The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-30
That He Remains Is Proof Posi-
tive Of His Good Sta nding
With Mckinley.
WILL KEEP HIS PLACE.
Evidence That His Financial Views
Are in Accord With Those
OF the Executive.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office. Riggs House,

Cau OIuce, RIGGS House,
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Dec. o.
The discussion Of the resignation"
Of Secretary Gage is regarded by men
in Congress as important, whether the
resignation was actually rendered and
declined or merely suggested tenta-
lively. The important question in
votved in the suggestion Of a resigna-
ton on the part Of Secretary Gage is
not whether Mr.. Gage is to remain at
the head of the Treasury Department.
The question is whether Mr.. Cages
position as to the financial policy is
satisfactory to the administration.
Anything that answers that question
is regarded as Of great consequence
Whatever occurred between the Pres
ident and Secretary Gage with relation
TO the latter's tenure Eof office referred
entirely to this question, and the fact
that Mr.. Gage is TO remain IN the Cab
met is regarded as fixing the attitude
OF the administration as to the flnan-
cial policy.
It is a matter of the choice Of terms
whether 1t may be said that Mr.. Gage
rendered his resignation. The COM
mon construction of Mr.. Cages course
would be that it was a tender"
though it may be regarded by the
President as only a suggestion" of
resignation. What is known to be q
fact is that Mr.. Gage told the Presi-
dent that if his (Mr. Gage's) attitude
and utterances on the financial ques-
ton caused the President any embar-
rassment, and this could be relieved
by Mr.. Cages resignation, he would
resign.
The occasion for this course on the
part of Mr.. Gage was the criticism
that has been provoked from certain
Republicans by Mr.. Cages statement
that his object was to commit the
country more thoroughly to the gold
standard. Upon the Presidents reply
depended whether Mr.. Gage would re-
main in the Cabinet.
Had the President intimated that he
disapproved the financial views of the
Secretary, the latter would have pre-
sented in formal way his resignation
and have retired from the Cabinet.
But the President gave nc such init
IN spirit OF friendliness and Self-sac-
rifice, was not and is not expected to
be formally presented.
As well as can be learned, Mr.. Gage
had no reason to believe that he was
in accord with the President, and a
leeIlnS OF uellcacy prompted him in
view of the public criticism to which
he had been subjected to give the
President an opportunity to relieve
himself from all embarrassment, If
any were felt. 1t was simply one
method, and the appropriate one, of
inquiring of the President whether the
course of the Secretary met with his
approval. If IL did there was no &C.
casion for resignation. The Presi-
dents reply confirmed the belief on
the part Of the Secretary that he was
not misrepresenting the administra-
ton.
The incident furnishes an answer to
the question whether il Is Mr.. Gage
or Senator Wolcott, Senator Chandler
and others Of like trend OF thought
who understands the President. It
also demonstrates that Mr.. Gage, il
he found himself in a disagreement
with the President, would not change
his own views, but would retire and
permit the President to select some
one else in his place. His remaining
is, therefore, sufficient proof that there
Is no substantial disagreement be-
tween them.
When Secretary Carlisle disagreed
with President Cleveland, he followed
a different course. Becoming con-
WINGED that Mr. Cleveland was right,
he conformed his policy to the Presi-
dents views. In the present instance
there appears to be no reason for
either the Secretary or the President
TO make any change of position in
order to agree