The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-30
ShermdD'S Entry
Into The Cabinet
w. e. Curtis. in Chicago Record.

W, T.. curtis, in Chicago Record.
Mr. Sherman's moods and disposition APP
pear to have undergone a radical change
within the last year or so. lie was for
merly noted for his retlCencc, his coldness
Of temperament and his lack of sympa-
thy with others. Recently he has become
Sarrulous, genial and Interested in every
body. He was considered selfish and mar
row, and George Butler once said that il
a knife were plunged into his heart it
would come out covered with frost. This
disposition did not interfere with his
success as a politician, although 1t proba-
bly, prevented his nomination for the
presidency. His force of character, his
comprehensive abilities, his power of
statement and his skill in the manage
ment of political affairs We're sufficient to
accomplish all his ambitions, except the
presidency, without the aid of the genial
and sunshiny disposition Mr.. Blaine pos
sessed. For years Mr.. Sherman has been
considered the ablest of American states
men. He probably accomplished more
during his career and had a greater in
tluence upon the politics and the policy
Of this country and upon public events
than any other man of his time. 1t was
Il pity that his career should have ended
as it did in n failure to grasp the affairs
Of the state department, but the presi-
dent was not aware Of the extent of his
mental weakness, and it was a long time
before others of the cabinet realized how
infrm Mr. Sherman's intellect had be-
come. His forgctfulnesS, his querulous-
ness and his almost childish simplicity
were not apparent at all times. There
would be days wherein his mental vlIor
reappeared in manner that was phe-
nomenal; then. without warning, he
would lapse into a senilc disability that
was pitful.
The prcSident-clect sent his cousin,
WilNan Mckinley Osborne. now consul
Tonerai at Lcndcn, to WashinGtOn to as.
certain whether Mr. sherman might be
induced to consider Il proposition 10
transfer his sphere of usefulness from
the senate to the department of state. He
arrived at ) o'clock one afternoon in Jan
uary, 1884, took a room at the Arlington
hotel, got his dinner ard then called at
Mr.. Sherman's house. rhc latter had an
unhappy faculty of forgetting people.
Some Of his oldest friends were never sur
prised If ha did not recognize them. Mr..
Sherman had met Mr.. Osborne many
times, but di / not remember him. When
his identity was fully established Mr..
! Osborne eXp7air ed, as deliCEtely as pos
/ SiblC, that the president was considering
/ his cabinet and desired TO know whether
/ Mr. sherman might be regarded as a pos
! Sibe choice i'm case matters shaped them
selves SO that his appointment was adj
Visable. He explained explicitly that lie
! was not authorized to tender him posi-
| tion: that the president had not vet
| reached point whore he could invite any
| one into his official family. but he would
! like to know if Mr. Sherman, under any
/ circumstances, would consider an inVi-
! tatiOn If il were rendered him MI. Sher-
| man thanked Mr.. Osborne for the honor
I of being mentioned In connection with so
high an office and asked for little time
10 consider The subject was discussed at
he anti ,f,,, NJ, f.
Osborne left the house il was understood
/ that he should have an answer the next
morning in time to take the 10 o'clock
train for Canton. At $50 promptly he ap-
peared at the Sherman mansion, and to
mis- utter amazement he was compelled
to again introduce himself and explain to
Mr.. sherman who he was and what no
had come for The venerable statesman
did not remember anything about the
. conversation held only twelve hours pre-
viOus. The whole subject was gone over
agnin, however and Mr. sherman again
asked time to consider,
When Mr.. Osborne arrived i'm Canton
the president-elcct was at luncheon and
/ greeted Elm with the inquiry: "Well,
what did Uncle John have TO say?"
Look here, William" exclaimed Os-
borne, Tho next time YOU send ne 10 see
a man about going into your cabinet !
hope you will select one who will ren.eln-
Der me over night"
"Is he so had as that"' incurred the
pTesident-elCCt.
yes" replied Osborne, and he related
his experience.
"If that is the situation remarked the
prcsidcnt-elect "if Uncle John is as bad
as that we had better not crowd him"
| Although he had been distinctly told in
the evening and then again in the morn
ing that Mr.. Osborne was not authorized