The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-21
dIdata for tha presIdential nomination.

didate for the Presidential nomination.
Then Mckinley said, substantially in
these words: "Will you go back to Bos-
! ton and call upon Governor Long and
say to him that shall be glad TO Offer
him either the Cabinet post Of Attor-
ney General or that of Secretary OF
War or Secretary of the Navy? II he
will tell you which one OF these he will
accept 1 shall gladly make the nom-
nation"
The next day Mr.. Phillips called upon
Governor Long at his law office at
Boston The Governor had only re-
Gently recovered from q severe illness.
There were still traces of that illness
to be observed In the lines OF his face
although his manner was as kindly
| and his greeting as cordial as had
always been the case with him.
Mr.. Phillips Immediately told the
Governor what the OBJECT Of his call
was. This communication seemed to
act like tonic upon Governor Long.
Possibly he needed some stimulus of
that kind to enable him fully to recover
from the effects of his illness. Natu-
rally he spoke with some embarrass-
ment, something like establishment,
that the President-eIect should have
thought Of him for a Cabinet office.
He believed, however, that It would
be necessary for him to consult with
his physician. He said, in fact, he
would make the call upon the physi-
clan Immediately and urged Mr.. Phil
lips to come again later in the day
haf he srAN
stefan said.
Some hours later Mr.. Phillips again
called on Mr.. Long and did not fail to
observe that something like enthusi-
asm characterized the Governors
manner as he reported the result of
his visit to the physician. He said
that the doctor told him that it would
be the best thing in the wprld for him
to enter the Cabinet. It would provide
change of scene and of work, would
throw him into new atmosphere
which would be congenial, and there
fore the doctor urged his acceptance
Of McKinley's offer. Thereupon Mr..
Phillips telegraphed to Major McKin-
ley, who replied as soon as possible,
requesting Governor Long to come to
Canton to spend the day with him. Two
days later Mckinley and Governor
Long were in close companionship.
They spent several hours in McKin-
ley's library. They went out for a
walk In the suburbs OF Canton, and
when night came and the hour arrived
for Governor Longs departure he
took with him McKinleys offer of the
Navy Department, Governor Long
saying he preferred that department
to either that of Attorney-General or
that of Secretary OF War
The following morning there came
from Canton a despatch published in
all the newspapers in which 1t was
said that Governor John d. Long of
Massachusetts, had spent the day be-
fore with the President-elect at Can
ton. Before noon OF that day
Mckinley was called up by long dis
lance telephone from Washington. He
recognized the voice of the caller, who
was Massachusetts, man of influence.
Over the telephone went these words
as the first part Of the communication:
Il see by the papers that Governor
Long of Massachusetts has been
spending the day with you" Mckinley
made no reply to this statement. Then
followed the second part of the tele-
phonic statement substantially in
these words: 1T is reported that YOU
are to offer Governor Long a place in
your Cabinet. We feel that it is our
duty TO say to you that Governor
Long is in very bad health; he is
really suffering from mental impair
ment, and, for physical reasons, is
totally unfit to become a member OF
your Cabinet"
Then Mckinley replied in these
words substantially: Governor Long
has been with me for a day. We spent
several hours in my library. We took
long walk over the hills in The
suburbs. We discussed many TOPICS.
and l want to say to you that in all
this association failed to discover
the slightest impairment of the mental
faculties OF Governor Long, but instead
l was greatly impressed by the virility
OF his mind, his profound knowledge
or modern political conditions, and
with the personal charm which has
always characterized him." Then Nc
kinley rang off. And it became known
"S''h ~ l-OHk was 10 become Sec
rotary of the Navy.
II is true that Governor Long did in
mild words although with earnest man
ner protest against the appointment of
Theodore Roosevelt as Assistant Sec
rotary of the Navy. With frankness
ne gave his reason for this OPPOSE
ton, saying that wherever Roosevelt
was he dominated and that the appre-
hension was great that as Assistant
Secretary of the Navy he would at
tempt to dominate that department
Nevertheless for certain political rea-
sons which Mckinley believed to be
important he found It advisable 10
name Theodore Roosevelt Assistant |
Secretary Of the Navy. and Governor
long. long, sun mildly protesting, never
theless yielded to the inevitable.
r. ]. EDWARDS.
New YoRK. September 20.