The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1896-08-29
TO SUCCEED SMITH
EX-GOV FRANCIS BECOMES SECRE-
TARY OF THE INTERIOR.
The Announcement of the~AppOint-
ment of the Former of
Missouri to Succeed Secretary
HOke Smith Is Made by President
Cleveland-Ex-Gov. Francis IA
Strong Cleveland Supporter.

Washington, Aug. '2G. = Announce
ment was made by President Cleve-
land at Gray Gables to-day of the ap-
pointmcnt of David Il. Francis, en-
governor of Missouri, as secretary of
the interior, vice Hon. Hoke Smith.
who recently resigned because of his
financial views. MI. Francis will
probably assume office Sept. 1. as that
is the date named in Secretary Smiths
resignation.
The announcement rather surprised
Washington, more because of the sud
denness with which it followed on
the heels of the announcement of Mr..
Smiths retirement tt an because of the
selection. The Isl for Secretary
Smiths voluntary withdrawal from
the cabinet We're understood as soon
as the. announcement was made, and
it was naturally expected that as he
had retired because he felt obliged to
support the nominees of his party at
Chicago that his successor would be
i'll full harmony with Mr.. Cleveland
on the money question. There was
feeling also that the president would
probably select Mr.. Smiths successor
from the middle West as the South
vas already well represented in his
official family. Speculation therefore
went to Missouri, Indiana and Illinois
and the names of eX-Gov. Francis, OK
Congressman Bynum and others nat
urally suggested themselves. Gov.
Francis took Il strong stand in favor
of the gold standard in the preliminary
battle for delegates to the Chicago
convention. but he and his associates
We're disastrously beaten in his state.
During the convention he was also
very active. Since the convention he
has. it is said by his friends here. Civ
cn no public utterance as to his posi-
ton with regard to the Chicago tick
ct. and so far as known, has not. at
least actively. allied himself with the
movement for the Indianapolis con-
velltion. Gov. Francis throughout his
political career has been n strong
Cleveland supporter and a warm
friend of Mr.. Cleveland and the adj
ministration. 1t is recalled that when
Mr.. Cleveland was at Lakewood
making up his cabinet prior to enter
ing upon his second term. eX-Gov.
Francis was summoned there and
there was a strong impression for q
time that he would be given a port
folio. He had been mayor of st. Louis
and twice governor of Missouri. and
before Mr.. Cleveland's nomination
became a certainty was pressed for
the presidential nomination. Despite
the high honors he has already
achieved, he is still a comparatively
young man, in the neighborhood of
fifty, strong, vigorous, of sunny tenn
permanent and genial disposition.
The New Secretary. ,
'Ex-Gov. David Rowland Francis
was born in Richnond, Madison coun
ty, Ky. Oct. 1, 1850. His education
was received in Washington universe
ty, st. Louis, his family having moved
to st. Louis. In 1870 he graduated, re-
ceiving the degree b. A. His first EN-
ployment was with a grain commits
sion house, continuing until 1877, when
he began business for himself. In
1884 the d. r. Francis & Bro. Com
mission company was este blished rs
a result of the growth of the firm.
The same year he became president of
the Merchants exchange. His first
political position was that of delegate
to the national convention in 1884. In
April, 1885. he was elected mayor of
st. Louis. having been nominated as
a dark horse ON the 1S5th ballot. In
1883 Mr.. Francis Was elected governor
Of Missouri. At the expiration of his
term i'll 1892 he resumed the active
business management of his old firm,
which had been kept up by the other
members Of the house, with occasional
supervision by the governor himself.
His connection with politics since 1862
has been that of a simple citizen with
an active interest in the welfare of
his party and country. He has al
ways been a consistent Democrat.
Mrs. Francis is n leaGcr in st. Louis
society. They have four children.