Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-03-04
At WASHINGTON.
The National Capital Preparing for
the Change In Administration.
The CABINET STILL UyCoNPLE1ED.
President and Mrs. Cleveland Entertain the
President Elect at Dinner-POints
on the Big Parade to Take
Place Thursday.

WASHINGTON, March 3.-The national
capital shelters the outgoing and in
coming presidents and vice presidents,
and preparations for the grand cere-
mony marking the change of admins
tration go on with feverish haste and
hustle. Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.. Hobart
were welcomed to their future home by
one of those glorious bright days
which Washington takes pridein when
In the mood. The entry Of the two
wss made with little ceremony and
comparatively slight public demon
stration OF the prospective new cabi-
net there are in the city Messrs Sher-
man, Gage, Alger Gray and Wilson,
besides McKenna, and possible cabi-
net officer in J. J. McCook, Of New
York, who arrived during the day. OF
governors of states there are already
here Black, OF New York; Tanner, Of
Illinois, Grout of Vermont; Lowndes,
Of Maryland; Schofeld, Of Wisconsin;
Hastings, of Pennsylvania; Griggs, of
New Jersey, and Bushnell, Of Ohio.
Cows Drake, of Iowa, and Pingree, of
Michigan, will be in Washington to-
day. The picturesque chief executive
Of the Wolverine state sent word that
he was coming and that he and staff
were assigned to the head of the
third brigade, second division, com
manded by Gov. Grout. Other ar
rivals of note included Senator-elect
Foraker, of Ohio; H.. Clay Evans, Of
Tennessee; A. II. Buck, of Georgia, and
John J. Ingalls,, OF Kansas.
The arrival of the president-elect and
the presence Of such large proportion
Of public men of influence sufficient TO
affect the formation OF u new cabinet
started flood Of gossip concerning
the members Of President McKinley's
official family, but through oil the fog
Of guesswork and speculation the fact
shows clearly that the cabinet Is still
uncompleted, and for precisely the
same reason that 1t has been known TO
be for about week, namely, the pres
ident-elect desires TO honor New York
with place and that a man has not
been found acceptable to the leaders in
the Empire state politics, and who will
take the position which the cabinet
slate as arranged marks as his berth.
Senator-elect Platt saw Mr.. Mckinley
during the afternoon, but the confer
ence was indecisive.
One interesting suggestion arising
from the cabinet gossip was an intima-
ton that the senate might adjourn
over Tuesday until the following week
The significance OF the intimation lay
In the fact that there had been can
vassed the possibility that Mcliinley's
cabinet would not be ready for an
nouncement on Friday, and that there
fore no occasion would arise for SEES
sion to confirm the successors Of the |
present cabinet. Inquiry at the sem
ate on the matter Of adjournment was
answered by the statement that 1t
would be as Mr.. Mckinley might WISH
The incoming OF so many visi tors
note started the social activities of the
town, and there were innumerable din
ners and receptions in the fashionable
part of the city in honor of inaugural
sojouners. Grand Marshal Porter
kept hard at work at his quarters ar
ranging for the big parade on Thurs
day. A rough total of the number of
the regular and militia soldiers and
sailors who will be in line shows IN
aggregate of 1000 to 1000. The
escort Of President Mckinley will num-
Der 5000 The civic organizations
vary greatly in strength, but are esti-
mated ut about $1,000.
President Cleveland and Mrs. Clcve-
land last night entertained at dinner
President-elect Mckinley, a distinc-
ton which, while not a novelty,
1t Is not always usual to
change of administration. The
invitation was extended through
Secretary Porter several days ago, but
up to late hour in the afternoon it was
doubtful whether or not it could be
carried ont, owing to the indisposition
of President Cleveland Word came to
Mr.. Porter, however, about five o'clock
that the president had so far recovered
from his rheumatic attack as to be
aDle 10 curry out the engagement,
which was renewed in pressing FORM
Therefore a handsome brongham stood
at the doorway of the Ebbitt house
about seven o'clock at night, The
president-eleet emerged from the hotel
at 1880 o'clock and was greeted with
applause by the crowd which formed
on either side Of a lane ON the side
walk He took his seat in company
with Secretary Porter and was driven
in Il few minutes to the white house.
II was expected that Mrs, Mckinley
would accompany her husband to the
dinner but owing to the exhaustion
that followed the exciting events of
the journey from Canton and the day
In Washington she was unable to do
so. At the white house Mr. Porter left
the president-elect at the inner door.
way and the latter entered at once the
parlor where he was greeted cordially
by President Cleveland who had been
waiting with Mrs. Cleveland for this
purpose Without delay dinner was
announced. There was nothing elab.
crate about the dinner nor the trim
mings. Mrs Cleveland had given her
personal attention to the arrange.
ments, and the table decorations and
menu were exceedingly simple aud in