The times., 1898-12-14
GENERAL. POLITICAL GOSSIP.

.
casioned no siirprise in political circles.
1t is known that Mr.. Bliss entered the
Cabinet very reluctantly. He was first
offered the Secretaryship of the Navy,
but declined it peremptorily. Senator
Platt and the leaders of the Republican
=, organization in New York urged him to
! reconsider his decision, but he refused.
Accepting his decision as final they start
ed in to pick out some other New York
| man for a Cabinet job. This was not an
easy task Mr. Plat finally selected
| three names for Mr.. McKinIey's con-
sideration. These were Gen. Stuart L.
Woodford, j. Sloat Fassett and former
Secretary Tracy Mr. Platt, however.
pushed Woodford ahead of the other two
| In the meantime Mr.. Mckinney had gone
ahead making uD his Cabinet, and by
| the time Mr.. Platt and his friends were
ready to talk business there We're only
two places in the Cabinet open, Attorney
General and Secretary OF the Interior.
| Woodford was willing to accept either
| position but the President for some
reason did not think that he sized up
to Cabinet measurement. Opposition 20
veloped in New York and his name was
dropped. Fassett and Tracy shared the
same fate. Then the name of Col. John
| j. McCook was proposed for Attorney
General Mr.. Mckinley was inclined to
| favor McCook who was Originally an
| Ohio man. and a personal friend. Mr..
Platt refused 10 indorse McCook's selec-
ton, and there was n great deal printed
| IN the newspapers about McCook being
l q do.
| cided that he could not afford to make
McCook Attorney General but he did Of
| Ter MIN the Interior portfolio, which was
fatty declined with thanks.
At this juncture, which was on the eve
of the Inauguration, Mr. Mckinley ap-
parently lost patience and delivered an
ultimatum to Mr.. Platt to the effect that
unless Mr.. Bliss accepted the Interior
portfolio New York would have no rep
resentation in the cabinet. Mr. Bliss was
| in town with his family TO attend the
inauguration of the new President Sem
| ator Platt and the members of the New
YORK delegation repaired to Mr.. Bliss's
rooms at the Arlington and explained the
situation to him. They labored with him
nearly all night before they finally over
came his objections The arguments
|
man whose appointment would heal the
breach in the party In the Empire State
that If New York was ignored in the
Cabinet make up 1t would have nearly
as bad effect on the organization as the
appointment of an Objectionable man,
and finally, that Mr.. Bliss ought to be
willing to make a personal sacrifice to
help the Mckinley Administration out of
an embarrassing predicament. AT the
al
matter was settled. Mr.. Bliss has since
denied that he accepted his appointment
with the understanding that he would
resign at the first convenient oppor-
tunity, but his close friends believe that
such was really the case
1t is not likely that Mr. Bliss's resigna-
ton will be handed to the President right
away and 1t may not be rendered at all
II 1t should be found that the President
Is not disposed TO appoint New York
man as Mr.. Blisss successor the chances
are that Mr.. Bliss will be persuaded to
stick to his post
If Attorney General Griggs should hap
pen to be elected to the Senate from New
Jersey next month to succeed Senator
James Smith. jr.. Elihu Root or some
New York lawyer might become Attor-
ney General. Mr. Bliss could then step
out gracefully and some Western man
could be placed at the head of the In
terror Department. The West feels that
1t has mortgage on the Interior port
| folio. chiefly for the reason that the de-
partment has to do largely with Western
matters Former Representative John
kean claims to have a sure thing on the
N.nNy Iar k,fV
been some recent developments in the
vicinity of the residence of Vice Presi-
dent Garret A. Hobart which would
seem to point to the election of Mr.
Griggs.
Mr.. Bryan is expected to arrive in
Washington this week. 1t is said that he
will come here before he returns to his
home in Nebraska. His purpose in com
ing here, it is understood, will be to hold
a conference with the Democratic leaders
After he has conferred with the Demo
cratic magnates at the Capitol Mr.
Bryan may issue some kind of a genera
statement Some of his friends. however
are advising against 1t for the present
at least.
Mr.. Bryan will undoubtedly take &
hand in the election of a successor tc
Senator Allen in Nebraska The Repub
iicans have majority on joint ballot il
the Nebraska legislature, but it is no,
very large and there are said TO be Q
number of Republicans In the legislature
with independent proclivities, who might
I be persuaded to kick over the traces Mr.
Bryan Is personally very popular in hi:
State, and there is a chance of election
to the Senate in the judgment of conserv.
ative observers. Mr. Bryan in the Senate
would have an opportunity to keep him
self at the front. 1t is pointed out how.
ever, that the United States Senate ba.
in the past proved to be a "hoodoo', fo,
gentlemen with Presidential aspirations
No President has ever been nominated
and elected while member of that body
Gen. Garfield came very near breaking
the spell. He was a senator-elect wher
he received the Republican nomination
for President at Chicago in 1880.
Col ]. w. Babcock, the chairman of tn,
, Republican Congressional Committee. ex
, poets to leave for Wisconsin in a few
J days to take charge of his canvass TO
John L. Mitchelis seat in the Senate
Quite a number of candidates have ap
peared on the scene since the recent elec
ton, and while Col. Babcock apparent,
is in the lead, his election is said to b
by no means certain. If he is as success
full managing his own canvass as he wa
e last Fail in handling the Republican Con
gressional campaign, he ought to win
Early in the Congressional fight it is sait
that Col. Babcock foresaw the coming Re
publican reverses in the Eastern district:
! and turned his attention almost exclusive