The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-04
Mark Hanna Still Slated for Secretary
OF the Treasury and White for
The State Department..
EDMUNDS A POSSIBILITY
THE EX-SENATOR MAY BE INDUCED
TO ACCEPT OLNEY's PLACE.
GrOsvenOr to Treat with Speaker
Reed-The Canton Correspondents
Ready Made Cabinet.
Ipecial TO the Indiananolis JournaI

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3-This time the
tip comes from variety of sources that
the treasury portfolio has been placed at
the disposal of Mr.. Mark A. Hanna, chair
man of the national Republican commit
tee. The proposition is thus brought back
to first principles. The logic of the cam
paign assigned him there, and the business
and financial interests gladly acquiesced.
Afterwards Mr.. Dingley was slated for the
job. Recent remarks of Senator Sherman.
Indignantly repelling the idea that he
could be party to a deal involving his
transfer from the Senate to the Depart
ment of State in order to make a Senate
vacancy for Mr.. Hanna, coupled with the
tacit announcement that he would be
candidate for reelection, is supposed to be
at the bottom of the change in the Cabinet
programme. Gossip had slated Mr.. Ding
ley for the treasury portfolio, which ev-
erybody admitted would be a happy selec-
ton, both on account of the gentlemans
eminent fitness for the place, and for the
additional reason that he would become
natural agent for the promotion and MAIN
tenance of harmony between the President
and speaker Of the House of Representa-
tives
The latest phase of Cabinet speculation
here is that the Mckinley forces Will treat
directly with the speaker. using Mr.. Gros-
venor instead of Mr.. Dingley as the nego-
tiator. There is no tendency on the part
OF the Mckinley element to do anything
undignified in the desire to concliate Mr.
Reed. but it is to be made plain to the
big man from Maine that if there is TO be
any friction or fighting between the White
nd ha nd
the speaker, and not the President, must
be the aggressor. 1t is in furtherance of
this idea that Mr.. Grosvenor has come
out with a distinct and specific denial of
the report that he was going to contest
with Mr.. Reed for the spedkership of the
House next session. denial couched in
blunt language and supplements. by the
statement that MIR. Reed would be re-
elected speaker again. This series of
events would seem to indicate that SUBJ
stantial progress has been made in the
construction OF Cabinet, and that Mr..
Dingley will be left out of consideration
for secretary of the treasury, for the time
being at least. Whether he will be in
vited to go into the Cabinet at the head
of another department remains to be seen.
He is splendidly equipped to take charge
of any of the great branches OF the gov
ernmental machine.
Mr.. Hanna makes no concealment OF the
fact, according TO Cleveland and Canton
advices, that he comes On to Washington
Mr.. McKinley'S personal representative
tc counsel with and take counsel OF the
party leaders on questions of party policy,
and incidentally to receive hints and sug-
geStions from them on Cabinet construc-
tion and the best distribution OF available
high grade Republican talent where it will
make the best impression and yield the
best practical results. Trouble Is being eX-
perienced in finding a man of sufficiently
large caliber for secretary of state Men
close to General Harrison are reported TO
have given ii out that the ex-PTesident
would not accept the portfolio If 1t were
offered him. At the present writing gem
tlemen who are anxious TO help Mr.. Nc
Kinlcy out are taking up the name CT ex-
Senator Edmunds as the best thing In
sight Edmunds is now resident of Phil
adelphia but spends a good deal of tune
i'm Washington. Although he resigned his
seat in the Senate and left his native State
(Vermont) that had honored him with
Successive elections to the Senate,
because he wanted 10 devote MS
undivided time to law, he finds
himself unable to break away en-
tireIy from former associations or to lose
i'm the slightest degree his interest in large
AFFAIRS There is little reason TO DeleVe
that he would decline an invitation TO head
TIE Mckinley Cabinet. only Mr.. Hanna
knows Mr. McKinley'S intentionS with re-
gard to ex-senator EdmundS Tor premier,
hit mention of his name commands much
more than casual attention at the hands
of the Cabinet makers.