Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-28
CABINET GOSSIP.
Considered Settled That DingIey Will
Be Chosen for the Treasury.
Chances Are that AIliston or Sherman Will Be
Made Premier.

Canton. Ohio. Dec. 21.-Within week
President-elect Mckinley will probably
commence work on his inaugural address.
and il will not take him many days to
finish it, AS he has well fixed in his mind
the lines of thought he wishes TO develop
and the suggestions he wishes TO make.
After Major Mckinley has finished his
address he will devote all his time 10
the work of organizing his administra-
ton. He may go South for IA few weeks.
to enjoy short period of rest and com
parative solitude before setting out for
Washington.
Major Mckinley has. according to the
belief of those who have watched the
matter closely. invited no one. save Mr..
Hanna. to become a member of his cab
met. 1t is understood that Nelson A.
Dingley OF Maine. will probably be made
secretary of the treasury. Owing to the
uncommon Importance OF our foreign re-
lations at this time. a great deal of in
terest centers about the position of secrc-
tary of state. and there is much Spccula-
ton here about the choice Major Mckin-
ley will make for this place. The conNic-
ton grows that a United States senator.
who has had long experience in public
life and is held in high esteem by his col
leagues. is desired for the post by Major
Mckinley.
Mr.. Dingley, who is very popular in the
House. and who has great influence
there. will. as cabinet officer. he able
to bring much important support to the
administration. If senator of equal in
ilucnce We're to enter the cabinet. the
with the upper branch of Congress. Sen
ator Sherman or Senator Allison would
meet these requirements. and the indiea-
tons. tonight. are that one or the other
of them Will be asked. within 10 days. ii
he can accept the portfolio of state. If II
is offered him.
1t is not the practice Of a President
eject to make Il direct tender of a cabinet
position. 1t is Mr.. Shermans intention
at present to be candidate for rc-elec-
ton to the Senate. next year. bur his
friends say there may be a good deal of
pressure brought to bear to induce him
to become secretary of state, If the posi-
ton is offered him.
There is grave doubt about the course
Mr.. Allison would pursue if he were IN
vited TO become a member of the cabinet,
though his friends are generally of the
opinion that he could close his public
career more brilliantly as It successful
secretary of state than AS Il senator from
Iowa.
The Pacific slope will be recognized
in the formation of the cabinet and
the choice is likely to fan on a Cali
fornian of the Republicans of that state
can unite on some one The California
member of the cabinet will he Judge
Jos. McKinna. Judge j. J. DehaVen or
Judge james Waymire il is the wish.
Of the California and other Republicans
from the far West that the secretary
snip tAf tDt itlttlttf ne XIV VII bilf ~
their number,
t.x-Gov. Merriam ~ Minneapolis.
Gen. Alger Of Michigan. Henry Payne
If Wisconsin. are strong cabinet pos
sibilities. hut geographical c0nsidera-
tiuns make it Impossible all should he
selected Il is obvious that if Senator
sherman should he secretary of state.
Gen. AIger would not be in the cahi-
net. nor is ii likely that both MIR. Mer-
RAM ard Mir Payne viii he selected,
particularly If Illinois should have At
member IN the person of Chas. q.
Dawes.
Cornelius y. Bliss of New York. is
reasonably certain of cabinet posi-
tion unless Andrew u White should
happen to be chosen for secretary of
state. which does not seem probable al
present The chances are that Major
McKinley's cabinet will contain as
many as seven Of the names mentioned
in this dispatch.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
cabinet has not heen selected. candid
ates for less important places are send
ing i'll applications in large numbers by
mail or presenting them in person.
Several thousand applications for office
have been received by Major McKin-
ley's secretarys and 9S per cent. of them
viii he referred in due time tn the heads
of the various departments or 70 the
proper congressman.
Major Mckinley spent Sunday pleas
antly. He went to church in the morn
ing and in the evening. his nieces and
some of his intimate friends called.