The sun., 1919-10-05
MR.. MCKINLEY HIS OWN CAB
MET MAKER.

AhOthot LhhpuoE VI NvhGOD h'S
tory, Including Version Of the Cir
cumstances Under which Mark
Hanna Of Ohio Entered the Senate.
To THE EDITOR OF THE sUN-Sir:
My good friend e. J. Edwards, who
has the right to share with another
good friend, e. G. Riggs, the honor
Of length of distinguished service as
political correspondent, adds an in
teresting incident to the history Of
President McKinley's Administration
in his recital in THE SUN Of the inter-
view between President Mckinley and
James Phillips, Jr., which led to the
selection of Ex-Governor John d.
Long of Massachusetts, as McKnley's
Secretary of the Navy. OF the long
intimacy between Mr.. Phillips and
President Mckinley there can be no
doubt; the story Mr.. Edwards tells,
80 far as 1t relates to Mr.. Phillips's
suggestion of Long. must therefore
be accepted without question.
realize that am venturing upon
dangerous ground when challenging
recollection OF over twenty years ago
with a writer so we'll informed as my
friend Edwards; but / am ernboldened
to do so by the fact that at least in
one instance I am supported by the
official record. Mr.. Edwards writes:
Soon after his election Mckinley de-
termined to make choice OF some innu-
entail citizen of Massachusetts, for one
of the Cabinet places, deeming It ap-
propriate and the part Of honorable
political strategy to bring Massachu-
sets into the Cabinet. He
had for some time been thinking OF
offering q Cabinet appointment TO Sem
ator George F. Hoar. having high re-
gard for Srnator Hoars abilities and
also having kindly recollections OF the
courtesy with which the Senator al
ways treated Mckinley when both were
members of the House.
The point on which the official record
sustains my recollection as against
that of Mr.. Edwards is the fact that
Mckinley and Hoar were never mem
bers Of the House of Representatives
at the same time. In the winter of 1877
the Massachusetts, Legislature chose
Mr.. Hoar as Senator to succeed
George s. Boutwell,; his service as
Senator began October Is, 1877. at a
special session of Congress called by
President Hayes. On the same date
William Mckinley began his career as
Congressman from the Canton, Ohio,
| district. Thus Mr.. Hoar went out of
the House on the day Mckinley
| entered. OF course as Senator from
Massachusetts, and Congressman from
Ohio they knew each other well, but
the paths they trod seldom brought
them intimately together.
Now as to Mr.. Edwards's state
ment that Mckinley saw political
strategy in bringing Massachusetts
| into the Cabinet, and had 1t in mind
to name Senator Hoar because of
kindly recollections." It was my
fortune as a newspaper correspondent
to have spent the greater part Of the
time between the election and insugu-
ration of Mckinley at Canton, ard my
| greater good fortune to have had an
| opportunity to discuss matters con-
fidentially with Mr.. Mckinley from
day to day because of our earlier rela-
tons at Washington while he was
| framing tarlII leBlSiatlOn.
| / can recall the names Of many men
who he said were urged upon him for
Cabinet portfolios or were considered
by him because of his own knowledge
Of them; but 1 never heard him mem
ton Senator Hoar. There was public
discussion of Senator Hoar's name as
Ambassador to England, to which Nc
Kinley responded In September. 1898.
| by Offering him the post, which offer
was declined; but there were two
widely known and sufficient reasons
why Mr.. Hoar's name could not have
been seriously considered for a Cabi.
net portfolio.
| In the first place he was a Senator
from the imperial State OF Massachu-
sets. serving his third term, and
side of the Presidency-at least ir
Senator Hoar's mind. No one realized
this better than Mckinley. A Cabinet
portfolio would have been declined.
Secondly, Senator Hoar himself. He
was a man of strong convictions. ac-
oustomed to doing his own thinking
and not to group" action: he would
| not have been in the Cabinet long
before these traits would have led tc
uncomfortable conditions for himself
for his colleagues and for the Presi.
dent. Those who knew Senator Hoal
admired him for his Puritan rigidity
Of purpose even when they could moi
agree with him: so 1t is no disparage
ment OF the distinguished Senator t.
say of him that he was not the typ,
OF man 10 bring unity TO Cabine
council. though he would have giver
lit distinction. A President need,
team work" among his counsellors-
none more so than Mckinley.
/ am clear therefore In my owl
recollection and from these fact:
that II Mckinley had Senator HoaI
In mind at all 1t was for the English
misslon-in which post he would ur.,
dcubtedly have added to the renowl
of American diplomacy.
1t is not of great Importance al
this late day whether or not Mckinley
believed there was political strateg,
in bringing Massachusetts, into hi
Cabinet. Personally, relying on m,
own recollection Of talks with nin,
doubt whether his purpose was limited
to Massachusetts,. He did not con
ceal his desire to have New England
represented. both because he believed
in a geographical distribution OF Cab
net portfolios and because he wanteC
to bring into close harmony with hi
Administration those Republicans whit
had supported ex-Speaker Tom ReeC
for President. They were chiefly II