The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-23
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
R10WOTION LIKELY TO CONE 10
TEE PRESIDEETs sECRETARY.

IN the Waite mouse In Washington.
HARTFORD. Conn, June ga majority Of
The Republicans OF this city believe that the next
Governor Of Connecticut will be John Addison
Porter, editor Of the Hartford Post and secre-
tary to the President. For many years his
paper has been actively in touch with the Re.
publican politics Of tho State. Ii was once
edited by Joseph r. Havley. the hrst volun.
ter soldier Of the civil war from Connecticut
and now Chairman Of the Military COMMITTEES
Of the United States Senate. The late Marshall
Jewell. Governor. Minister to Russia and Post
master-General under President Grant, owned
. controlling interest In hSIost at the time Of
his death. Mr.. Porter. on assuming control
some ten years ago, introduced improved
methods into its management
Mr.. Porter comes naturally BY his Republican
lam As . young man. . fow years out OF col
leEe, he resided for sone time In Washington,
whore his association with his uncle, the late
William Walter Phelps. put him on terms of
Intimacy with many OF the most prominent
men OF the day. Senator Plat OF Connecticut
made him clerk Of one Of the select committees
Of the Senate. and In other ways he was quite
closely identified with the trend Of national af-
fairs. Tho late Mr.. Phelps was perhaps.
James T.. Blain0'B most intimate personal friend
Mr.. Porter began his practical experience a. q
political worker and stump.speaker in the Presi.
SNANAe SeWpoAka ~ AOCHs WnCu MI. blAln
came so near to election. Since that contest
Mr.. Porter has been . delegate TO conventions,
worked in connection with the State Central
COmmitteo, has organized clubs, gotten Gus
special editions Of his Newspaper and been an
untiring advocate Of Republican doctrine from
yoar's end TO years end. Inside Of party lines,
however, he has always reserved the right OF
tree speech.
So far Mr.. Porter has given to the party much
-
with the exception Of being sent as q delegate
TO conventions, he has had'no official recoRni-
ten Of his party prominence: and yet for nearly
two year,, in the famous deadlock session OF the
Connecticut Legislature of 1891, Mr.. Porter
devoted practically all Of his time TO the man.
eEoment Of Republican interests. His course
at that time was later sustained unanimously
BY the Supreme Court Of the State.
Though Mr.. Porter had bean and always re-
manned q warm admirer both Of the person
0lIty and the StStesmAnship Of M. Blaine, he
supported Gen. Harrison at the Minneapolis
convention Of 1892, to which he was sent as q
delegate, Notwithstanding the fact that n ma
3ority Of the Connecticut delegation voted
otherwise. Mr.. Porters preference for Gen.
Harrison was based upon the belief that Mr..
Blaine's health would not stand the strain Of
second Presidential conteBt-a view Of the case
which was soon amply demonstrated. In
1894 Mr.. Portor's namo was prominently
brought forward in connection with the nomi-
nation for the Governorship. The younger elo-
ment Of the party. which for many years had
been kept in the background, was particularly
SiS part, Mr.. Porter received nearly 100 Totes
IN the conventton-h rather unusual result for
important Office His friends insisted upon his
coming forward sR ain asa candidate for the Gov
SrrIorship in 1 nSS on which occasion he re;
the convention. An analysis OF the vote showed
that he carried q majority OF the cities and
larger towns Of the state. In other words, he
was the first choice OF the bulk of tho Repub-
ncan voters of Connecticut. and his strength
was very well distributed throughout the State.
In ave of the eight counties.
1t was in the campaign Of 1895 that Mr.. Por-
fSr reached hiS greatest pTominence POLITICALLY.
d0nce in Washington. and had become an ar
dent admirer OF his character and ability. The
Wilson }5iI proved to Mr. PeFter's mind the
necessity of Republicans putting forward as
lection. In this BELIEF Mr.. Porter sc St
the Presidency or the Mckinley Club of Hart
E L tSo h Eni,eS s sas ss'' It GFE 1as iarmeG Of in its 1 tigs
the year that Mckinley was elected Governor
Of Ohio 6,D6 MeK Ksa ;yyy, during N vt bis H iSeUPG term
guest OF the club. was entertained by Mr.. Por,
tor, and made e speech which was atterWSrd
visit was regarded as a successful political
stroke, for the demonstration proved to the
friends supposed to Be pre.empte in the inter-.
est Of the New England candidate. Mr.. Reed.
touch With Senator Hanna and the Ercup Of
faithful friends who 80 successfully managed
the preliminary canvass in behalf OF McKin-
10y. Connecticut, though a small State. be-
came an early and important battle-ground for
q: friends nd. Of the opposing iRisd PTs Is t.! af. eandi;
betwcsn Reed and Mckinley, eacn side holly
claiming the advantage. Mr.. Porter ana tho
Of the fight. and, notwithstanding the claims of
their antagonists, whom the, votes were counted
Il - ANN that AiOhf ~ tho fNCAlWR AAlnuuFA
70 the st. Louis Convention recorded their
preference In favor OF Mckinley; Naturally
President elect and Mr.. Porter became strong.
II was universally conceded in Connecticut
prominent place In the gift OF the Administra.
ton. His friends suggested his name for an
n %oSsiy iSGsPsss;d f STl tho iSF conne ss wa' d pRsni,
ton in Congress and by . number OF the leaders
So SH !. PaF pyy., sIssShs SS. P pFsslaf for 9SiG BIZ sooPs.
tAry. and urged his acceptance Of the office.
S sven AZ TS,p s eitie "a Ia, ISsF once h b. ,sAb beng e ebs 6Ssii
and the salary raised by Congress. thus making
the post one OF almost commensurate dignity
Porter went to Washington in March. 1897,
and since then has, Of course, been so'occupied
leave him little time for returning e, Hartford
except for an occAsionl brief visit TO his mother,
During the last year Mr.. Porter has probably
made o larger number OF acquaintance than
sion q President McRinioy himself. S;oSt@iiS.
standing the laborious character OF his work
the Secretary to the President has managed 10
get along with very little friction. This speaks
we'll for bis judgment, tact and discretion. for
certainly no office in Washington Is more try.
ing TO the nerves or calls for greater executive
ability than that OF the buffer" between the
President and the public. No man can. of
course, NIL such an ofice conscientiously with.
cut occasionally coming into collision with
those who are apt TO vent their i'll will II they do
not get what they want. But II has lonG been
accepted as q fact that Secretary Porter has
commanded the respect of those with whom lie
has come into contact at Washington both per
oonAly and in the discharge OF his very impor.
tant work. No training conld be more thor.
ouEh or nber AlizinR than that which has been
conducted at the Executive Mansion during
the past year, which In many respects has been
Inc most eventual since tho civil war.
Personally Mr.. Porter'S characteriIticS ara
striking. As . writer and speaker his indi'
sion. Physically he 10 in the prime OF strength,
As IL amply testified by his record OF moro than
q years hard work without tho loss of a day