The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-03
M'KINLEY's MASTERFUL DIPLO-
MACY.

A gentleman from Washington, who
was in close touch with the .administra-
ton during the stormy period OF the
spanish-Ameriean war n, v9uehes . for the
which aptly illustrates President
McKinley's velvety touch in things dip
lenatic, his wonderful tact in dealing
with perplexing situations and in preserv-
ing harmony in his official family under
trying circumstances.
1t will be remembered that one of his
cabinet officers was made a target by
certain newspapers for an unusual
ton, while under this CALLING fire, Was,
of course, angry and reSentful
One of the governors of the territories
was for some reason, unfriendly to the
Washington official and when he issued a
Thanksgiving proclamation he told the
PEOPLE that among other things for Whlch
they might be thankful was the fact that
the commander n-chief of the army
would be relieved Of his position very
SION.
A newspaper containing a copy of this
PFC clamation speedily found its way into
the bands of the cabinet officer. At the
next meeting of the cabinet, after all the
routine and special business had appar-
elitls been disposed of, the president, as
usual, asked:
.'Well, gentlemen, is there anything
more?"
The members of the cabinet had half
risen, but they paused when one of their
number stood up quickly and said, in a
tone and with a manner that implied that
he was about to relieve his mind OF some
thing especially important:
Yes, Mr.. President, there is something
more, with a decided emphasis on the
verb.
The cabinet sat down again and the
speaker, holding UP a newspaper, contin-
Ted:
Il hold in my hand, Mr.. President, pa
per containing a proclamation by gov
ernor of territory, presidential ap-
pointee, in which an abusive, scurr1ious
and l ask you, Mr.. President, to dismiss
this official at once"
The president, looking somewhat per-
picked, finally said, pleasantly:
81 don't understand this, Mr.. Secretary;
let me see the paper, please
The newspaper was passed up to the
head OF the table, and the president put
on his glasses and slowly read the proc
lama Iva Then, after little pause, he
looked UP at the angry official and said:
why, Mr.. Secretary, l fail to find an
attack on you here. If anyone is attack
ed it is I.not you. I am COMMANDMENTS
chief of the army; you are not"
The secretary smiled sarcastically and
said:
''The official should be removed at once,
Mr.. President, and I ask for his re-
The president evidently noted the
earnest look on the secretary's face, for
he said in reply:
This is of course, not right; it must
be looked into" Then, after glancing
over the article again. the expression of
his face became little stern, and in. a
significantly determined tone of voice
and leaning forward and tapping the
edge of the table gently but firmly with
his forefinser, he SAID, looking fixedly at
the secretary:
do you know what I am going to do
with this man, Mr.. Secretary"
mo, Mr.. President, I do not know what
you are going 20 do with him. but 1
know what you ought to do with him
you ought to dismiss him at once
No" said the president. And now
the expression on his face was severe,
and the tone of his voice was stern.
No; I'll tell you what I'm going to do
with him-Tm going to forgive him!'
Thereupon the entire cabinet burst into
a laugh, in which the angry secretary
joined heartily in SPITE of himself, and
the meeting broke UP with the utmost
good feeling and harmony prevailing
Chicago News.