Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-04-29
GARY QUITS THE CABINET.
POSTMASTER GENERAL SENDS IN
RESIGNATION.
CHARLES E. SMITH APPOINTED.
Change In Presidents Oficial Family
Comes Unexpectedly and Added
to Excitement.

Postmaster General Gary has re-
signed from President McKinley's
cabinet and Charles Emory Smith, Of
Philadelphia, has been named as his
successor.
This announcement was made pub
lie Thursday and it contributed no lit
tie to the excitement, though perhaps
not to the extent such change would
in normal times.
The resignation was totally unex-
pected. 1t had not even been limited
at to any Of the senators and repre-
sentatives who are close to the admin
istration and the first that was known
was when the formal announcement
was made at the capitol.
Coming as it did on day when
everything was supposed to have a
bearing on the war situation, the
announcement of General Gary's res
ignation naturally gave rise to lot Of
rumors and speculations.
There was talk of difference be-
tween the president and his postmas-
ter general over some phases of his
Cuban policy and it was represented
that General Gary was so strong
peace man that he could not get his
own consent to remain in the cabinet
while war was on. Another story
which was repeated with much defite-
ness of detail, was that Gary had made
the strongest possible promises aud
had given the strongest assurances
through Cardinal Gibbons to the pope
that there would be no war, so he felt
impelled to resign since his assurances
had proved Of no value.
General Gary himself is very positive
in his statement that his retirement is
necessitated by ill health, but it is
generally believed in Washington that
there is some other reason. There
have been no other indications of i'll
health.
There were thousand sensational
rumors started when the news was
given out, most of which were entirely
without foundation; one being that
Gage, Blair and Long had also re-
signed. This was denied and the
statement was made that the cabinet
was in perfect accord regarding the
war policy of the president.
The appointment of Charles Emory
Smith to cabinet position is very
generally commended. The excellence
of the selection cannot be questioned.
There has during the past two or three
weeks been some indistinct talk of the
Philadelphia editor in connection with
the state department, where a strong
hand is so sadly needed and ii would
not have been so great surprise had
the announcement been made that he
had taken the place of John Sherman,
who has ceased to be even q figure
head.
Charlie Emory Smith the new post
master general is at present the editor
of the Philadelphia Press. He has
been minister to Russia, is an earnest.
active republican, and known TO pub
lie men throughout the United States.
He may make statement later con.
corning his appointment. He was in
formed by telephone of his nomination
and received many congratulations
Thursday afternoon at the Office of the
Philadelphia Press.
He said he did not know the nomi-
nation was to go in at this time, but
added: "I do not wish to be under
stood, though, as saying that I did not
know the nomination was to be sent to
the senate"
Mr.. Quay was asked for some infor-
nation about the nomination of Mr..
Smith said he had nothing to say.