Evening star., 1896-08-22

ana tnat this Gctlon on his part, While not
in any way affecting his personal relation
between himself and the other members OF
the cabinet seemed SO material TO him that
he felt constrained to tender his resigna-
ton.
Will Say Nothing.
The Secretary declines to discuss the sub
ject in any way.
Secretary Smith will probably retire
either just before or Immediately after the
indianapolis gold democratic convention.
Those who are familiar with the relations
which exist between Mr.. Cleveland and his
cabinet say that there never has az any
time been the least friction between Sec
retary Smith and the President or between
any members of the cabinet, and that the
personal relations between the President
and Mr.. Smith are still most cordial.
Mr.. Smith has enjoyed the respect and
confidence of Mr.. Cleveland at all times,
and has been given the broadest latitude
ever given any cabinet officer in the man.
agement Of the affairs of his department.
1t is known to all the cabinet and TO such
persons as are in the Presidents confidence
in this matter that it is with sincere re-
gret that he sees Mr.. Smith separate off,
cially from the administration.
Embarrassments.
AS has already been stated in The Star.
the SecretaIy's sense of the fitness OF things
would not admit OF his remaining in the
political accord with the President and the
other members of the cabinet. and that he
could not yield his opinions on account of
his position or his personal friendship for
the President.
When Mr.. Smith said in the Georgia
campaign against Crisp ard free coinage of
silver that he would, and all democrats
should, abide by the decision of the ma
tonal convention in so Car to give hearty
support to the ticket nominated, he of
10 nra 1at1n o
obligations OF his opponents, for he fully
expected to see a sound money ticket nomI-
mated, but he undoubtedly spoke in good
faith, and IT is not probable that he has
ever considered the possibility of his doing
otherwise than support the Bryan and Sew
all ticket
No Other Alternative.
With Mr.. Cleveland and the other men,
bers Of the cabinet opposing that ticket, II
would be impossible for a man of his DELI
cacy and punctiliousness to remain in the
cabinet.
In one Of his speeches in Georgia Secre-
tary Smith, in declaring that democrats
must support the ticket when nominated
said that though the platform might not be
satisfactory TO one set of democrats or 10
the other In Its declaration on the financial
question. they would find in that platform
other things which would render Il on the
whole more acceptable than the platform
of any other party.
The Succession.
Ever since the rumors of the probable
resignation of Secretary Smith there has
been more or less gossip concerning his
probable successor, and at the Interior de-
partment the name of John NJ. Reynolds,
the second assistant secretary OF the de-
partment, has been mentioned frequently
for the place. Mr.. Reynolds has made an
excellent executive officer.
He has mad charge of The difficult work
OF review of pension decisions of the pen
sion bureau ard has given general salts
faction. He is native of Pennsylvania
The new cabinet officer will have only a
little more than six months TO serve and
II is regarded as probable that Mr. Cleve-
lard would prefer to I'LL the vacancy from
the department rather than fili the place
by appointing some one who wodld he new
TO the work. ghich involves acquaintance
with great variety of matters affecting
directly the public welfare.