Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-07-20
secretary saw no one but few of The
many newspaper mon who called.
HIS FUTURE PLANS

His plans For the future have already
been defined. Mr. Meiklejohn. the u.s.
SlSt3nt secretary of war. is ut present
supposed To he in Wisconsin. whittier
he went two weeks ago to make Il per
sonal inspection of the Fox rive, i'm
provemcnts. 4 scheme which has given
the engineering bureau endless trouble
and which now requires some poSitivn
recommendation at the hands Of r.
secretary to Congress at the next Sos
sion. He has been notified Of VIVA: li..s
happened and is expected to return. to
Washington 10 assume charge of the
War Department until such tii,ir as
the President Shall name 4 pcrinanrn:
secretary. Probably that will be by the
end Of the present month.
Secretary 4tigcr is much wcaric.,l oy
the weight of responsibility he has,
borne fer nearly two years ana 4 ha.f:
and has aged many Years in the opln-
ion Of his personal friends ana is i:
need Of rest. He proposes to depart for
the northwest to spend some time III
the !unher camps belonging To him ana
then to pay visits to his children. This
Will occupy his time until We'll along
into next fall.
DOESN'T TALK POLITICS.
About political matters the secretary
does not speak now. but it may be fair
ly surmisad thai lie then Will b, ready
in view Of his already announced de
cisioH. In take such part in the Mich
gan Senatorial contest as conditions at
that time will warrant.
The closest inquiry fails to elicit any
information rs to the Intentions of tha
President respecting the appointment
of Il successor to Mr.. .AlSer as secretary
Of war. Names are mentioned but
they are only those which have ALREADY
been suggested With more or less OF
pllusibilty in the press without secur-
al inn i11
any We'll intorlned persons. The mem
hrrs Of the cabinet We're all uisnclne
to talk about the succession, though
one did remark that the President had
made no mention OF a name to him. and
he believed that no decision had Yet
been reached. He also conveyed the
impression that no appointment would
be made Immediately but that MIR.
Me;l>iejuhn would be allowed to direct
affairs for some time 70 come.
PROBABILITIES NAMED.
Among the names which have been
mentioned from time to time in this
discussion haze been those OF General
Horace Porter. Of New York now am
hassatlor to France: Governor Roose-
Welt. OF New York; General Harrison
Gray Otis and Assistant Secretary
Meilllejohn. The name of General Cor
bin has been mentioned in connection
with an al interim appointment pend
pant OF the Office This gossip also IN
Guided questions Of locality and the
opinion was expressed in some We'll
posted quarters that the selection
would be made from the west. All
this. however, is mere speculation and
it seems probable from the fact that
the resignation was submitted only 90
day the President has not Yet had time
to canvass the situation and make Il
selection.
As 10 the report that General Corbin
would be secretary al interim an OIL
Ger close To the general said there WAS
no basis for The report; that the Pres
ideAt mad never contemplated naming
Gen. CorhH ad interim. and that il
such appointment We're tendcr"Q, it
would not be accepted.
SOME OTHER TALK.
There WAS some talk also that Gen
Corbn might be given the PORTFOLIO
permanently, although this was regard
Cd as improbable even among General
Gorbin's friends. There would be pee
ccGient for such a course. however, as
in the case of General Schotield's cab
met service.
The news of the resignation caused
4 buzz Of comment this evening il all
public places. but 1T the White HOUSE
there was no evidence throuSirl,t the
evening that any unusual event had
occurred. The President Went for Il
drive with his niece. Miss Duncan, la.e
in the afternoon. handling the rcins
himself. There We're no callers of I'M
pnrtance during the early part OF the
evening, but about 9 O'clock Secretary
Hay. accompanied by Senator Fam
banks. OF Indiana, who is just back
from an Inspection Of the Alaska boun-
dairy seat of difficulty, came over for Il
talk on this subject. Secretary Hitch
cock and Comptroller Dawes called
separately for a. few minutes There
was no evidence of 4 cabinet confer
cncc and no suggestion of anything III
that line.
NOTHING TO GIVE OUT.
There was nothing to give out 70:
publication. it was said. An evening
round of the cabinet officers still IN
town showed the same unwillingncss
to talk of the resignation.
Adjutant General Corbn was seen
during the evening, and While not wish
ing to discuss any of the facts connect
ed with the resignation. expressed his
personal regret at the turn Of affairs
He said:
Il feel great sympathy and great re-
spest for the secretary. Fl iStory will
show that if he has erred it has been on
the side OF the soldier. on the side Of
those who were fighting the battles
No man in that position has ever had
more at heart the interests of the SOL
diers. their comfort and their welfare.
Time aud again he has said to us that
everything must yield before the re-
quircments of the men in the fieit1. and
# the funds We're lacking he would pay
for it himself. He will leave the de-
partment with the respect and esteem
OF every one in it,"
ONLY THREE REMAIN.
Secretary Ayers departure from the
cabinet will leave in it only three Of
those members who entered it at the
nesiTming OF the administration. name
ly Messrs. Gage. Long and Wilson. The
number OF changes that have occurred
in the two and q half ue:aas: O. lico