The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-05-10
DECLINED BY
GOODNOW
Tender of the Post of Minis
ter tc China.
A FINANCIAL SACRIFICE
This Is What Such a Change for the
Minnesotan Would Be.
EVANS THE PROBABLE APPoINTEE
Has Become Weary of
His Job.

From The journal Bure0ts, Room 4S, Post
Building Washington.
Washington, May 10-On unquestion-
able authority the statement is made that
Secretary Hay, with the knowledge and
consent of the president, made an indirect
offer to John Goodnow. while he was in
the United States recently, of the position
Of minister to China to succeed Conger,
and that Goodnow declined. The matter
was then dropped. The minister to China
receives $500 salary and is required to
maintain a good deal of state. Little if
anything can be saved out of his salary.
The consul general at Shanghai on the
other hand, receives in salary and fees,
between $4,000 and $250O0 per year. As
Goodnow is said to have stated the case:
while the position of minister would
be decided promotion so far as the dig
nifty of the office is concerned, it would
be anything but promotion from the inan
cial point of view. am not yet SO fixed
as to make the step advisable"
Both Secretary Hay and President Nc
Kinley, however, regard Goodnow as an
excellent man for the position. and it may
be will offer it to him again, this time
directly when Conger steps down. That
there is to be change Of ministers is
very generally believed in Washington,
Notwithstanding Conger is apparently
when his leave of absence expires. He
may be allowed to return, say the gossips,
in order to prevent the impression from
going abroad that the administration was
anxious to be rid of him, but should he
return, it will only be for a short stay.
OF course his nomination for the governor
ship OF Iowa would be very happy solu-
tion of the problem for all concerned
After Goodnow it is said that Henry
Clay Evans is the man most likely to
succeed Conger and there is a growing
impression that Evans will finally be ap-
pointed During the last campaign the
republican managers tacitly agreed with
prominent Grand Army men that there
should be a change in the Office of pen
sion commissioner. Mr.. Mckinley, al
though having the utmost confidence in
Evans and fully indorsing his pension
policy, is presumably prepared to live up
to this agreement. 1t is we'll known that
Evans is tired of the pension commits
sionership and is anxious to close his ca
reer in an important diplomatic position.
The China mission seems to be the de-
sired opportunity. Evans would undoubt-
edly accept it If offered. Goodnow, it is
said. would again decline.
While the matters here referred to have
hardly gone beyond the gossip stage,
there are many wel1-informed men here
who have full faith in their coming out
as indicated. No matter what may be
done, however, it is admitted that Con-
gers successor will be a man in whom
the administration has the utmost con-
fidence, both as to his ability and his
discretion. The appointment will be
made with the utmost care, and no po-
litical pull will have any weight in de-
termining it. Affairs in China for some
time to come Will be of such world wide
Importance that only man of approved
ability will be considered at the White
House. Both Evans and Goodnow come