Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-11-15
ALL ASKED TO STA Y
PRESIDENTS WISHES MADE KNOWN
10 CABINET.

ITnC0lI Ie-iS y VVlSF1GO WAO6 NNOWN
10 CABINET.
Chief Executive Well Satisfied With HIS
| Co-Laborers--Talk of Contemplated
| Changes Proves to BE Premature --Griggs
the Only Doubtful Factor.
Washington, Nov. 14.-PresiGent Nc
kinley announced clearly and force
fully to the members of his cabinet
| his desire that they should all remain
with him during the four years of his
coming administration. His wishes
We're made known in an extended
speech at the cabinet meeting in the
white house yesterday. Responses
We're made. by all of the members pres
ent, and while there We're no definite
pledges from any of them that they
would accept the portfolios thus ten
dered afresh, there was, on the other
hand, no definite declination. The
proceedings set forth the wishes of
| the president in the matter and re-
lieves the members of the cabinet Of
the customary obligation of tender
ing their designations at the end of
the term, unless they have made an
lrreyocable decision that it will be i'm.
possible for them to continue in office.
1t also sets at rest all speculation and
slate-making of the country's political
prophets, for it is understood generally
that there is but one doubtful factor
in the homogeneity OF the present cab
met. That factor is Attorney Gen
eral Griggs, as he holds his present
position at great financial sacrifice.
warm appreciation to the compliments
ary remarks of the president and
voiced no Intention. of retiring from
his present position.
| The president evidently had pre-
pared for the occasion and his address
reviewed the work of the administra-
J ton in the past four years--four of the
most exciting years the country has
known in three decades. 1t was
j rather a surprise even to the cabinet
members themselves to note how ac-
curately the president had fixed in his
memory the sequence of events and
how calmly he relinquished the pres
ent credit for successful strokes Of
policy or prudence and attributed the
honor to the members of his official
family in whose immediate department
the matter in question had arisen.
! He said that ii the result of the re-
cent election was an endorsement of
his administra aAion. it was no less an
i endorsement of the men who had
stood by him infthe time of stress and
/ adverSity. The credit for success, he
/ said, lay with the heads of his various
departments and he should shrink
from entering upon another four years
of office unless he could be assured that
he would have with him majority
at least of the men who form his pres
ent official household. He said he
knew that in asking them to remain
/ with him there was scarcely one who
could do SO without some sacrifice.
either of money, leisure or personal
inclination. At the same time he said
he should feel happier if all of them
could crafty his wishes.
Secretary Hay was the first to re
| spond. He said that for his part he
deeply appreciated the complimentary
reference Eade by his chief and that
| he thought there was not member.
of the cabinet who would sever such
pleasant official relations without re-
/ gret, and even then only in case of
the most urgent reasons for retirement.
| Secretaries Gage. Hitchcock. Wilson,
! Attorney General Griggs and Post
master General Smith each spoke in
turn and III much the same vein. Sec
| retaly Root was the only absent mem
Der from the meeting. having left for
/ Cuba to look over military affairs
there, and, ut the same time, to try to
recuperate from his long and serious
illness. 1t is known that Secretary
Root is III much the same position at
Attorney General Iriggs. holding his
position at considerable sacrifice. but
willing ut the same time to sacrifice a
| good deal to comply with the expressed
wish of the president.
The meeting. which had developed
into a real love feast, then returned to
the more commonplace affairs of rou-
tine business and the discussion of
the salient features of the presidents
coming message to congress. after
which the members left with renewed
expressions of regard. The meeting
stands as one of the most remarkable
cabinet sessions on record.
AMENDMENT CARRIES.
Literal Enforcement of New Clause Would
Delay Office Changes.
| DHS AlSniRS NQy 4---R atlll.n f,.n,,,