New-York tribune., 1898-12-16
PREDICTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.

Concerning Governor EooseNeltS > app"'h'
mcnts new prediction is in order every day.
As Colonel Roosevelt says. they are all guesscs.
! Perhaps one is as good as another. ana the!
are all harmless, and indeed may even be re-
rarded rs positively beneficial. What they ac-
| compllsh. beyond revealing the personal prefer
cnce of the prophets, IL to show cohciusNeIy
that Colonel Roosevelt has been perfect master
of the situation and still remains so. in spite OF
the anxiety of this interest or that interest 10
secure mortgages on the chief offices under his
administration. At various times in the last
few weeks politicians have announced with the
utmost confidence that it had been all fixed
up,'' and declared that the superintendent or
Public Works was good as appointed. But
it is significant fact that they have always
been under the necessity Of repeating the aSSur-
ancc the next day and other days Thereafter
quite as much with the appearance OF convinc-
ing themselves that they were right rs OF givin"
the public n piece of interesting news. The
SUN Of all these positive announcements is that
| Colonel Roosevelt still offers them problem at
which they keep guessing according TO their
| predilections while he himself prepares to do
the appointing
| That is Just what the people expected when
they elected Colonel Roosevelt Governor. They
believed that In making an appointment he
would ask who the applicant was and how he
| was fitted for the work to be done, and not who
wanted him TO have the place His method of
dealing with the Superintendency of Public
Works has not disappointed them. for they see
him. in spite Of OstentatiOus recommendations
and assumptions, still pursuing his own way,
refusing TO be hurried by any predictions into
committing himself. open to every suggestion
and Weighing every suggestion on It's merits,
anita gonizing nobody, favoring no faction, con
sulting party leaders Of every shade of opinion.
and following his own honest judgment at the
end without fear or favor. II is Of little use 10
try 20 rush such man. Pressure does not
work on him. He does not feel under Obiga-
| tions to save anybodys reputation for prophecy
or influence. When all is said and done. when
every wire has been pulled and every ultima
| tum delivered. he is still the appointing power
| free and unpledged.
| Who his final choice for Superintendent of
| Public Works will be we do not attempt TO
guess. Whoever he is, there is reason to be-
leve that he will be chosen rather than ac-
ceptcd and, so chosen. he can hardly fail 10
| measure up TO Colonel Roosevelt's own stand
ard of pubic duty and introduce into the canal
administration the new spirit so absolutely
needed there If the next two years Of Republi-
can rule are not to result in disaster spirit
which can never come from the conduct Of the
Department with even one eye of the Superin-
| tcndent fixed on political fences. Political
| fences are an excellent thing in their way, but
| the same man cannot build them and carry on
| the canal improvements with Justice to both I'M
| dertakings Colonel Roosevelt may find the man
| to reform the canal administration in the ranks
OF the reorganization or among persons Of other
affiliations. The important thing is that Colonel
Roosevelt finds him and subjects him 10 the test
of fitness and becomes satisfied that he is the
man for the place because of his own qualities,
and not because Of his affiliations. Colonel
Roosevelt Is evidently applying just that process
| to the candidates recommended 10 him by vari
Gus authorities, and that is why there is so much
! guessing TO keep courage up.