The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-16

Washington, November 13.-Presi-
dent Mckinley today announced it
clearly and forcefuIly to the members
of his cabinet his desire that they
should all remain with him during the
four a of his coming administra-
ton. His wishes We're made known in
an extended speech at the 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 wOu accept the portfolios
rendered afresh. there was, on the
her hand, no definite d~eclination.
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 unless they have made
an irreyOcable decision that it will be
impossible for them to continue in Of
fee. 1t also sets at rest all specula.
ton and slate making of the country's
political profits, for il is understood
generally thee is but one doubtful fac
tor in the hOmogeneity of h present
cabinet. That factor is Attorney Gen.
eral Griggs, as he holds his present DO
Sition at a great financial sacrifice.
Still, Mr.. Griggs replied in terms Of
warm appreciation to the compliment
tary remarks of the president and
voiced no intention of retiring from his
present position.
This lis not the first time that the
president has expressed to the members
of cabinet his pleasure at the sup
port they have given him. He said as
much In a general way at the last cab
met meeting when the members. sew
eral of whom had peer scattered by
the political campaign, got together for
the first time and congratulate 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-
m~InistratiOn in the past -four years
four of the most exciting years the
country has known in three decades.
1t was rather a surprise even to the
cabinet members themselves to note
how accurately the president had fixed
in his m the sequenc of events
and how calmly he relinquished the
personal credit for successful strokes
OF policy or prudence and attributed
the honor to the member of his Off
ecial family in whose immediate depart
ment the matter in question had arisen
He said that if h result of the recent
election was an endorsement of his adj
m~lnlStratfOn, it was no less an endorse
ment of the men who had stood by
him in the time of stress and necessity.
The credit for success, he said, lay
with the heads of his various depart
mentS, and he should shrink from en-
tering upon another four years of office
2 h. nITl No -cTrro EIo4 H.
would have with him a majority at
least of the men who formed his pres
ent official household. He said that he
knew 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 graft
fy his wishes.
Secretary Hay was the first to re-
SpOnd. He said that for his part he
deeply appreciated the complimentary
references made by his chief and that
he thought there was not a member of
the cabinet Who would sever such pleas
ant official relations without regret
and wen then only in case of the most
urgent reasons of retirement.
Secretaries Gage, Long, Hitchcock,
Wilson, Attorney General Griggs and
Postmaster General Smith each spoke
~ $500 1870 ~ @@O N-C
Secretary Root was the only absent
membe from the meeting, having left
for Cuba to look over military affairs
there and at the same time to try to
recuperate from his long ond serious
Illness.
The list of responses. therefore, was
all but complete. 1t is known hat
Secretary Root is in much the same
position as Attorney General Griggs,
holding his position at considerable
sacrifice. but willing at 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 eturned to the
more commonplace affairs of routine
business and the discussion of the
salient features of the presidents COM
ing message to congress, after which
the members left with renewed express
as one of the most remarkable cabinet
sessions on record.
Each of the member furnished a
forecast of his annual report, but none
of the reports was in shape for formal
presentation.
1t was practically decided that the
recommendation in the message on the
subject of the war revenue taxes viii
advocate small reduction. scaling down
the total revenue about SIS, 900. O JUS
where his decrease will be made has
not been determined.
Considerable attention Will De devoted
to the Nicaraguan canal in the message
but the presidents ommendat
are not yet clearly