Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-15
PROBABILITIES.


not possible for McKinley's CABINET 10
absorb all the cabinet probabilities
Otherwise. there would be no hepupii-
cans OF pronounced prominence iei' ~
take other jobs I'm the gift OF the party
Since the presidential election nearly
every Republican Of any note mas Deeh
listed as a Cabinet probability. IN
deed. many more men than there are
portfolios have been mentioned as "Caoi-
net certaintes."
| And yet. experience would seem 10
show that there IS nothing more I'M
probable than a Mckinley cabinet pro-
liability" and nothing more uncertain
| than Mckinley cabinet certainty.
Judge Con. after having been shaken up
| for some time in the probability pas'
was finally pronounced a Cabinet deau-
certainty, it being telegraphed from
| Wheeling on the authority OF one "ho'
| il was believed, was in position 10 speak
by the card. that the Judge had been
positively offered the Encouragement
shin. and had positively accepted. We'd
| nesday. however, according to a spe-
| cial from Clarksburg. Judge Gon stated
emphatically that there was nothing IN
the Wheeling story. In fact he Is
quoted as declaring that all the rumors
that had been circulated about himself
i'm connection with the Cabinet were
false and without foundation" But, To-
the Judge is now in Richmond, and it Is
asserted, as coming from the most au-
thentic source that the Wheeling story
is true.
Again. very soon after the Cabinet
tinkerers set TO work, John Sherman
was repeatedly spoken Of as a rapidly
developing probability for Secretary OF
the Treasury. In a short time this was
followed by the news that Sherman and
Mckinley were out. rrhen we were
told that there had been reconcilia-
ton: but John had declared that he was
too old for a Cabinet position. AS John
ought to be authority on that point, and
as some of the leading Republican papers
very readily acquiesced in his concur
sion. it was believed that an ehectual
auletus had been put upon his revived
probability" Not so. however. For
Yesterday came from Canton the news
that John had accepted the portfolio OF
Secretary of State. without conditions,
thus becoming the Keystone of the arch
upon which the new administration VIII
build its advisory annex.
And thereby hangs tale-a tale oil
another probability" There seems no
question that it was the seductive voice
of Mark Hanna that finally persuaded
Sherman that he was not too old for
Mace in the Cabinet. and induced him TO
believe that, unbeknown to himself, he
had found and taken a plunge In the
fountain Of youth. Mark has long had
his gaze concentrated on seat in the
United States Senate. Sherman's term
expires i'm March, 1899, and the vacancy
created by his acceptance of Cabinet
position will be filled by appointment
by Governor Bushnell, pending the meet
ing of the Ohio Legislature, in January
! 1895. The Sherman and the Foraker
= factions in Ohio have. it is said, buried
the overwhelmingly, not in
each other. however-and it IS believed
that Mark will find very little difficulty
= in capturing Sherman's seat for the I'M
exnired term. That accomplished, IN
truth will Marks hand have lost its
cunning and his honest methods" have
lost their Influence, if he shall not be
able TO work it so as to succeed himself
: and fill the measure of his ambition &c
the brimi
II may be asked in this connection
why Mark should prefer a senatorial
D seat TO q Cabinet position, for which
b latter he was frequently mentioned, anc
which there can hardly be a doubt h'
I could have. A little reflection will elu
cidate this apparent mystery. A sena
y torial seat would afford Mark far BETTE
y OPPORTUNITIES than would Cabinet po
sition for discharging his obligations t'
the trusts. the monopolies, and the Wall
y street interests that stood by him 81
nobly." save the mark-no pun in
r tended-in the last campaign. Further
> IT would afford him wider scope for tn
D. exercise of his genius in scheming To-
! the future of the Republican party. NJ
wonder. therefore, that Mark should hav
e set to work to convince Old Man JOIN
l. that he John) was still as 'peart' as
J. -,ripo, chicken