The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-25

strained to tender his resignation. He
declines to discuss the subject in any
way.
Ever since the rumors of the prob
able resignation of Secretary Smith,
there has been more or less gossip
concerning his probable successor and,
at the Interior Department, the name
of John NJ. Reynolds, the Second AS
istant Secretary of the department,
has been mentioned frequently for
the place.
WILL TAKE ECTSEPTEMBER /.
Atlanta, Ca, Aug. 24.-The resigna-
ton of Secretary Hoke Smith will take
effect September /. Whether his sue
cessor will qualify on that date is not
yet known. Secretary Smith, accord
ing to his present plans, will leave
Washington on that day and go to
Lincolnton, n. c., where he will spend
few days with is family, who have
been soiourning there part of the sum-
mer. After his short stay he will re-
turn to Atlanta and at once resume his
law practice.
Secretary Smith does not now con
template active work in the political
fight. As he explained to several of
his friends, he regards~his step in leav-
ing the cabinet as the strongest action
that he could take in the interest of
the regular Democratic nominees. That
he will later determine to speak in the
interests of the ticket is possible.
WILL. RESUME HIS LAW PRACTICE.
Atlanta. Ga, 24.-The rumored re-
signation of Secretary Smith occa-
sions no surprise here, as it has been
understood among the Secretary's in
innate friends ever since he came out
for the Chicago ticket, that he would
sooner or later retire from the Cabinet.
1t is understood that, Immediately
upon his withdrawal, he win return
TO Atlanta and resume the practice of
his profession here. The Secretary's
law office has not been colsed since
his departure for Washington, his
partner Judge John T. Pendleton, re-
naming in charge.
The sign 'Hoke Smith has remain
ed on the door, and the Secretarys
desk has been kept waiting his return.
1t is wen known that Mr.. Smith, on
entering the Cabinet, left a law prac-
tice which paid him several times the
salary of a Cabinet officer, and he will
return to enter upon one, which will
be much more profitable still.
HIS RESIGNATION REGRETTED.
Washington, Aug. 24.-The resigna-
ton of Secretary Hoke Smith was the
gossip of the Interior Department
to-day. Many of his friends, both with
during the day to express regret at his
coming departure.
Secretary Smith has no plans look
ing to participation in the canvass of
the State under consideration, and has
so far declined all invitations to speak.
His intention is to resume law in earn
est and to rebuild the excellent prac-
tice he enjoyed. He will practice at
once. So far all names mentioned in
connection with the cabinet portfolio
form mere speculation.
HIS SUCCESSOR APPOINTED.
Buzzard's Bay, Mass, Aug. 24-Pres-
ident Cleveland announces that ex-Gov-
ernor Francis, of Missouri, has ben APP
pointed Secretary of the Interior, vice
Hoke Smith.
HON HOKE SMITHS RESIGNATION.
OF course it was the proper and the
manly thing for the Hon. Hol1e Smith,
Secretary of the Interior, to resign if
he had reason to believe that his re-
naming in the cabinet would be en-
barrassing or <distasteful to his chief.
To withdraw under such circumstances
was obviously his duty as gentleman.
What the public do not and cannot I'M
derstand. however, is that the resigna-
ton should have been called for by the
Situation Secretary Smith has done
nothing except what any other loyal
Democrat would have done--nothing
but what Mr.. Cleveland himself has
declared it incumbent on honest party
men to do. In 1892, four years ago,
Mr.. Cleveland wrote a letter to the
editor of the Atlanta Constitution.