The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-26
FIFTY INTO EIGHT,
BAKING A CABINET PRESENTS 4
PROBLEM TO MIR MCKINLEY.
TAKES MONTHS TO SOLVE.
The Restrictions Surrounding the
Various Omces Make Many of the
Aspirnnta Ineligible for Appoint
ment.

CANTON. Nov 20.-Almost since the
first hour Of Major Mckinley's victory the
Cabinet rush has been on. Old campaign
ers. and there have been many Of them
here during the past two weeks, say that
the competition is dercer than any within
their recollection. Ordinarily the President
elect does not complete his Cabinet until a
few days prior to his departure for Wash
ington for his Inauguration, but if Major
Mckinley follows this precedent and the
present rush keeps up he viii be worn to a
shadow before he assumes the active duties
Of his office. President Cleveland, prior
practically bury himself at Lakewood,
n j., to dodge the emissaries Of Cabinet
hunters. and notwithstanding the pressure
brought to bear upon him from all sides.
did not complete the appointments until
the morning Of March 3. the day he left for
the capital
The friends Of Mr.. Mckinley here agree
tnat g dincult problem cOnfrOnts him, and
70 meet t viii require an almost super
human amount Of diplomacy and delicacy.
The wealth OF Cabinet material presente
to him is bewildering- There are easily
utry applicants for the eight portfolios and
each one Of the fifty can present strong
claims for consideration. Forty-tw0 OF
these men must be left In the cold and how
to accomplish the task without everlast-
1ngly anronting them is the problem The
disappointment Of some viii be assuaged
by foreign missions or important appoint
ments. but there viii be many who must
OF necessity De ignored. No President since
the time Of Washington ever made up his
official family without making enemies,
and while he appreciates this Mr.. Nckin-
ley is determined to keep the number down
to q minimum
A PAINSTAKING TASK
With the exception of one or two port
folios it is idle matter to attempt to
prophesy the exact composition of the Cabi-
net. although this has heen done in New
York. Washington and Chicago Cabinet
a 7-fl o
deep study and Investigation of the suitable
ness OF the applicants. What would be a
trivial matter La relation TO anything else
serves as a serious bar where the Cabinet
IS concerned. and for this reason many OF
the fifty applicants before mentioned while
entirely suitable on the surface. would not
stand the microscopic test which they must
undergo.
For instance there are a number Of men
who would like to be Secretary of the
Treasury. but to be eligible nearly every
one OF them would have to make a complete
change IN MS business affairs 10 meet q
provision in the United States Revised
Statutes This is section 243. and it reads
as follows:
mo person appointed to the Office o.
Secretary of the Treasury shall
directly or Indirectly be concerned or inter
ested in carrying on the business Of trade Of
commerce. or be owner in whole OF in par
OF any sea vessel, or purchase by himself
or another in trust for him any publ
lands or other public property. or be con
cerned in the purchase or disposal Of an
public securities Of any State or of tn
United States"
AN OBSTACLE FOR BLISS.
The man most prominently mentioned 70
mis- ONCE. Cornelius n. Bliss. Of New York
is millionaire several times over. will
immense business interests, and should tn
pace De rendered him and he accept il d
would In all probability be compelled t
curtall MS commercial connections exren
slFeiy de is the head Of large whoIesal
cry goods house. and while this might no
come whiting the inhibition Of the statute
ne is also Intimately connected as stock
holder and director with numerous bank
ana trust companies These latter relation
ne would be compelled to sever. probably a
great sacrifice to his moneyed interests fo
the honor Of managing the finances Of III,
nation at $4,000 per year.
Restrictions Of similar nature sf1rro71n,
oil the other Cabinet portfolios. ana rhe f,
stance just cited shows the amount If ner
eonal probing which the President i 4.
must do before deciding upon any apDoint
ment.
DEMOCRATIC HOPES SMALL.
There has been much talk here By til
arriving and departing visitors to the Nc
Einley home of the possibility OF s9un,
money Democrat being placed in the Can
net In recognition of the services Of tina
party in the late campaign The TWO Demo
Gzats who are most often mentionea are