The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-12
Secretary OF the Interior Tired
of Being Inundated.
He HAS MADE UP HIS MIND
Grover Tries to Keep Him In
Line then Sights Him.
BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL VIEWS
The Georgian Cabinet Officer Posses
ses Much knowledge that
May yet Make the Situa-
ton Awkward.

Washington, Aug. 11.-Hoke Smith
has sat at his last round table with
the oold cabinet. Before the assem-
hIin0 which cool November days will
brino. to the administration, the Sec
Rotary of the Interior will have sur
rendered his portfolio of trust and
returned to his law books in Atlanta.
Yet his resignation is not in the
broad-topped desk at Gray Gables,
where the President daily thumbs
through course of clerical routine.
There is a letter from Hoke Smith
there, however, in which he calls to
the Presidents attention the pledge
forced from him i'll his Georgia battle
for the Senate with Crisp, that he
would support the Chicago nominees.
He further outlined his purpose to
make good his word. From such
standpoint he argued the inconquity
of his retaining a seat in the cabinet
and invited a frank reply.
The response was characteristic of
Cleveland, who at heart places his adj
ministration above politics and poll
eies and regards his cabinet officers
as the eight pawns 10 his game of
chess. The President replied that he
had no desire for changes in his cab
met so near the close of his admins
tration and preferred that Mr.. Smith
should take that view of things.
Immediately upon the heels Of his
letter he proceeded to cut the Georgian
to the quick, He turned down" three
of Secretary Smiths suggestions as
to appointments in succession and put
gold Democrats into fat Interior De-
partment offices in less than as many
weeks. Were these hints of senti-
ment not enough--and Hoke Smith
dearly loves to deal generously with
Interchangeable President slightingly
failed to extend to him, alone of all
the cabinet, an invitation to Gray
Gables.
There have been other Sights in the
past. Holxe Smith, while breezy
speaker and strong at badgering wit
ness or capturing a Jury, is not pro-
found lawyer. At the cabinet councils
his law propositions have frequent
" been contemptuously demolished by
Olney, a black letter lawyer than
whom the land yields few of surer
reading. Carlisle, and Harmon, too,
have held Smiths legal propositions
in light worth, and as a result the
Georgian has suffered no small humil-
iation.
From these humiliations sprung the
desire on Smiths part to capture from
Crisp the Senate seat which Gordon
holds and thus escape the cabinet
thrall. Still Cleveland preferred to
hold his FESTIVE Secretary in line. We're
Hoze Smith to slip his halter, he pos
sesses much dangerous information.
Therefore, ruminates the PRESIDENT, it
is better to endure the odium of his
presence than to let him free with a
pandora's box of awkward knowledge.
But Hoke Smith is no fool. He can
see the game that is playing, and viii
cut loose. His law practice is good
for $4,000 year, even should some
fat railroad fees be severed from his
clientele. At to that, his railroad may
learn caution and prefer friend at
court in the stormy years that threat
en.-New York Journal.