Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-02
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY ., 1902.
The Two Dromios.

II is not many moons ago that we made
the prediction that Secretary Gage would
retire from the Cabinet At the time we
did so predict the Secretary, through the
public prints and interviews with has
friends, gave everybody TO understand thd&
lie had no intention Of resiguiug. He or hE
agents, through the New York fnanciers
made every effort to keep him in his place
At least It was 50 charged. Petition after
petition was forwarded and placed on file
if the truth is told-aud all urging his re-
tentiou
All this, however, is unimpOrtant except
to show how the Secretary clung to the hope
that he would still hold his portfolio. He
was doomed to disappointment, and had to
go. In correspondence noted lately in the
Times it was said the President asked for
his resignation. Whether he actually did
or not, no one but the President can truth
fully enlighten us. The Secretary will not
and if he would his statements on the sub
iect would need corroboration. The Pres
ident's side of the story could be implicitly
believed. Not so Mr.. Cages. The latter,
unfortunately. has not the best reputation
for truth and veracity, according to some
newspaper correspondents: therefore only
the Presidents word could be relied on
However, all things considered, Mr. Cage
has been we'll treated Much better than
the treatment he meted out to many luck
less gentlemen who were either summarily
dismissed by him, OF who had conspiracies
hatched against them with his approval
which resulted as he intended they should.
With the pretense of fairness he acted with
less generosity and fairness than any man
who ever held his place. And it was this
that led to his dowufall--for downfall il is
no matter what he OF his friends may say
1t is not worth while now to recall the
days when Vanderlip lorded it over the
clerks in the department. When he in
vaded the clerks rooms, examined their
towels and then lectured and insulted all
whom his malevolent disposition prompted
him to browbeat Those were rare old days
The spectacled worthy going around with
his sneak appendage following him noting
this clerk who dotted an in the wrong col
umn, and that lady who had bathed her
hands FIVE minutes before O'Clock was
sight not very pleasing Nor was such CON
duet very dignihed, yet Gage submitted to
it all. 1t was sham reform, and only done
to get mp a reputation for the chap who
inaugurated il. Il did give him a reputa-
ton and it is not creditable.
But Gage will go, and when he is gone
none will weep unless it is his spy and
Vanderlip. When he is no longer Secretary
of the Treasury, Vanderlip'r occupation as
go-between will be gone II is hardly prob
able that the new Secretary will allow certain
information to go TO the whilom Assistant
Secretary which will be denied to financial
institutions. That favor. at least, will be
no longer be granted The Secretary-we
still refer to Cage-will doubtless make the
most Of his opportunities. He is said to
have many fattering business offers made
him. Maybe he has. As we have not heard
what the gentlemen on the other side have
to say we don't know just how much truth
there is in any Of these statements. How
ever we wish him no i'll will. We will not
play with his reputation because he has
done enough Of that himself
We regret, however, that he has seen fit
to maintain profound silence concerning
the many questions we have from time to
time asked him. He will not enlighten us
as to whether be or Vanderlip--or both
profted by the time clock transaction We
would like to know Just what the truth is
about that unsavory episode But he and
Yanderlip will never tell US. What COM
mission was pocketed we will, perhaps,
never know
The part played by Vanderlip as a real
estate broker in the sale Of the New York
custom house will never be divulged If it
was an honest bona ide sale wherein no
brokerage fees were charged, to clear their
own skirts the secretary and his late assist
ant should inform the public and clear their
reputation Of the taint Of unfair advantage
taken Of official position. If there was a
fee charged in addition to the regular
salaries Of the two worthless they ought to
ease their consciences, make an open and
honest confession, and promise to sin no
more We fear they will not do it. If
they have uniustly and unlawfully put
money in their pOckets-we do not charge
they have-the world ought to know that
If they have not, justice to themselves
ought to prompt them to answer the ques-
ions that have been asked
We have brought Vanderlip inio this
notice because Of the prominent part he
formerly played. We have observed one
thing about Vanderlip since we FIRST began
to notice him. He is not 50 Zip and ready
10 advertise himself. He now slips in and
out and don't hurry to newspaper reporters
10 announce his presence as he once did
He is quiet now and modest
We take leave Of the two with reluctance.