The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-17
ANTAGONISTiC CONGRESS
PIQIt.S OF WOMEN UPSET TING
DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS.
THE sroREa roaAKse AeF>'G
The snr7kere Have ~. YER H~er o. he
List Of HrS St<rer's T. v,ted
Guests .N,s Merria>,'s Ctu,a
Of riesEnce.
Especial from World Staff Corr

| WASHINGTON. March, Eff any man
! has ever been rash enough 10 say that
! President Mckinley would do nything
to antagonize Congress, Senate or House,
let him hide his diminished head. Prcsi
dent Mckinley proposes to do nothing OF
! the kind. He doesn't want to invite
the troubles which beset Mr.. Clcviand
| Tine was, and it is no. so long ago
that William Mckinley was himself a
! member Of Congress. On the floor nf
| the House he learned great respect for
! thelegislative branch of the government
| Promotion to the Presidency has not
dimed it. He knows. too. that there are
times when even a President must ask
favors of Congress. He wants his re-
quests granted when. he has any to
make.
! If anything was NEEDED to prove this
it was the turning down of former Gov.
Merriam. of Minnesota. who wanted to
he Ambassador to Germany President
Mckinley and Mr.. Merriam are close
friends. No one DID more towards the
Presidents nomination and election than
did Mr.. Merriam.
If there are two Republicans in Min
nessota at logerheads they are Mr.
Merrams and Senator Davis.
Mrs. Merriam is the Mrs. Astor of st.
Paul. For years she has been the arbiter
Of ashton in that city and throughout
the whole State. Her word was and
is law from one end of Minnesota to the
other
When Senator David first attained
political place his wife naturally desired
a social position consonant with it.
In due time the enmity was transmitted
to the two husbands, both leaders in
politics. From a social misunderstood
ing it became a political feud. Each
man headed rival faction of the Re
PUBLICAN party in Minnesota. People
knew that Mr.. Merriam aimed to become
Senator Davis's successor, as it would
be impossible for two Senafors% to come
from st. Paul.
When Mr.. Davis was candidate the
last time determined effort was made
to defat him. He received the nomina-
ton in the caucus by only one vote Had
he failed on the first ballot he would
, have surely lost, say Minnesota poll
ticians. Meriam's henchmen were at
the bottom of the opposition. He would
have ben in the field the moment Davis
was out of it.
Last spring Davis was a candidate for
the Presidency. He was Minnesota's
! fayorite son. Of course he was sure of
the State delegation at lesta But here
, Merriam showed his hand Despite
Senator Davis's distinguished services,
his powerful influence in the Senate and
his undisputed ability, Mr. Merriam so
worked it that Minnesotas candidate
was only supported by his own delga-
ton in half-hearted way. Every Davis
man was instructed for William Nc
Kinley as second choice
! Mckinley was far in the lead There
, was nothing for Davis to do but tele-
, graph his withdrawal. This he did in a
Straightforward and genrous way Was
it any wonder that President Mckinley
wished to make him German Ambassa-
, dor?
| But he forgot Senator Davis, chair
man OF the Senate Committee on For
eign Relations. There is such thing
as courtesy of the Senate. All Sena-
tor ned to when dstateful appointment
comes UP is to speak to his colleagues
, and they will join him in refusing to
confirm the nomination. They do that,
because no Senator knows when he may
be in the same box.
So up goes Senator Davis to the. White
House. His personal honor is involved.
Will President Mckinley please get Mr.
Merriam to withdraw his name? Sena-
tor Divis wouldn't for the world wish to
oppose the President, but his honor is
involved. Next day Mr.. Merriam called
at the White House. An hour later his
name is withdrawn as a candidate for
the Ambassadorship to Germany