Evening star., 1898-12-21
TO SUCCEED BLISS
Ambassador Hitchcock Appointed
Secretary Of the Interior.
RECOGNITION OF The WEST
Selection Was Announced to the
Cabinet Several Days Ago.
REC EWES HIGH PRAISE

The President today nominated Ethan
Allen Hitchcock of Missouri to be Secre-
tary Of the Interior. The Senate at once
confirmed the nomination.
At a special meeting of the cabinet this
morning President Mckinley announced his
decision to appoint Mr. Hitchcock of Mis-
souri, as Secretary of the Interior, to sue
ceed Secretary Bliss. Ever since he re-
ceived the resignation of Secretary Bliss
the President had been quietly looking
around for Il successor, and a few days
ago confdentialIy told the members of the
cabinet who went south with him that he
thought he would appoint Mr. Hitchcock,
who is now the ambassador of this country
to Russia. No one interposcd an objection.
Mr. Hitchcock was offered the position.
ard has accepted. He will leave Russia in
January. and arrive hare in time to tax
office about the 9Th of February. The
President and members of the cabinet ex-
pressed their sincere regret to Secretary
Bliss that he would not continue in the
cabinet, and some time was taken up this
morning in social talk with the Secretary
who Is going out, and who is 50 much
esteemed by mis- associates.
The Presidents Reasons.
Without conference with party leaders.
the President concluded that he ought to
honor the west with a cabinet position. He
also concluded that he had done well by
New York and the east in the selections 50
far made
number Of prominent men went to the
White House this morning to urge the Sc
lection of Il western man. but only few of
them We're told that a man had already
been picked. y strong contingent of west
erners had spoken highly of Binger Herr
man, commissioner of the land office Still
others had urged The promotion of either
Assistant Secretaries Ryan or Davis SEN
ator Platt, when at the White House this
morning. recognized the reasons for the ap-
pointment of q western man and failed to
suggest New Yorker
The New Secretary.
Mr., Hitchcock is personal friend of the
President He is a man OF business ability
and large business connections in St. Louis.
In that city and in his state he stands high.
and the President believes he will make a
mode. successor to Secretary Bliss, who
Will remain in charge of the department
until Mr. Hitchcock arrives. The other
members Of the cabinet are pleased with
the selection. Mr. Hitchcock will be the
fourth Missouri man TO be Secretary of
Interior. the Others being Messrs. Schurz
Noble and Fraucis
MI Hitchcock WIS appointed minister to
Russia. and when the rank WAS raised to an
embassy he Wa reappOinted. Mr. Hitch
cock Is great grandson of Ethan Allen of
revolutionary fame. His ancestors were
from Vermont. but his father moved south
and Mr.. Hitchcock WAS born at Mobile
Ala
Senator Proctor. who was in St Peters
burg during the past summer. saws he is
very popular In the diplomatic corps and
among the acgualntances he had made
abroad.
Mr- Hitchcock has for many years been
president OF the crystal PIate Glass Com
pa1y Of crystal city, Mo. This enterprise
i very extensive one. and turns out d
large quantity of plate glass yearly Crys-
TAI tIty stands in relation to the plate glass
industry that Pullman does to the business
OF building palace cars. The business is an
enormous one. and Mr.. Hitchcock is rated
as a millionaire many times over.
lie IS known a thorough business man
VINO mas not been actively IN politics. al
though he has always been a stanch re-
puHlcan- His brother. Mr. Henry Hitch
cock %: St Louis. is an eminent lawyer.
who TO- several years was president Of the.
American Bar Association.
Ih- appointment Of Mr.. Hitchcock as min
iSter Z" Russia WAS d complete surprise
at the Capitol. His name had not been pub
Hc.y mentioned III connection with thar
pace, although his brother was spoken Of
a. Ekely to receive some high appointment
d the hands Of the administration His
nomination Is Secretary of the Interior is
- "t',,l a. i''i SvIS Il personal matter
with the President, who has a high re-
gard Tor his business Qualifications While
MI Hitchcock Is Il mar of extreme wealth
Il has been said hare that he has not ben
iona ~ society 50 far as taking a part in
SFea, SCCla! functions is concerned and tI-at
largely for this reason his duties AT s.
tfteFshgrg have Lot been altogether 10 his
hiking. He has u family
y" Change in Navy Department.
Secretary Alger is authority for the
statement that there is no truth in the
report Of "a change in the head of the
Navy department. lie said that he was
VIZ" secretary Long a great deal of the
time during his visit to the south with the
President and heard nothing to justify the
report that he contemplated Ieayjnp, rho
CABINET on account Of ili~health or for any
othrf reason Secretary AIger said ma.
lie was perfectly satisfied that tbrra -
no foundation Tor IL. r.-nnrt "