The age-herald., 1897-12-29
SECRETARY CAGE
 THREW UP SPONGE Rendered His Resignation to Me- KinIey on Friday Last THE PRESIDENT DECLINED To Accept the SeGrstary'S Offer to Step
 Down and Out. GREAT EXCITEMENT WAS CREATED In Official Circles When the Affair
 Was Given Publicity. WILL INSIST ON ITS ACCEPTANCE Unless the President Comes Out and Assumes His Share of the Responsibility or the
 Gage Financial Bill Opinions
 On the Situation.
In Official Circles When the Rtfalr
 Was Given Publicity.
WILL INSIST ON ITS ACCEPTANCE
Special to The Age-Herald.

Washington, Dec. 2S.-Secretary Gage has rendered his resignation to the president and it has been declined. The utmost eX- citement was created in political circles this morning when this fact became known. The officials in the treasury de- partment freely admitted during the early hours of the morning that Secretary Gage had rendered his resignation last Friday. It was unoffcially admitted at the white house prior to the cabinet meeting today. There is no doubt whatever that Secretary Gage has determined to force the support of the administration in his financial scheme or else to get out of the cabinet The ad- ministration has been thrown into a com- plete furry by the publicity of the report, and at the cabinet meeting this morning, decided to quash the whole business by denial. After the cabinet meeting was over Secretary Porter made the statement for the president that Secretary Gage had offered to resign if his position on the financial question would prove embarrass- ing to him. This is the official side of it.
 Gage Will Insist.
 The fact remains that Secretary Gage will insist upon the acceptance of his resgna- ton if the president does not come out and assume his share of the responsibility for the Gage financial bill. Prominent re- publicans here do not hesitate to say that the only solution of the present trouble is the resignation of MT. Gage. He has been the object of bitter attacks from all parts of the republican party, and they say he must resign in order to preserve his dig nifty, and that the president will be finally forced to accept his resignation to save the administration.
 The president is in very sad predca- ment. After spending hundred thousand dollars to send MT. Wolcott, MT. Stevenson and MT. Paine to Europe on a bimetalhc junket, he showed his entire nsncerity in the matter by recommending the passage which would fix the single gold standard absolutely on the country He is doing what he today to patch up the trouble and stave off a cabinet crisis. The best posted men in both parties here do not believe he can do it
 Some Opinions.
 Senator Walthall, of Mississippi, said to me tonight: From what know of MT. Gage, believe he will insist upon his res ignation, unless the president comes to his unequivocal support In this case he will practically drive from the party all of the bmetallists of the Wolcott stamp
 Senator Money says that Gage's resigna- tion is the only thing that Is possible to save the administration and make McKin- ley in this crisis
 Representative Underwood.
 Secretary Cages resignation and the presidents refusal to accept the same Is surprise to me-" Representative Un- derwood. 'I think that this action will force the president to come out into the open in support of the gold standard. Major Mckinley has been trying to carry water on both shoulders, as it were, pat ting Gage on the back one minute and tell ing him he was with him and doing the same to Senator Wolcott in the next. I have no idea that the resignation will be accepted. MT. Gage's plans are much more to the liking of those who arc in power than the republican party and whose money helped elect Mckinley. The Presi- dent will doubtless yield to the pressure, and not being very strong man and greatly disinclined to fight, will insist that the secretary keep his place in the cab inet, in this way directly indorsing his politics. I have no idea what the inter- national bimetalists will do, but do not see how they can consistently stay with the republicans, now that their pet scheme is knocked in the head. They should come over to the democrats, where they belong.'