The San Francisco call., 1897-01-04
All Selections Not TO Be
Made Until the First
Week in March.
If Sherman Accepts the State
Portfolio Hanna Wants to
Be a Senator.
Major Mckinley Will Treat the Coun.
try to a Surprise if Allison
and Dingley Decline.

CLEVELAND, OHIO Jan. 3.-Major
Mckinley expects to set to work on his
inaugural address tomorrow morning
and to finish 1t by the end of the week, if
the office-seekers give him an opportunity.
He feels that the time between the present
and Inauguration Is very short and said
this evening there would be so much to do
that the few weeks remaining to him
would slip by very swiftly. Major Nc
Klnley |ants to get the principal port
foliSs in his Cabinet assigned within a
fortnight or three weeks, but the Cabinet
as whole will not be completed till the
first of March. During Major McKinley's
present visit to Cleveland it is probable
that Mr.. Hanna will come to some de-
clsion about his relation to the next ad-
ministration, though his movements will
to a considerable degree be regulated by
Senator Sherman's final determin alton in
respect to the Cabinet. The impression
grows that Senator Sherman's friends in
many parts of the country are urging him
to accept the portfolio of State if it is
offered him.
Mr.. Hanna apparently wants to go to
the Senate, but if Senator Sherman does
not go into the Cabinet the way is firmly
closed against him.
Senator S. NJ. Cullom of Illinois was
here to-day and spent two hours with
Major Mckinley this morning. He said
the opinion prevailed among Senators
that Mr.. Sherman, while perhaps not quite
willing 10 go into the Cabinet, seemed to
regard the proposition with less disfavor
than formerly. Senator Cullom said he
had no desire at this time to leave the
Senate and that he was not to be con-
sidered a Cabinet possibility. 1t is his
belief that Illinois may not be represented
in the Cabinet at all. He discussed the
Senatorial contest with Major Mckinley
and said to the President-elect that so
much confusion existed it was impossible
to forecast the result. Senator Culom
expressed the opinion that in the event OF
prolonged and bitter contest the prize
might fall to the lot of Governor Tanner
himself Senator Cullom said the i'm
preston existed among his colleagues in
the United States Senate that Mr.. Allison
would not be inclined to give up his pre-
sent career TO accept a CabineE portfolio.
but remarked that he hoped the Iowa
Senator could be prevailed upon to be-
come Secretary of the Treasury.
If neither Mr.. Allison nor Mr.. Dingley
should be in Major McKinley's Cabinet
new quantity for Secretary of the Treas
ury will have to be found and the chances
are that the President-eect will treat the
country to something of surprise.
A good deal OF speculation about the
New England member of the Cabinet has
been heard in the last day or two, both
here and in Canton. If Mr.. Dingley re-
mains ct the head of the Committee on
Ways and Means another man from his
section of the country will be invited TO
accept Cabinet position, The names of
Senators Proctor of Vermont and Lodge
of Massachusetts are discussed not a
little and the selection of either of them
by Major Mckinley should occasion no
surprise. If a Secretary of State Is not
chosen from New York it may be set
down as certain that Cornelius N. Bliss
will be in Major McKinley's Cabinet.
There has been no change in the situation
so far as Mr.. Bliss is concerned, nor is
there likely TO be. save in the contingency
lust mentioned.