The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-21
WHY PRESIDENT MCKINLEY
CHOSE JOHN d. LONG.
Another Interesting Chapter Of Un-
written Political History.


written Political History.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr: Mr..
E. G. Riggs recently contributed an
interesting, even important revelation
of certain politics of the time when
| William Mckinley became President
which Is of value because by means
] Of It the historian of the future who
writes of President Mckinley and his
| Administration will be furnished with
/ highly suggestive incident which re-
] fers to McKinley's Cabinet making.
| Mr.. Riggs relates the fact that It
was due to Charles A. Dana's kindly
| interposition that Senator Thomas c.
Plat was persuaded not to oppose
the appointment of Theodore Roose-
welt as Assistant Secretary Of the
| Navy. A letter written by Mr.. Dana
to Mr.. Plat, Mr.. Dana having been
persuaded to write to the Senator by
reason OF an appeal made to him by
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,, was
| chiefly instrumental in causing Sem
ator Plat to refrain from opposing
Roosevelt's nomination as Assistant
Secretary of the Navy and instead to
give that nomination his support, al
though apparently 1t was somewhat
lukewarm support.
Mr.. Riggs's communication to THE
Sun suggests that 1t may now be
timely to report the circumstances
which led Mckinley when deciding
upon his Cabinet to make choice OF
John d. Long Of Massachusetts as
Secretary of the Navy. This informa-
ton has long been in my possession
until the death of Colonel Roosevelt 1t
seemed inappropriate to report It.
The backbone, so to speak, OF Nc
Kinleys Cabinet organization was
practically made to hand, almost with
out McKinley's choice in the matter.
Certain personal and political con-
tingencies were so strongly presented
to Mckinley that he consented to
make choice of John Sherman, then
Senator in Congress, for Secretary OF
State. BY so doing a vacancy in the
Senate would be created that could
be filled by very prominent Ohio
politician, as in fast 1t was.
Norman B. Rean. Marshall Field
and three or four others who were
very influential in financial and bust
ness life in Chicago decided to urge
upon Mckinley the expediency of
making choice of Lyman J. Gage, at
that time perhaps the leading banker
In Chicago, as Secretary of the Treas
ury. Mckinley undoubtedly suspected
what the Interior purpose was in secur-
ing the transference of Mr.. Gage from
n, ~ al
he yielded somewhat reluctantly to
these appeals. With John Sherman
selected as Secretary of State and
Lyman ]. Gage as Secretary of the
Treasury the more important frame
work or backbone of the Cabinet was
perfected.
Soon after his election Mckinley
determined to make choice of some
influential citizen of Massachusetts,
for one OF the Cabinet places, deeming
it appropriate and the part of honor
able political strategy TO bring Massa-
chusetts into the Cabinet. A few OF
the Massachusetts politicians, one Of
whom Is to-day prominent in public
life, saw At to urge Mckinley to ap-
point a certain man of finance of Bos-
ton to a Cabinet position. the Trea-
sury Department. If possible. OF this
man Mckinley said peremptorily and
with a greater display Of feeling than
he usually permitted himself that he
would not appoint him to any posi-
ton which brought him in close rela-
ton with the President.
Mckinley possessed a retentive
memory although he was capable of
forgetting or forgiving. But this man,
he said, was the only man in public
life who had treated him with in
civility, and upon one occasion with
something like insult. He would not
have a man of that kind near him. |
Furthermore, he was not persuaded |
that this man possessed available |
qualities for Cabinet service. McKin- |
ley, however, was determined to ap-
point a Massachusetts, man for men, |
of his Cabinet II he could find one who |
would be acceptable. He therefore |
sought advice from citizens OF Massa- |
chusetst in whom he had confidence |
and whose counsels he was certain |
would be good.
Mckinley communicated with
James Phillips. Jr.. who was at that
time not only the owner and editor
of the New York Press, a paper which |
gave Mckinley very cordial and earn
est support, but was Furthermore heav-
fly interested in some important man.
industries in Massachu-
sets. He therefore was regarded by
Mckinley as a truly representative
Massachusetts, man.
Mr.. Phillips met Mckinley by invt-
tation at Cleveland. They rode to-
gether from Cleveland to Canton, hav-
ing been assigned a compartment
which would enable them to talk
freely and in confidence. The train
had just passed a suburb Of Cleveland
when Mckinley said that he had de-
cided to appoint a Massachusetts, man
as member OF the Cabinet, but he
had as yet made no choice. He had
been for some time thinking Of Offer
Ing Cabinet appointment to Senator
George F. Hoar. having high regard
for Senator Hoar's abilities and also
having kindly recollections OF the
courtesy with which the Senator al
ways treated Mckinley at a time when
both were members of the House OF
representatives. He therefore asked
Mr.. Phillips how the appointment of
Senator Hoar as a Cabinet member
would be regarded in Massachusetts.