The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-11-16
PRESIDENT WANTS NO CHANGE
IN CABINET.
SHARE SUCCESS WITH HIM
Recent Election an Endorsement Of
Them as Well as of the
Administration.

Washington, Nov. 13-President
Mckinley today announced clearly
and f~orcefully to members of his cabi-
net his desire that they should all re-
main with him during the four years
of his coming administration. His
wishes were made known in All ex-
tended speech at a cabinet meeting in
the white house today. Responses
were made by all Of the members
present and while there were no
definite pledges from any of them that
they would accept the portfolios thus
rendered afresh, there was on the
other hand no definite declination.
Today's proceedings set forth the
wishes of the president in the matter
and relieves the members of the cabi-
net Of the customary obligation Of
rendering their designations at the
end Of the term until they have made
the irrevocable decision that it will
be impossible for them to continue in
Office. 1t also sets at rest all specula-
tion and slate making of the country's
political prophets, for it is understood
generally that there is but one doubt
full factor in the homogenity of the
present cabinet. That is Attorney
General Griggs, as he holds his pres
ent position at a great financial sacri-
fee. Still Griggs replied in terms of
warm appreciation to the compliment
airy remarks of the president and
showed no intention of retiring from
his present position. This is not the
first time that the president has ex-
pressed to the members of the cabinet
his pleasure at the support given him.
He said as nue. in a general way at
the last cabinet meeting when the
members, several of whom had been
scattered by the political campaign,
got together for the first time and
congratulated him upon the outcome
Of the election. ,."
Today the president evidently had
prepared for the occasion and in his
address reviewed the work of the ad-
ministration in the past four years,
four of the most important the country
has known in three decades. 1t was
rather a surprise wen to the cabinet
members themselves to note how &C.
curately the president had fixed in
his memory the sequence of events and
how calmly he relinquished personal
credit for the successful strokes of pol
icy or prudence and attributed the
honor to the member of his official
family in whose immediate department
the matter in question had arisen.
He said hat if the result of the re-
CEN election was an Endorsement Of
his administration, it was no less an
Endorsement Of the men who had
stood by him in the time of stress and
adversely. Credit for the success, he
said, lay with the heads Of his various
from entering upon another four years
of office unless he could be assured
that he would have with him at least
a majority of the men who form his
present 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 OF personal
inclination. At the same time, he
said, he should feel happier if all of
hem could crafty his wishes.
Secretary Hay was the first to re-
spond. He said that for his part he
deeply appreciated the complimentary
references made to him by his chief and
that he thought there was not a mem
Der of the cabinet who would sever
such pleasant official relations with
out regret and even then only in case of
the most urgent reasons for retirement.
Secretaries Gage, Long, Hitchcock,
Wilson, Attorney General Griggs and
Postmaster General Smith spoke in
turn and in much the same vein.
Secretary Root was the only absent
member from the, meeting, he having
left for Cuba to look over the military
affairs there. and at the same time to
try to recuperate from his long and
serious illness. The list Of responses
therefore was all but complete. 1t is
known that Secretary Root is in much
the same position as Attorney Cen
earl Griggs, holding his position at a
considerable sacrifice, but wiling to
to sacrifice a good deal to comply with
the wishes of the president.
The meeting, which had developed
into a real love feast, then returned to
the nor common place affairs of rou-
tine business and the discussion of sal
lent features Of the presidents coming
message to congress, after which the
members left with renewed express
sions of regard.
The meeting stands rs one of the most
remarkable cabinet sessions OH record.
AS TO REAPPORTIONMENT.