Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-29
A SHREWD MOVE.
How Secretary 0Iney Allowed
His Light to Shine.
With President Off Cunning He Pu':
Himself Before Public.
An Example Of Congressional Vanity and an
Ambitious Statesman.
Washington, Dec. %. Special ..-wh r

was hnTtOH, Zee. zS.- SpecluI Lew
Mr. Olney, tho secretary of state, Issued
his now famous manifesto concerning tie
Cuban resolution week or SO ago, Mr..
Cleveland was down south on his ducking
trip, and there was a great deal Of curiosity
OH all sides to learn what the president
would think on his return. Mr.. Cleveland
has always discouraged his cabinet officers
from taking responsibility upon themselves
except through himself Time and again
he has warned the members Of his official
family that they must not talk to tho
newspapers, and once or twice there has
been danger of rupture between the presi-
dent and his advisers on this account.
Though usually of u kindly disposition and
gentle manner in dealing with the menu
hers of his cabinet, no man likes to DO
snubbed in public as certain cabinet Off
GERS have been snubbed by their chief.
The Olney Statement.
learn on good authority that Secretary
Olney, in issuing that statement Of his
which has kicked up such big row, had
in mind this popularity of Mr.. Cleveland
but was not restrained thereby. On the
contrary, the chance was too good one to
be lost For long time Mr.. Olney 8
friends have been telling him that his light
was too much hidden under bushel
They have pointed out that when the ia
nous Venezuelan message came out II was
Mr. Cleveland who at first received all the
credit therefor, simply because the 1irst Of
fetal announcements was made over the
president 5 signature, though the fact Is
that all the work had been done by Mr.
Olney Not IA line of the note to Lord Sails
bury which demanded arbitration and set
forth the position of this government IN
such "a mastery way did Mr.. Cleveland
write. In fact, he never saw that docu-
ment till it was sent him by Mr.. Olney,
and then the president gave 1t his approval
without changing word.
Some time ago as told you In one OF
my dispatches, the secretary of state WAS
about to so 10 New York to make a speech
at Il chamber of commerce dinner. lie had
intended to institute there the precedent
of "A deliverance on International matters
by the secretary of state, much as the min
lister of foreign affairs in England takes
the public into his confidence through a
speech at the Guildhali banquet. The topic
which Mr. Olney had chosen was Cuba,
and it goes without saying that If he had
made his speech il would have been most
interesting one and would have served to
bring the secretary of state more proml-
nently than ever before to the public atten-
ton. But after MIR Olney had reached
the railway station, grip in hand, II tele-
phone message from the president called
him back.
1t brought Him Fame.
This time Mr. Cleveland was out Of
30. too nyt
nate a one to be neglected. Without any
communication with the absent president,
without consultation with his fellow cabi-
net officers. Mr.. Olney gave his manifesto
against the rights of congress To the press.
For u week the country has been ringing
with Mr.. Oiney name He has been the
most talked Of man in the nited States,
if not in the world, during that time. lie
has raised question which will not lie
settled for many months to come, and
through all the debate in the senate and
elsewh here the name of the secretary OF
state will be more often heard than that
of President Cleveland.
All is well that ends we'll, and am as
sured that on his return from his expedi'
ton against the ducks President Cleveland
promptly Endorsed the attitude taken by
his secretary of state. Not only that, but
he was delighted with the manner in
which Mr.. Olney had raised big obstacle
in the way of the promoters of the Cam
eron resolution. and expressed his satisfac-
ton in characteristic phrase. True, there
was little fly in the ointment for the
president was and still is "a trifle dubious
as to the wisdom of hitting congress quite
so hard a crack as that which the secretary
dealt out when he said the resolution would
| be ignored even if it were passed in both
houses over the presidential veto. The
president, am told, is not yet fully salts
| fled as to that part Of the manifesto, though
| | venture the assertion that nothing will
| ever be heard from him about it.
Ex-secretary Tracy.
There has been n great deal of talk IN
| Washington to the effect that ex-Secretary
| Of the Navy Ben jamin +. Tracy OF New
! York might be asked to become secretary
| of state under President Mckinley. Mr.
/ Tracy is conceded to be one Of the ablest
! mon in the country. During the last yeal
/ of Mr. Blaine's life that statesman was sc
| i'll he could not fully discharge the duties
1 of his office, and Mr.. Tracy was virtually
1 both secretary of the navy and of state
/ He wrote d number of important state pa
l pers to which Mr.. I}laine's name was
1 signed and which reflected considerable
credit upon the Harrison administration
The latest news from Canton, however, !:
Tint Mr.. Tracy is not likely to be asked tt
take the place, and at the same time heal
from one of the ex-secretary's intimate
friends that he has no desire to re-entel
public life. He is said to enjoy an income
exceeding 100000 "A year from his Law
l practice, and it would take a pretty grea
inducement in the way of official honor t.
tempt man to make IL sacrifice Of such al
| income as this.
On the opening day Of the session nc
| ticed an example of congressional vanit,
which excelled everything of the sort ha.
| prevjorsly noticed during my residence IL