The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-09
PROBABLE CABINET CHANGES.
Secretary Hny md Attorney General
GriS-s Nny Retire.


Among politicians who are discussing the
probable makeup of the next Cabinet OF
President Mckinley it is generally believed
| that Secretary Hay will retire. Despite Of
fetal statements to the contrary. it is
known at the State Department and the
White House that the relations between
Mr.. Mckinley and Mr. Hay are not cordial.
rho reason which is assigned for this by
these who are informed is that the rela-
lions between Mr.. Hay and Mr.. Root are
| not pleasant and that Mr.. Root is in the
ascendant in the confidence of the Presi-
| dent.
1t is said that the eliminating conflict
between the Secretaries of State and War
| came when the Chinese situation occupied
| the attention of the Administration Mr..
Root. 1t is declared, sought to shape the
American policy and to take from Mr.. Hay
| authority and such credit as might be OBJ
| tanned in that respect. 1t is pointed to as
fact that when Mr.. Hay was at Sunapee
he was consulted, when at all, in the most
I perfunctory way, and that the ear OF the
President was held by Mr.. Root.
Some OF the friends of Mr.. Hay sought
| to divert attention from this condition of
affairs by circulating reports that the Sec
rotary of State was ILL., These reports were
contradicted by Secretary Hay and the
members Of his family. They said that Mr..
Hay was indisposed. and needed only rest.
During the time that Mr.. Hay needed rest
| Mr.. Root was very active. He did not need
| rest
| Since Mr.. Roots advent in the Cabinet
! 1t is said that he has permitted no OPP
| portunity to pass whereby he might cul-
tivate the opinion of the President. The
| President never leaves Washington that
] n~rt,, .f -.,t. Il,
| eral Corbin does not go to the railroad
station to bid him God speed. The Pres-
| dent rarely returns to Washington that
| Secretary Root with Adjutant General
Corbin does not meet him at the station.
! The only instances where upon the Presi-
dents return to the city, the Secretary
of War has not met him. have been when
Mr.. Root got upon the Presidents train
at some point up the line and came back
to the city with him.
Mr.. Root is also, of all members of the
Cabinet, the most faithful caller upon the
President. He visits the White House and
stays there longer than any other Cabinet
member All of these things have been OBJ
served by people who live in the Executive
Mansion and who spend most of their time
in the State. War, and Navy Building. Sec
rotary Hay, 1t is said. does not pay court
to the President in the manner indicated.
Hence Mr. Root has established himself
with Mr.. Mckinley, Mr.. Hay has seldom
called at the White House other than
Cabinet days. His visits have been brief.
1t is argued by persons who make the
seini-rublic life Of the President a study,
that Mr.. Root will remain in the Cabinet
and this being the case. Mr.. Hay will not.
Another member of the Cabinet popu
larry slated fer retirement is Attorney
General Griggs. In this matter a.so it is
claimed that Secretary nSOt is involved.
The Attorney General is the legal adviser
of the President But it is said Attorney
General Griggs Is not. The President re-
ceives his advice upon constitutional
questions from Secretary Root. whose
reputation is that of an able lawyer.
But this is not pleasing to Mr.. Griggs.
and it is believed that he will retire.
While Secretary Hay can use as his
reason for retirement from official life.
failing health, Mr.. Grggs may give as a
reason. the pressure of private business.
AS has been frequently stated during the
political campaign just closed. Mr.. Griggs
has extensive interests in New Jersey.
Senator Carter of Montana. who will be
succeeded in the Senate by Democrat.
and most probably by William A. Clark.
is spoken Of as a pr, bable successor to
Mr.. Griggs. Whitelaw Reid is spoken Of
as probable successor to Mr.. Hay.
Mr.. Long will continue Secretary OF
the Navy. should he desire to. His rela
tions with Mr.. Root are said to be pleas
ant, and he and the President are good
friends. Several times Mr. Long has
thought of sresigning but has been dis
suaded by the President. 1t is thought
that Mr. Long will remain
Secretary Wilson will be likely to con-
tinue in the Cabinet. He revels in his
work. and is on good terms apparently with
all the other Cabinet members. Mr. Will
son is a plain man in his habits and aspira-
tons, and has strong feeling toward ag-
riculture and agriculturists. He is well
satisfied with his position.
Postmaster General Smith will probably
stay in the Cabinet He is proud of the
honor and distinction attaching to the Of
flee. likes authority. and has given salts
faction to the President and the Presi-
dents advisors.
In the matter of the office OF Secretary
of the Interior there is little speculation
because there is little interest Not ex-
cepting the office of Secretary of Agri-
culture. the office of Secretary of the In |
terror is considered the least important in
the Cabinet. II is the least attractive and |
the least interesting 10 the average man.
There is great amount Of dull. routine
work which the Secretary of the Interior |
must do. but the actual brain work of the |
department is done by the specialists there |
The work. as rule comes to the Secretary |
in complete form from the Commissioner |
of Patents, from the Commissioner of PEN |
sions. from the Commissioner of the Gem |
cral Land Office, from the Chief of the Geo !
logical Survey, etc.
The Office of Secretary of Agriculture |
presents many interesting features to a man |
who cares for agriculture. but few men are
interested at the same time in pension mat
ters geology and laws. railroad grants.
mineral claims, patents, and reindeer in
ALASKA