Evening star., 1897-02-04
McklNlEYS SECRETARY
Mr.. J.. Addison Porter, Connecticut Ed
itor, to Fill the Position.
Omcfal Announcement Of the Fact
Made T0day-Hfs Fitness
for the Place.

| NNoiii-l iANSiiiIS IUSt, ndu a long COnSule
| tation with President-elect Mckinley at
Canton yesterday.
He has been indorsed by the Connecticut
| legislature for minister to Italy, but it has
| been decided that he will become private
! secretary to the President-elect
| Mr Porter Is forty-one years old and is
| a man of means. He was one of the orig
was d prominent Mckinley leader before
| and at the st. Louis convention
| The News Received Here.
The Connecticut delegation In the House
| today received telegram from John Addi-
son Porter, editor Of the Hartford Post
! saying that he had been offered and had
| accepted the position of private secretary
to President-elect Mckinley.
The news is somewhat of a pleasant sur
prise to the Connecticut men, as only a
week ago Mr.. Porter had been indorsed by
the Connecticut deieg alton as ambassador
| to Italy. Within two or three days after
| this Endorsement must have reached Cam
| ton came the offer of the private secretary
| ship, and this is taken as significant OF
the promise on the part of Maj. Mckinley
| who has all along been expected by Con-
| necticut republicans to do something hand
some for the Hartford edi;cr. Mr.. Porter
went to Canton last Sunday supposedly
| with the intention of ascertaining what
chance there was for him to obtain the am
oassadorship. and 1t seems that while he
was there the oner and acceptance of the
private secretaryship took place.
His Work for Mnj. Mckinley.
| John Addison Porter is the editor al d
| proprietor of the Hartford Post one of
the oldest and most influential dailies in
| the state. He is about forty-one years old
| and is a native of Connecticut. More than
| three years ago he began to dgitate the
question of Mckinley's nomination in lS.N;
/ ara1
| sive terms of the Mckinley Club of Hart
| ford, the largest political organiza .iol in
the state, and two years ago the club en-
tertained its great namesake at a dinner
in Hartford, at which Mr. Porter presided
when the time came for electing delega ties
TO the st. Louis convention that year Mr.
forter became active in the effort TO Sc
cure the election of men pledged 10 sup
port Mckinley Instead of Speaker Reed
and he was SO far successful that seven
delegates were said to be for the Ohio
| man out of total of twelve. Strangely
| enough. Mr.. Porter himself did not Sc
cure his own election as a delegate 10 St
Louis, ard the sudden activity of ex-Gov
Morgan g. Buckley in behalf of Mr.. Nc
kinley, which resulted in his he aiding the
state delegation for St Louis and his boom
Tor the vice presidency, seemed for a time
TO eclipse the services of Mr.. Porter. The
latter, however, 1t is said, had lately been
assured by a direct communication from
MI Mckinley that his services and friend
ship were appreciated at their full value
Fitted for the Position.
| Mr.. Porter is admirably fitted for the
| private secretaryship. He was graduated
from Yale twenty years ago. and has since
| Inquired prominently in the alumni affairs
| or his alma mater. His grandfather Jos
Snemeld, was the founder of the Sheffield
scientific School, the scientific department
OF Yale University, and his father was at
| one tlme the dean of that institution. An
c n1oHs
liam Walter Phelps, his uncle who at TIE
same age as Mr.. Porter occupied the post
OF minister to Austria. After his gradua-
1lon from Yale Mr. Porter went abroad to
traVei ana study, and then came to WASH
| lngton. where he spent some time as pri-
vate secretary to his uncle, then Senator
Iheips. He was well known in Washing
ton, ard among the newspaper fraternity
has a host of warm friends
About fifteen years ago he purchased the
hartford Post, and has ever since been its
editor. During this period he has made
frequent contributions to magazines and
general periodical literature. He was NOT
educated i'm law, but has taken an extended
course OF instruction in legal subjects not
directly calculated to admit him to the bar
Political and Social Career.
SIX years ago he was member of the
! lower house Of Connecticut in the famous
deadlock legislature. Two years ago he
was candidate for the republican guber-
material nomination, and received 81 votes
In the convention. This was followed bv
MS candidacy for the same nomination last
fall. when he was defeated by the present
governor, Lorrin A. Cook
Mr.. Porter is a man of considerable
wealth, and has a fine summer home in the
1ashlonable town of Pomfret in Windham
county. His wife is charming lady. and
is leader in Hartford society Both him
SELF and his wife are well known in the
peSt social circles of Connecticut and will
no doubt take equal interest in social af
ialrs IN Washington. This will be partic-
ularly the case In view of the determine
tion OF PRESIDENT Mckinley to make the
once or private secretary one on a footing
with other high offices in his gift.
OMcially Announced.
Ihe selec tion of Mr.. ]. Addison Porter of
hartford, Conn.,, as private secretary to
President-elect Mckinley. was officially an
nounced here today. Word to that effect
was communicated to Private Secretary
Thurber, who said he would take pleasure
In assisting his successor in every way In
fis power. With that object in view he
Will Immediately put himself in communi-
cation with Mr.. Porter
Representative Henry of Connecticut re-
ceived a telegram from Mr. Porter this
morning Announcing his appointment, and
he called at the White House and Informed
Mr.. Thurber of the fact. The new private
secretary had an interview with the Presi-
dent-elect at Canton yesterday, and il is
expected that he will visit this city in a
few days to complete arrangements for
lily.
MARINE BAND LEADER.