The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-17
SHERMAN SPIDER
How He Walked Into Hanna
Cabinet Parlor.
STORY OF HIS CAPTURE
BUSHNELL FIXED THkoC"i'
C1NCINNATTS EASY BOSS.
SHERMAN WAS HARD TO CATCH
New He Will be Speedily Devoured'
Powers Rapidly Failing
Recent Serious lapses
of Memory.

OF Memory.
washin ston. March 16.-(Special)--
vays that are peculiarly astute the ONO
,olit;cian is without equal In TINS con
rect,on an inside history of how John
Sherman was induced to enter the NC
Kin,ey Cabinet reveals some very slick
work on the part of Mark Hanna and
others. and exposes the scheme whereby
John Sherman, in his declining years, has
been duped, played with and diverted
from his conception of duty by those
who professerd to have his honor and
interests at heart To say that he has
been slaughtered in the house of his
friends, would perhaps be too harsh an
expression, yet it certainly appears So't
he has been made the victim of the sell
fSnness Of the unspeakable Ohio poDtl-
clans.
Immediately after the election IF Nc
K,nley, a conspiracy was Matched TO get
John Shcrnlcn out of the Senate SO that
Mark Hanna could succeed him
At this time Governor Bushnell was OPP
posed to Hanna. and so was his ally, John
r. Foraker This was the situation when
the movement began to have Mr.Sherman
leave the Senate. Foraker was sure as
the successor of Brice. Mark Hanna was
shrewd enough to see that Senator Sher-
man could in all human probability sue
coed himself Hanna's ambition to reach
the Senate was 50 intense that he itched
to be appointed months ago. This he
made known Immediately after Senator
Sherman had been persuaded that the
highest honor he could wear in the even
ing of his long career would
be in holding the eminent office
of Secretary of State. But there
had been no change of front by Gov
ernor Bushnell or Foraker, and Mr.. Sher-
man. 10 the annoyance of Mckinley and
Hanna, withheld his resignation as Sena-
tor. The next move made by Hanna,
when it became known that the venera-
BILE Senator would certainly accept the
Cabinet position, proved a ten strike.
Behold the breaking of the Bushneli-Fo-
raker lines in the capture of "Easy Boss"
Cox. of Cincinnati, the strongest individ-
ual factor of politics down in the ranks of
all the Republicans of the Buckeye State.
The power of patronage is keenly COM
pretended by Cox, who is laying his plans
to be mayor of Cincinnati. After his
aspiration in this direction had been
made apparent to Mckinley and Hanna.
and they had satisfied him with their
sanction. he gave the gentle tip to Bush
nell by defrly wrought occasion of an in
terview in the name of harmony that the
doughty Mark would look well in the
United States Senate. Bushnell was for
ced to see that without the aid Of the
forceful and persuasive Cincinnati boss, he
could not control the next Legislature or
the State convention, which will be ask
ed to again nominate him for Governor.
This settled the thing with Bushnell.
and, of coruse Foraker, seeing the in
sevitale, fell into line Then it was card
given out by Bushnell that he would APP
point Hanna, the object of the card
being to cause Senator Sherman's formal
resignation forthwith. This he declined,
greatly to the establishment of all con-
,cerned, TO write. 1t was with sensations
almost of CONSERVATION, that the eonspir-
ators Thought of the imminent danger of
the failure of their game, for no amount
of urging could persuade Senator Sher-
man to resign at the consummately de-
sired time. Nor had he done so up to the
time of the arrival of Hanna TO witness
the Inauguration Thus the latter found
himself in the embarrassing position of
having no right to a position IN the Sen
ate chamber. Mr.. Sherman was commu-
nicated with and asked for tickets of ad-
mission for Mr.. Hanna, but had none,
nor had Senator Elkins. This was the
somewhat diverting attitude of Mark
Hanna, just before the Inauguration,
when, at the last hour, President Cleve-
land was appealed to, and by his cour-
teSy the necessary cards of admission
We're obtained.
The sincere friends of Mr.. Sherman
deeply regret that he was influenced
10 assume the important and trying du-
ties of the exalted and exacting office OF
Secretary of State, requiring, as it does,
the exercise Of a perfectly poised judg
ment Herein comes a grave feature of
the situation. 1t is seriously apprehended
that the health of Mr. Sherman, who
is in his seYenty-fifth year, may be griey-
ously impaired by his new duties. There
have been several instances of late, in
volying important matters. in which he
has shown curious iapses Of memory. The
first case was when, during the Cuban
debate, he forgot to present certain pa
pers which had been entrusted to him for
the purpose by Secretary of State Olney.
They were intended to refute statements
made BY the opponents of Cleveland's for
eign policy. 1T is also related that at
the dinner given by the United States
Marshal Wilson, Of the District of Co
lumbia, Secretary Sherman absent
mindedly, when about to take
his leave and make the GUS
tomary deyoirs of the depart
ing guest 10 the host, went across the
room and, shaking hands with Secretary
Lamont, thanked him for the pleasant
evening enjoyed. A third instance occurr-
red a few days ago, when he forgot to
attend one Of the first Cabinet meetings
of the new administra ton
The Secretary is not regarded by his
friends so much as a sick man as that
they feel that there is certain cause TO
regret his transfer to duties far more try
ing to his health than were those OF the
Senatorship. They realize that the mem
Dry of the distinguished statesman is not
as accurate nor his mind as clear and ac-
tive as in former years. They are think
ing that his peculiar infirmities may rem
der his administration OF the affairs of the
State Department liable to discredit by
hasty and inconsiderate criticism. The
opinion is already freely INDUCED that