Evening star., 1898-08-08
Possible Representatives Of the United
States.
THE QUESTIONS TO Be SETTLED
The President Has Not Considered
the Appointments.
SECRETARY DAYS POSITION

Speculation is rife as to who will compose
the commission on the part of the United
States to sit with commission from Spain
to settle certain questions before a treaty
of peace can be signed. Nearly every man
of prominence, qualified for the work, has
been mentioned, but it is absolutely certain
that the President has no idea whom he
will select. He is never premature and be-
cause developments have not reached that
stage, has given no serious consideration
to the question of commissioners. When
that part of the program is reached he will
quickly decide the number of commissioners
and will select the men. 1t is generally
supposed that there will be either three or
five commissioners, probably the latter
number.
Among the names so far mentioned are
Secretary Day, Senators Allison and Davis,
ex-Secretary Olney, ex-President Harrison,
ex-senator Edmunds, Ambassador Porter
Justices Harlan and Brewer, and Mr..
Coudert of New York.
1t is agra ed by all these who are engaged
in trying to name the commissioners that
Secretary Day will be in the list. He has
followed every step of the Spanish-Amer-
lean troubles from the beginning, and Pres
ident Mckinley would not be satisfied with
out his going on the &C mmission.
1t is now said that Secretary Day will
resign and return to his law practice at
Canton when all the work of the war is
wound up. This is an old story. At the
time of his acceptance of the State port
folio it was stated in The Star that he
would probably rot remain long in the po-
sition, having accepted 1t at the request Of
the President. Men who have long been
close to Judge Day know that he prefers
his profession to politics.
No official statement as to the Secretary's s
purposes is now obtainable, and Secretary
Day himself declines to make any state
ment on the subject, SO it cannot be ascer-
tanned positively whether the period Of
time which he had in mind as the length
Of his service when he assumed office has
expired
Secretary Days Retirement.
While no official Acknowledgement can be
had that Secretary Day is to retire from
the State Department, it is safe assump-
tion that this is the case. His retirement
will probably be followed by an appoint
ment to the peace commission, If the reply
of Spain leads to the appointment of that
commission at once, and Mr.. Days career
as a member of the administration will
then close with the re-establishment of
peace.
Gossip as to the successor of Mr.. Day as
Secretary of State is vague and indefinite
at this time. The name of Representative
Hit, whose fitness for the place 1t Is
lDown, the President woull recognize is
being mentioned, but it Is very doubtful
whether Mr.. Hits health is such as to ad-
init of his acceptance. Several of the re-
publican members of the Senate committee
on foreign relations, including the chair
man, Senator Davis and Senator Lodge
are spoken of, but the difficulty of making
a selection of this sort lies in the fact that
it is improbable that any one Of these SEN
ators would be willir G to give up his seat
In the Senate for a short term in the cab
iI.et.
When the cabinet was first formed the
Senate was pretty yell canvassed and 1t
was made apparent then that senators
whose names would naturally be suggested
did not desire cabinet positions.
Among other suggestions is that of the
promotion of Assistant Secretary Of State
Moore. There may be political reasons for
not making this promotion.
Smith Suggested.
The position of the Secretary Of State is
regarded as the leading position of the cab
met, and an appointment to that place
would be regarded as promotion by ether
members of the cabinet. 1t Is not improb-
able therefore that soma one now in the
cabinet may be selected to succeed Mr.
Day, and Postmaster General Smith Is
mentioned in this connection.