The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-03
BLISS APPOINTED.
Cornelius N. Bliss, Merchant, of
New York,
Has Accepted the Secretary
ship of the Interior.
HE WANTED THENAVY
But That Would Unsettle Pre-
viOuS Arrangements
McKinley's Cabinet Is Now Com
pIete.

Washington, March 3-Cornelius
Bliss of New York, has been rendered
a portfolio in the cabinet and has ac-
cepted. He probably will be secretary
of the interior
Mr.. Bliss was willing to take the sec
| retaryship of the interior, though his
| friends are strongly desirious that he
shall become secretary of the navy
Mr.. Bliss was seen by Associated
Press reporter at the Arlington Hotel this
afternoon. When asked as to his under
standing of the portfolio that he would
hold he said:
LAS 1 understand it, the arrangements
of the cabinet as has been already an
nounced, is fixed beyond recall This
would leave nothing but the interior de-
partment for me to take. The fact is that
the arrangement has been consummated
within an hour and I have had time
to think over the details of the arrange
ment.
Il have as yet given no thought to the
selection of assistant secretaries for the
department"
Cornelius n. Bliss was born in Fall
River, Mass, about so years ago
At the age of 20 he entered his faith
erS commission house in New Orleans
and in 1S4S went into business in BOs-
ton. AS a partner of John and Eben
Wright eco. he opened a branch store
in New York city which was placed I'M
der his mana cement and soon became
the big end of the business. Today it
is Bliss, F'abyan & Co. and is recog-
nized as one of the leading dry goods
firms.
Mr.. Bliss was one of the founders of
the New York chamber of commerce.
He interested himself in the banking
business and is at present in the direc-
tories of many financial institutions. In
1859 he married Miss Plummer.
Mr.. Bliss has always been interested
in politics but never held any political
office except the honorary one of men,
Der of the Pan-American conference
He was president of the Protective Tar
iH league for long time and was
chairman of the Republican state con-
ventions in 1873 and 1888 and was treas
urer of the national committee for some
time. He declined the nomination for
governor in 1885 when Ira Davenport
was nominated and when his friends
were urging the nomination on him in
1891 he went to Europe. He was chair
man of the business mems committee
which tried to nominate Arthur in 1884
and was chairman of the famous COM
mittee of this city in 1893.
Although not in complete harmony
with the state Republican Organiza ton,
Mr.. Bliss has financiered the Republi-
can national committee in the last two
presidential campaigns. His accept
ance of the position of treasurer of the
committee last year was at the express
and urgent solicitation of Major Nc
kinley and Mr.. Hanna. When he I'M
dertOok the work ne entered upon it in
a most thorough manner. One of his
rules was that no obligation should be
incurred unless the money was on hand
to meet it when due. This was rigidly
adhered to throughout the campaign
and at the close of each night checks
were mailed for every bill presented
and audited. The result of this was
that when election night came around
and many Republicans expected that
they would be asked to contribute
toward making up the deficiency they
were amazed to be told that the Repub-
ican campaign had been closed with a
surplus in the treasury
The naval portfolio, however, would
compel a change in the cabinet slate as
made up already and would compel the
shifting of Ex-Governor Long OF Mas
sachusetts. While it is stated it is not
definitely settled what position Mr..
Bliss will take, the probabilities are that
it will be the interior department. The
make up of the new cabinet if this
probability becomes a settled fact there
fore will be as follows:
Secretary of state-John Sherman,
Ohio.
Secretary of the treasury-Lyman ].
Gage of Illinois.
Secretary of war.-Russen A. Alger
of Michigan.
Attorney general-Joseph McKenna
of California.
Postmaster general-James A. Gary
of Maryland.
Secretary of the navy-John d. Long
of Massachusetts.
Secretary of observation-disclosures Will
son of Iowa.