The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-19
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.KERHNS 4 POSSIBILITY
Said to Be Slated for the Interior
Department.
Reward for Political servlees-see-
retary Hitchcock Reported as Not
Likely 10 Remain in the Cabinet.
ADxious to Resume His Re4a-
tions With the GIass Trust.

VIII Richard C. Kerens suaceed rhe Hon.
Ethan Allen Hitchcock as Secretary Of the
Interior after March 4? That is a question
that is in the minds of many men at this
moment
1t is true that the President
! has invited all the members Of
his Cabinet to remain with him
through the next administration but
people who know hawk from heFnshsw
are aware that this does not signify either
that Mr. Mckinley does not desire to make
some changes in his official household or
that he would not call to his aid new ad-
visers even if his magnanimous invitation
should be accepted by all Of those to whom
it was made. 1t is alleged, for example,
that when the President, with what was
described at the time as great feeling
extended the invitation TO The members Of
the Cabinet he knew that bis Attorney
General, the Hon. John ". Griggs, mad
determined to quit the public service and
resume his large and lucrative trust prae-
Iice IN New Jersey II is also said that at
the same time he knew his Secretary Of
the Interior Mr.. Hitchcock, had decided
months ago to retire from public life and
devote himself, with renewed energy and
the advantage Of a better acquaintance
with the details Of the business. 10 the
interests CT the Glass Trust
This combination was formed by Mr.
Hitchcock short while before Mr Nc
I Kinley's first election, and 1t was the
shrewd business ability displayed by the
Missourian in the organization Of the
| trust which recommended him to the
/ President for a prominent place in the
public service Mr. Hitchcock was snatch
| ed suddenly from his counting room in St
Louis and sent as Ambassador to ST. Pc
tersburg to the unspea kabIe surprise OF
! all the Republican politicians in Missouri.
Mr. Kerens among them After serving
! his country with distinguished ability at
I the Cars Court for a few months Mr.
| Hitchcock was recalled and placed at the
| head of the Interior Department 10 sue
I ceed Cornelius \. Bliss, treasurer Of the
/ Republican National Committee then as
now II is related that when the news Of
Mr. Hitchcocks selection for the post in
Russia was first telegraphed to St. Louis
| the newspaper editors there insisted that
I a mistake in initials had been made by
! their correspondents here. and that Henry
| Hitchcock, a brother Of the present Cabi-
net officer and a lawyer Of some distinc-
tion. certainly was the party meant The
! politicians also took this view of the mat
/ ter. as the legal representative of the
! Hitchcock family had been known at times
to manifest sufficient interest in politics
TO vote, whereas the Glass Trust msgnate
/ had never been known 10 care anything
1 for the game OF politics. Nobody II IS
/ stated, was more shoekingly surprised at
/ the Hitchcock appointment than was COL
| onel kerens, who had just won a victory
| over Chauncey Ives FTI3ey after q terrific
! struggle for the prize Of National Commit
| feeman, and who accordingly considered
/ himself the distributor of patronage in
Missouri.
Though viewing the Hitchcock appoint
| Tnent as turn down" Of himself. Kerens
swallowed his humiliation and has re-
| mained ever faithful 70 Ar Hanna and
/ MT. Mckinley. II is said now that his
| faithfulness is to be rewarded and that
| if Mr. Hitchcock steps out Of the Cabinet
| in order to devote his whole attention 10
| the interests OF the Glass Trust, Rerens
| viii step into his shoes as Secretary OF
| the Interior. It is known that vast inffu-
| ences are now at work in favor of Kerens
! for this position 8e is a director of the
] St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad. and,
( in partnership with Senator EIkins. is one
/ of the largest owners Of coal mines in
/ West Virginia The St Louis and San
| Francisco Railroad is part OF the great
/ Atchison system, which for years been
/ striving against the powerful opposition
! OF the Southern Pacific to induce the Gov
/ ernment to build up port OF the western
! ocean south of San Francisco. If Kerens
/ is placed at the head Of the Interior De-
partment it IS believed he can so utilize
1 the patronage and the numerous other
! opportunities of the position as 10 bring
/ Western members Of Congress around to
| the proper view of the harbor question on
| the California coast.
Though he has always been IsyaI Re
| publican and liberal in his contributions
| TO the party funds. Kerens has not been
| eonspieuously identified with public at
| fairs for many years In the haIeyoa
| days of the Star Route magnates he was
! a citizen of Arkansas, and BY knowing
| how to bid on mail contracts he laid tn
foundation for his large fortune. as we'll
| as gaining the friendship CT such great
| Republican leaders as Senator Ell ms.
| Steve Dorsey, and Tom Brady Messrs.
| Dorsey and Brady severed their connee-
! tion with Republican management and
| with public affairs generally soon after
| the sensational developments. in ths Star
Route transactions, but Kerens. like
| Senator Eikins, has continued to grow in
| political fame and prestige.