that section is not
entertained.
Fears of Trouble With Dickinson.
Mr.. Don Dickinson is regarded as rather
too much at variance with the Presidents
ideas at the present time to be selected as