The times., 1898-12-08
SOME TROUBLE IN CAMP.
Probable Quarrel Over whffeIaw
Refd's Ambition

hefd's Ambition.
President Mckinley and Senator
Thomas C. Platt are on the verge of an
| open rupture. II reports from the highest
| authority can be credited
An open conflict between the Chief Mag
istrate and the distinguished New York
Senator can only be averted, it is said.
by the formers receding from the deter
reached to appoint the Hon. whitelaw
Reid to succeed Col. John Hay as am
bassador at the court of st. James,
Senator Piatt only learned few days
ago. It is stated. that there was serious
danger of the appointment of Mr.. Reid
as ambassador to England. He called at
the White House Tuesday and. figura-
lively speaking, in diplomatic Language
served an uitimatum on the President. 1t
was in substance that he was unafterabIy
opposed to the selection of Whitelaw
Reid for the high post OF ambassador to
London. and that he should be con-
strained to oppose the confirmation of
Mr.. Reid. should his name he sent TO the
Senate, to the best of his ability. Senator
Platt did not mince words. He told the
President that Mr. Reid was not only
personally Objectionable to himself, but
also to the entire Republican organization
of the State of New York. The Repub-
licans of New York, he declared. would
regard the appointment of Mr. Reid as a
deep personal affront-a direct slap in the
face. The President was given to under
stand in unmistakable terms that he
could not count upon the support of New
York for denomination il he insisted
upon making Mr.. Reid Col. Hays success
sor.
1t is understood that the President in
formed Senator PIatt that he wished to
appoint Mr.. Reid: that he regarded an
ambassador as much his personal repre-
sentative as a member of t.ie Cabinet.
and therefore he did not think that Il
Senator had right to question his seiec-
I tion.
This argument. it Is said. failed to con-
vince Mr.. Platt. He protested against the
appointment In the name OF himself and
the Republican organization of the En-
pire State.
whiteiaw Reid has been an applicant
for the English embassy for some time.
He was a candidate in fact. before Co.
I Hay was appointed. but withdrew in Col.
/ Hays favor-when he found that he could
not get the place himself
| Mr.. Reid at that time was somewhat
modified by being made special ambassa-
dor to Queen Victoria's jubilee. and few
/ months ago he was appointed one of the
| Commissioners to negotiate the treaty OF
/ peace with Spain at Paris. Mr.. Platt was
! opposed TO Mr.. Reid's selection to the lat
/ ter position, but he had an important
| State campaign on his hands and was not
/ in a position TO make much Of i fight.
I especially as the Senate was not in Ses-
sion and could not threaten to oppose his
/ confirmat ton.
/ II is learned that at least two members
| of Mr.. Mclinley's Cabinet are working
I to have Mr.. Reid sent to London They
are believed to be the Secretary of State
Z and the Postmaster General Both old
newspaper men and probably support Reid
on that account.
Mr. Reids father-in-law d. o. mis-
| has been Il liberal contributor to the Re
publican party in the past. Mr.. Reid was
| an original Mckinley man in 1896. and
advocated his nomination in his news
paper, the Tribune, when Mr. Patt and
his regular organization was doing every
II thing in their power to prevent it.
The question that was being asked in
political circles last night was: Con
| Senator Platt prevent Mr.. Reid's con-
firmation in the event OF his name &C.
ing to the Senate?
Ordinarily an Administration strongly
| intrenched in power can override the ob-
lection of any individual senator BuE II
| is certain that the New York senator Will
be able to make a very stubborn fight.
| and the Administration hesitat=s to maxi
a direct issue in view of the comp lea io1s
that would be likely TO result from il
over the ratification of the treaty of peace
with Spain. The appointment of Mr.. Reid
might endanger or hold up the Tatitica-
tion of that treaty. IL is an interesting
and perhaps critical situation for the Ad-
ministration and the Republican party