Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-08
Cabinet Building.

Major Handy, in Times-Herald.
No president-elect has ever taken the
people into his confidence while making up
his cabinet with the exceeding frankness
| that has characterized Major Mckinley.
Astute correspondents have sometimes, by
picking w hints here and there. managed
TO make close guesses as to what the
makeup would be. but they have rarely
obtained information from the incoming
president himself.
General Grant was the most sphinx-like
of all of them. Not soul outside his
most intimate circle knew whom he would
appoint until the names were sent to the
senate. Grant commenced his presidency
by holding aloof from the politicians. At
its close he had surrendered to them alto
gether.
His first cabinet was surprise to every
body. e. B. Washburne, secretary of
state; A. 7. Stewart. secretary of the
treasury; Adolph E. Borie, secretary of the
navy, were the chief wonders. They were
all confirmed instanter, and then it was
discovered that Stewart was ineligible be-
cause he was an importer. Grant, instead
of withdrawing his name, sent in a re-
quest to congress that the statute making
Mr.. Stewart ineligible be suspended in his
favor. OF course the senate would not
consent. and Stewart resigned George S.
Boutwell, was then appointed. Mr.. Borie-
an extremely amiable gentleman-remained
in office but q few months and was sue
ceeded by George NJ. Robeson.
Mr.. Washburne continued to be secretary
of state for six days and then resigned to
accept the mission to France. Hamilton
Fish was his successor.
The lightning changes mystified the peo-
pie not Il little, and subjected the new ad-
ministration to very caustic criticism, but
ar,.hn nlNr 1n1 hot hn TOhF m
era was over that Grants mistakes were
ascribed TO inexperience in public affairs
and overlooked.
Mr.. Lincoln had good deal of trouble in
forming his cabinet, mainly for the reason
that he wanted to bring in a Southern man
if possible, and Southern Republicans. or
sympathizers with the Republican party
of the requisite standing and character,
were not easy to find in those days. New
ertheless. he afterward said that on the
night of the election, after the result was
known, he sat down in the telegraph office
at Springfield, and, while the dispatches
were pouring in from all quarters, he
formed his cabinet then and there. when
| finally bade my friends goodnight and
left that ROOM" said he, Il had substan-
TALLY completed the framework of my cab
met as it now exists"
With the exception of Seward and Chase,
however, the names were not adjusted TO
the places until after he arrived in Wash
ington, toward the end of February. Even
then uD to the 4th of March the intrigues
were kept up to prevent the appointment
of Montgomery Blair as postmaster gener-
al. There had been great rivalry between
the Wing faction in the Republican party
headed by Seward and Weed and the free
soil Democratic faction headed by Chase.
Blair's appointment made four Democrats
and only three Wings in the cabinet, but
to this objection Mr. Lincoln replied that
he himself was an od-line Whig and that
would ''even up things But the parti-
sans kept up the warfare, and the excite
ment was so great, rumors of all kinds
floating about, that one night Norman b.
Judd rushed into Lincoln's room and
asked: rs it true we are to have new
deal after all and that you intend to NOM
mate Winter Davis instead of Blar?'
Judd" replied Lincoln, when that slate
breaks it will break at the top
To add to Lincolns embarrassment, Mr..
Seward took 1t into his head on the very
eve of the inauguration to withdraw his
acceptance of the state department. Lin
coin replied, begging Seward not to with
draw, and as he handed his note to his
private secretary to be copied, he said: Il
cannot afford to let Seward take the first
trick" And he didn't Still it was not a
congenial cabinet, and there were many
ill-concealed rivalries between certain of
its members.