Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-11-26
H. C. Payne and the Cabinet.

special friends and sycophantic adj
mirers it is the practically unanl-
nous sentiment that the appoint
ment of Henry G. Payne to cabinet
position would be impolitic. This
sentiment unquestionably pervades
the newspaper men Of the state very
generally, yet but few of the local
papers have the temerity to voice it,
there being a feeling that to antago-
nize Mr.. Payne is useless, that he is
invincible and sure to win whatever
he aspires to, for himself or others;
and that whoever appears In OPP
position to him Is destined to be
turned under politically. In view
Of this condition, il seemed that Mr..
Payne's elevation to place in Presi-
dent Mex inley's cabinet, Of which
there has been much said through
the press, was only contingent upon
whether or not he desired It, There.
fore, the positive and strong declar-
alton Of the Milwaukee Sentinel in
opposition to Mr.. Payne's appoint
ment is significant and likely to be
potential Under the bold yet judi
cious lead Of the Sentinel, the local
press of the state may be encouraged
to speak fully, In which case it must
appear to President Mckinley that
Wisconsin republicans are not clam
oring to have Mr. Payne seated in
the cabinet. The Sentinel's article
in full is as follows:
ut Is commonly supposed, though
of course it has nowhere been given
out with authority, that Mr.. Henry
q. Payne IL likely TO be Il member Of
Mr.. Mex inley's cabinet. There is
every reason TO believe that MIR.
Payne would 10 the work Of post
mastcr-genera almost as well as II Is
ever dOue ana better than the aver
age official does Il, Mr. Payne has
in m unusual degree executive
ability, skill in getting out Of his
subordiuates the best that Is in them,
knowledge of men, familiarity with
large undertakings, power as an or
y
would help him to do easily and well
the work Of postmastergener
Some OF the prejudice, moreover,
which exists against Mr.. Payne de-
serves 10 be utterly disregarded.
Before the Milwaukee Street railway
strike began last spring he refused
to grant certain requests made by
the street railway employees. This
he had il right TO do. During the
strike ne evinced both pluck and
good ,elnper-a combination both
admirable and rather unusual.
Though all sorts OF persons under
TOOK 20 manage his business for him,
he lus, patience only once, and then
under the strongest kind Of provo
cation. Toward the former en-
ployees OF the Street Railway COM
pany, even when the ears were be-
ngObstructed aud the new employees
being stoned, he was uniformly
courteous, ready 70 confer with then
and 10 hear what they had TO pro-
pose. The man whose objection to
Mr.. Payne's appointment 70 II place
ia Mr.. McKiutey's cabinet IS based
on Mir. Payne.s conduct during the
strike must be either little COW
afdly or more than Il little foolish.
And yet. admitting his many
qualifications, and aware that many
ut his critics are extremely unfair,
we nevertheless think it would be
uuWise To make him member of
Mir. Mckinlcys cabinet. Mr.. Payne
has been appointed to business po-
stions because OF the influence lie
conid exert over members of legs-
lative bodies, anxious not to mar
their POLITICAL career BY offending il
political power. While member OF
the Republican National committee,
holding u position which had been
given 10 him Tor the party's good
and not for his own, he has appeared
before legislative bodies asking them
to do 81 70 leave undone certain
things, according To his wishes and
To the wishes of the corporations
which employed him. Ii il nnpos-
sible that his position as a party
leader should not have given him an
influence in shaping such legislation
which MI. Payne WOULD not have
had without the positions. This
alliance between politics and private
or corporate interests II not uncom-
mon to be sure, but its communness
only makes it the more miscellaneous.
Both parties have been guilty of
countenancing II, and it should be
eonntenanced no longer. In the long
run il il bound to lnjure amy party
which has even the appearance Of
sanctioning 1t, to weaken public con-
iidence IN that party's singleness Of
purpose.
Believing that this alliance il inn
proper, that it is bad for the com
mnnity which tolerates it, that il is
IN offence against the public. We
therefore believe also that ii should
not he encouraged or rewarded by
making il cabinet officer out of one
OF the most conspicuous ana skilled
offenders. 1t would be better for
Wisconsin to be deprived Of repre-
sentation III the cabinet than to
make this mistake.