The times., 1898-08-17
THE VIEWS OF MIR. PORTER.
A P0lit1cal and Personal Pronuncin-
mcntO of Absorbing Interest.
(Fra1n - Hnrt,. ,a 80, AuA,.e !

A Political and Personal Pronuncin-
mehfo of Absorbing Interest.
tff91n tte Hortftsfd Tim s. Augus J2)
Mr.. John Addison Porter. the secretary to
President Mckinley. has arrived in Hartford
from Washington. 1t is his intention to remain
here for few days, when he will rejoin his
family in Blandford Mass Mrs. Porter did
net accompany her husband as far as Hartford
She stopped off ut New York FIR a few days.
Mr. Porter was at breakfast this morning when
a Times reporter called on him. Insurance
Commissioner Belts, OF New Haven. who is one
OF Mr. Porters strongest supporters for tn,
Republican nomination for governor. occupied
seat ut the breakfast table with Mr.. Porter.
ar. Porter is enjoying excellent health after his
arduous duties in Washington He refers with
pride to the fact that during the eighteen
months he has been in Washington as secretary
to the President, he has not been absent from
duty single moment through sickness. He
and his force of assistants, ten in all, have had
to work very hard and as a rule their hours
are from o'clock in the morning to IL or II
O'Clock at night. They even have to work on
Sundays, and except for about four evenings,
this rate of work has been kept up since he
went to- Washington. The heath of every mem
Der of the Cabinet has been affected by the
immense amount of work which each has to do.
Indeed, of the prominent officials. Adjt Gen.
Corbin and Mr.. Porter are the only who
have not been obliged to relinquish work and
take rest. President Mckinley has also been
able to get along without even brief
ton.
State Politics.
Mr.. Porter was reluctant to talk on State
politics. He said it would be unbecoming in
him the moment he enters the State to talk
State affairs. He frankly stated that he
in the race for the Republican nomination
for governor of the State the same platform
that he ran two years ago, namely, Opposition
to the Republican machine" Pers nally, he
said, his relations with Mr.. Fyler. Mr.. Mclean,
and Mr. Paige pleasant. But he was unal-
terahly opposed to machine politics, as he
thought it bad for the State. He OPP
posed to the kind of politics in New York
State and in Pennsylvania Senator Platt of NV
York doing, Mr.. Porter said, great deal
of harm to the Republican party in New York.
The party would be stronger by thousands OF
votes if it wasn't controlled by Mr.. Platt's ma
chine. incidentally, Mr. Porter said that MIR.
Platt was instrumental in getting the envelope
contract awarded originally to Mr.. Pucell,
who is one of Mr. Platt's Democratic heelers.
The President's Position.
Mr. Porter said he had the best wishes of
President Mckinley in his canvass. Mt that the
President wished to interfere in any way with
the political affairs OF Connecticut, but their
Iations have been 50 close and their personal
friendship that naturally the President
feels a sympathetic interest in the political
aspirations OF his secretary. II Is pointed out
by Mr.. Porter that his election to the position
of governor of the State would be followed in
due time by more substantial rec gniticn cf
the claims OF Connecticut to 4 place in the
affairs Of the nation. Net since Marshall Jewell
was a member of Gen. Grants Cabinet has Con-
necticut been given Cabinet Office. Every
other New England State, except Raode Island,
has been represented in the Cabinet.
Power of the Machine.
Speaking of the Republican machine, Mr. Por-
ter said that the members Of the Ialchine in
considering the candidacy OF a for any
position do not ask themselves the question:
''Is he fit man for the postion?'' but 'Wll
he be one Of us?'
The Offices are divided among the members
of the machine and their supporters without
regard to the wishes of the general public. Mr.
Porter said the people Of the State had no idea
of the extent Of the influence Of the machine
It was not confined to members Of the legisla-
ture and to the heads Of the departments in
the State, but it extended TO the clerks in the
capitol. county commissioners, deputy saerifs
and other position OF minor importance.
Plans Not Yet Completed
Mr. Porter was not in a position just now to
state his plan Of campaign. He was desrous
OF getting the nomination this year. If he failed
this year to secure it. he did not know whether
he would be candidate two years hence. He
had made promise to anyone, nor did he
intend to make promises. II elected governor
he would go into the office unpledged.
HawIey VS.. BuIkcIey.
''Have you anything to say. Mr. Porter, in re-
gard to the senatorial contest?''
To this question Mr.. Porter replied that ne
would keep aloof fran it. He would not let
it nor any thing else interfere with his candidIcy
for the nominal for governor. Senator Hawley
was friendly TO him, and favored his candidacy.
but he had told Senator Hawleys friends that
he would have nothing 10 do with the contest fos
senator. Gov. BuIkefey's friends had also ap-
preached him AIrs- Porter the senatorship
and he gave them a reply similar to that which
he had given the friends OF Senator Hawley. Nor
would he have anything to say as to the other
names on the State ticket. He would make
| fight for the nomination for governor and
would leave it entirely to the convention to
| choose candidates for the other places on the
/ ticket
VIII Show Up the Machine.
Mr.. Porter said he certain that when the
situation was fairly and squarely presented to
the people Of the State, he intended it should
| be. they would throw the machine which
was depriviug them of their liberties
Has il occurred to you Mr.. Porter. that you
are somewhat late in coming to the S,ate9''
perhaps am, but my first duty was to the
President and even at the risk of imperiling
my own chances for the nomination for gov
ernor felt in duty bound to stay in Wash
ington until the condition of public business
enabled me TO leave"
MIR Porter's Office
Mr. Porter said that since he took hold OF
the office of secretary to the President he las
introduced a number OF changes which have
improved the service of the Office He has now
staff of ten assistants. four additional assist
ant having been given him last Winter by Com
cress. He has had his Office connected by phi
vate wires with all the departments of the
Government His private Office, which Is located
next to the Presidents. is given up to the
business connected with the war
Attends Cabinet Meetings
Mr.. Porter said he attends nearly all the
Cabinet meetings and takes part in the discus
sions This is a privilege which his predecessors
did not enjey President Mckinley reposes the