St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-05-14

ue5S. BOT Il uu0lD6V OIL Weekb, blHCe he
has been working on the tariff BILL his
colleagues on the finance committee have
noticed that during the most laborious
deliberations on duties on silks and laces
and fine linens and flowers and bonnetS,
O. far-off look has come into his eye and
q smile of sweet contentment has come
over his face. Day after day, while
others Of the committee have been i'm
patient and worried from overwork, he
has been smiling and amiable beyond
anything ever known Of him before. But
while he smiled he said nothing, and 1t
was assumed that he found pleasure in
the contemplation of completed sched-
ules.
The other day when the finance COM
mittee met, Mr.. Plat was absent. Then
1t was announced that he had gone to
Montclair, N. j., and that he was to be
married at II that day. No one here
suspected that Senator Plat had any
intention of marrying. He has been a
Widower for three years. Even his COL
league, Senator Joseph r. Hawley, did
not know, and 1t was some time before
the name of the lady could be learned.
The last Is Mrs. Jennie P. Hoyt, whose
husband was president of the Pennsyl-
vania Coal company. Senator Platt took
but three persons into his confidence
and these he told just before he left
Washington for Montclair, pledging
them to secrecy. His son was the only
one of his relatives or friends notified to
be present.
When the information came to Mr..
Platt's colleagues in the senate, it caused
quite sensation, and was more inter
esting topic of discussion than the tariff,
to which Mr.. Plat has been supposed
to be devoting all his thoughts
Mr.. and Mrs Orville II. Plat now, II
you please.
The sudden death Of ]. w. Coveney,
postmaster at Boston, a Democrat, ap-
pointed by ex-President Cleveland.
made way for Republican much soon
er than YVES expected. Colonel Coveney's
commission did not expire until in Sep
TENDER next, and it was the intention of
the Republican leaders to allow him to
serve out his term. His sudden demise,
however made it necessary to have his
successor appointed at once, as Colonel
Coveney's bondsmen are DESTROYS of be-
ing relieved as soon as possible.
Ordinarily there is a hot fight for the
office of postmaster at Boston, as it is a
very nice place, and the number Of as
pirantI who are DESTROYS of filing it are
as numberless as the sands of the sea-
shore. This year, however, only one
name has been heard in connection with
the office. 1t IS that of Colonel H. A.
Thomas, and his appointment, made last
week, was Immediately confirmed by
the senate. Colonel Thomas endorse
ments for the place were simply wonder
full and beyond enumeration.
There is quite hot fight for the office
Of superintendent of mails under Color
Thomas, an Office which he himself he /
under the regime of the last Republi-
can administration. SO far, the candi-
dates are Ezra o. Windsor of Chelsea.
Mass, now postmaster there: Frank II.
Rice of Boston. now in the railway mail
service and strongly endorsed for the
new position he seeks; George A. Woods
OF Medford, Mass, and Walter z. Spicer
of Boston. As Colonel Thomas knows
the duties of this office so well. the nomi-
nee will doubtless be chosen at his selec.
ton, which is equivalent to saving thai
the next superintendent Of mails at Bos.
ton will be thoroughly conversant witt
the duties incumbent upon him.
New England people may be inclined
to laugh at the story that Mr.. Cleveland
ia being talked of as a possibility for g
presidential candidate in 1900. Such is
the fact, however. The very latest story
brought to Washington about him is TIE
alleged scheme Matched at the recent
Reform club dinner that Mr.. Cleveland
Is really laying the wires to become gov
ernor of New Jersey The story. how
ever, much It may be laughed at in some
circles is that the president made his
home in New Jersey because his political
future in that state had a probability
which would have been a mere POSSIBLE
lty If he returned to New York. New
Jersey is the home of his birth. and he
has always had a strong following there
The plan attributed to Mr.. Cleveland is
that he become governor of New jersey
and follow this by securing the presi-
iential nomination three years from
now.
Opposed to the FEASIBILITY Of the
story, the truth of which would not sur
prise silver Democrats, is the assertion
of friends of Mr. Cleveland that he is IN
different to office, and that to become
governor of New Jersey would be to give
color to the charge that he is a chronic
office seeker, and not patriotic citi-
zen They further say that it would not
be necessary for Mr.. Cleveland to be-
come governor of New Jersey to secure
the presidential nomination. If he de-
sired 1t. This is met with the charge of
the eX-presidents enemies that NOTHING
he might do would be surprising. Thev
go so far as to say that the election of
Mr. Cleveland as governor of the state
would not lower him in the, public esti-
nation. They figure it out that the ex-
president would consider such an cleo
ton a Vindication of himself and as
showing that he Is not so unpopular c
the public think. His election, if IT could
be brought about, would, his enemies
say, put him directly in line with the
presidential nomination, as 1t would
demonstrate that the former idol of the
party was very much alive in the affairs
of the country.
Ex-senator Blair Of New Hampshire
has fled at the White House, papers in
behalf of Mrs. Marilla M. Kicker of
Dover N. II. Mrs. Kicker is the FIST
woman to ask an appointment at the
hands Of a president as minister from