The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-03-20

the interest of Hon. John R. Thomas, of
Illinois, who Is a candidate for the posi-
tion Of Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Mr.. Thomas was a colleague of both Nc
Kinley and Secretary Long in Congress,
during which time he was a member of
the Committee on Naval Affairs of the
House. Thomas is backed by the entire
Republican delegation of Illinois, and his
friends are leaving no stone unturned to
secure his appointment.
Senator Elkins of West Virginia, accom-
panied by delegation, called at the White
House, in the interest Of ID. Mayer, of
Charleston, who wants to be appointed
minister to Switzerland. Mayer is in
dorsed by the entire delegation Of bis
State. He also has the warm support of
Gov. Atkinson, of West Virginia. who is in
Washington for the purpose of urging his
appointment upon the p resident. Mr..
Mayer S on the governor staff, and was
also in the same brigade with President
Mckinley during the late war.
John S. Wise, now OF New York, but who
formerly took an active part in Virginia
politics, saws the President during the
morning. Mr.. Wise, who is regarded as one
of the ablest lawyers in New York city,
is anxious to be appointed United States
attorney for the southern district of New
York
Col James ID Brady, formerly collector
of internal revenue for the Fourth dis
trict of Virginia, came with Mr. Wise.
Col. Brady's call, it is said, was for the
purpose of securing his old position. Ex-
Representative Tim Campbell, Of New
York, was one of those who called to pay
their respects.
Cousin william Osborne, who will
succeed Pat Collins as consul general TO
London, called upon his distinguished
relative today, but refused to state the
object of his visit.
NUngressinan BIutelle OF Maine, called
to present Mr.. p McConville to the Presi-
dent, and also to urge the appointment OF
DR.. Thomas and Col. Pease. The Presi-
dent also held short conference with
Postmaster General Gary and Secretary OF
War Alger. Just what took place at the con-
ference could not be learned.
But few citizens of the District called
at the White House today. Secretary
Porter denied the stateuen.-r-SDlished in
local afternoon paper ON yesterday that
the President had made up his mind to
appoint q Commissioner of the District Of
Columbia at once.
There are a great many matters of ma
tional and International Importance which
are now engaging the Presidents atten-
toin and subj ject of the conImissio on ership
may not be taken up for some time Sen
ator Kyle, of South Dakota, who is urg-
ing the appointment of Mr. Dodge for the
position, told Times reporter today that
Mr.. Mckinley has given no intimation
whatever as to the time when he would
send inSthe nomination.
President Mckinley, who is desirous or
making the acquaintance Of the wspaper
men of the city, has arranged TO meet them
ON Tuesday next, March 23, at 3 O'Clock.
The reception will be given in the East
Room, of the White House, and only
correspondents and local newspaper men
viii be privileged to meet the President.
Others who saw the President during the
day were Senators Baker OF Kansas, Proc
tor Of Y Vermont, Spooner OF Wisconsin, Gear
Of Iowa and Faulkner of West Virginia,
aud Representatives Mccall and Walker
Of Massachusetts,, Catchings OF Mississippi
Culp of Pennsylvania, and White OF North
Carolina. Senator Penrose and Pennsyl-
vania delegation also called upon the Pres
idept in regard to the distribution OF patron
age in the Keystone State.
Mrs. Mckinley, accompanied by Miss
Mabel Mckinley. took drive in the Presi-
dent S carriage this morning, but returned
to the Executive Mansion in time for lunch.
The statement is made semi-officialiy
that geographical considerations will in
future govern applications for Assistant
Secretaryships and similar high official
positions and that states which arc al
ready represented in the Cabinet will not
he called upon to supply Assistant Secreta-
ries OF the departments until other great
States are cared for.
THIS is thought to dispose for the present
of candidates for the assistant Secretary
ships of the State, War, Navy, Treasury
and Interior Departments, at least from
California, New York, Michigan, Illinois,
Massachusetts,, Ohio, Iowa and Maryland.
This would apparently rule out the follow
ing most prominent candidates for certain
positions: Harrison G.. Otis, OF California,
for War: Gen. O L. Spaulding, of Michigan,
for Treasury; Theodore Roosevelt, OF New
York for Navy and Bellamy Storer, of Ohio,
for State.
Ohio men Incline 10 the opinion that the
gravamen of the order applies TO Mr..
ReIlamy Storer, whose appointment is
opposed by Senator Foraker, but favored
by Senator Hanna, and that the idea of
making a general geogra phical ruling was
to avoid any appearance OF discrimina-
tion in his case.