New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-27
CABINET NOT YET IN SHAPE.
MIR. M'KINLEY MAY NOT DECIDE,
FINALLY UNTIL HE REACHES
WASHINGTON
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING NEW
YoRKs REPRESENTATIVE - COLONEL
MCOOK'S DESIREs-CIIARLES
EMORY SMITHS
CHANCES.
[pY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEI
Canton Ohio Feb 26-Interest in the New
York member OF the Cabinet is undated among
the politicians who come to Canton. and there Is
an abundance Of fresh gossip received here daily
from Washington and the city of New-York it
self. 1t developed to-day that before Colonel
McCook became Cabinet possibility the New
York man most favorably thought of for Cabi-
net office. or an important foreign Embassy. was
Mr.. Whteaw Reid. Of The New-York Tribune.
1t Is stated upon excellent authority that fort
night or ten days ago 1t was decided that Mr..
Reds health would not permit him just at this
time to undertake the duties and confinement in
cllent to the life Of a Cabinet officer and Major
Mckinley. who is personally extremely fond or
Mr.. Reid and places high estimate on his ablli-
ty. wrote to him. when he heard this decision
expressing deep regre; that he could not have
the benefit OF his active participation in the con-
duct OF his Administration
Shortly after this Colonel McCook met Major
Mckinley. and soon became potent Cabinet
possibility There is a good deal Of gossip about
Colonel McCook and his relation to the Cabinet
tonight 1t is reported that he has, in response
to an intmation from the President elect. said
that he would like to be in the Cabinet. but eX-
pressed the desire to be Attorney-GeneraL ana
shows no indication that he would accept the
office OF Secretary Of the Interior II 1t snail be
offered to him The Preedent-elect is pretty
generally understood to have settled upon Judge
McKenna of California. fer Attorney General
and as there are reasons why 1t would be wiser
to have him serve in that capacity tran at the
head Of the Department; of the Interior it does
not look to the spectator on the outside as though
the Cabinet could be recast to meet the wishes
Of Colonel McCOok, who, being a lawyer. natur-
ally enough prefers the Department Of justice.
The only solution apparent, concedlhS thae
Colonel McCook Is not to be Attorney General.
is to have him take the Navy portfolio ana make
ex-Governor Long Secretary OF the Interior, and
II is not known that Governor Long would
care for that arrangement Mr. Gary Is not a
lawyer and for that reason will not be placed
at the head Of the Department Of the Interior.
II looks now rs though Major Mckinley would
go TO Washington without having his Cabinet
completed and as II he would not decide upon
the final arrangement Of il before March or !.
It has never been authoritativey announced
that Colonel McCook would be in the Cabi-
ret and II is rumored tonight that if he feels
he could not take any other portfolio than that
Of the Department Of Justice the New-fork
member is likely to be General Stewart L. Wood
ford or General Horace Porter. 1t is also be-
reved by the gossips that if NewYork is left
out Of the Cabinet Charles Emory Smith, Of
PENNSYLVANIA who has never at any time been a
candidate or an aspirant for consideration in
connection with the Cabinet. is likely to he in
yited TO become a member Of Major McKinley's
official family any one else.