The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-25

syndicate. is not only interesting but timely:
"When l learned" said Mr.. Wldener, OF
Mr.. Cleve,and's intention to axe ANON
Thought Lamont could not be so foolSh as
to sacrifice his position. in our syhdicate,
which was just beginning 10 I'm maze Esbin nem
where he could not possibly live upon the
salary. OF course, / looked at 1t simply as
q practical business man. r~
II had supposed, just after Clevefands
election, that Mr.. Whitney might be IN
duced to enter the Cabinet, although ne
had promised he would not. Seeing IL posi-.
lively announced in the newspapers that
Whitney was to be Secretary of state, L
came over from Philadelphia to see him.
Whitney tod me the report was erroneous.
But the Colonel is going into the Capsnet.
Mr.. Cleveland has just extended the invita-
but You certainly will not agree to the
Colonel accepting the place. I replied. after
/ had recovered the surprise the announce
ment had caused me. Mr.. Whitney said he
dared not interfere. but as a business man
he thought the Colonel unwlse 10 put ASIDE
such excellent business opportunties IN Or
der to go back into politics. Mr.. Whitney
further explained that. as he had refused a
place in the Cabinet. Mr.. Cleveland felt that
Lamont was necessary to him, and so had
offered him a Cabinet position. for, or
course, Lamont would not think of again
accepting the private secretaryship. .Wlhit-
ney explained that If anything he should
say would prevent Lamont going TO WASH
inston, Cleveland might regard ii upon his
Whftney's) part as an act OF unfriendii-
ness.
Co.onel. / entered mis- room, determined to
make the most forcible argument L could 10
dissuade him. When / told Lamont what
/ had Just learned regarding his plans he
Jumped up as if he expected me TO con-
graduate him. =,
Don't you think 1t a great honor?' asked
do You think honor should be considered
In this case?" l asked.
Yes. indeed said Lamont. IT is an op-
portunity to leave a name to my cniidren'
such as ! may never have again..
After hearing this speech OF Lamont, 1
knew it was a waste of time to reason with
him, and l changed the subject.
Several months after this i accompanied
the President and the members of his Cabi-
net to the worlds fair. While we were
lounging about in the ear one day Hoke
sacrifice he had made by accepting a place
in the Cabinet. He said he had given up a
law practice worth $4,000 a year. That
of their sacrifices, which, by the way,
seemed to greatly amuse the President. La
mont, with a modesty characteristic of him.
maintained silence. When the others had fin
ished. / interrupted.
" ,Gentlemen.' / said, the only one of you
who has made a great sacrifice to accept
your present positions is the Colonel here.
" That is just my opinion spoke up the
President. Then, at his suggestion, 1 told
what the Colonel had sacrificed. His as
sociates seemed surprised"
From this politicians may believe that
Secretary Lamont Is sincere when he says
he is through with politics for the present,
at least, for he has the opportunity TO re-
sumo the old position in the Whitney-Payne
Widener-Elkins syndicate. TIL position La
mont Is to resume Is much more important
than IL was three years ago, for the syndi-
cate is spreading to other large cities, and
the project is said TO be now upon foot to
capture the leading street car lines in ST.