Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-09-16
LODGE MAY Be
THE NEW premier.
JUDGE TAFT A POSSIBILITY FOR
SECRETARY OF
STATE.
A FLUTTER OF UNREST
AMONG THE HIGH OFFICIALS IN
WASHINGTON.
business Men Are Interested In the
Policy of the New President-The
influence Over the Administration
Has Passed From Ohio and the
Middle West to the East-secrctary
Gage May ..emaIn.

a flutter of unrest in Washington over the
coming of President Roosevelt. This ex-
tends all along the line. First the Gov
eminent employees are worrying about
their positions. The steward at the White
House, who has been there since the days
of Lincoln, is wondering where he will
sleep all the Roosevelt children. There
are six of them and the White House at
tendants throw up their hands in despair
as they think of the healthy. robust
youngsters roaming around the house and
grounds. The society and business folks
are wondering If Roosevelt Will observe
the six months of mourning. This would
cut out all the social events OF the season
and make Washington very dull place
for society people.
Even the Sehley people are worried, for
they remember that it was Roosevelt,
while assistant secretary of the navy, who
slected Sampson as commander-in In chief
of the gulf campaign.
Business Men WONDERING.
Those with business interests In the adj
ministration are specializing as to wheth-
er the new President will hold steadily TO
the sound commercial and Industrial po-
sition. which made this administration
represent a new era in American business
life. The worriments of the politicians
are of the first importance. There is no
lack of sincere grief at the untimely death
of the President, but the business of the
people of Washington is to run the Gov
eminent. and the future policy of the adj
ministration is matter of great concern
to them.
The opinion OF Washington is divided as
to the course President Roosevelt will
take. His enthusiastic admirers feel that
he will boldly mark out a policy of his
own, and will follow IL fearlessly. They
feel that he will change his cabinet en-
tirely as soon as he appropriately can,
and gradually work wholesale changes In
the personnel of the Government
The other course open to him lie to be
very slow in making changes, and give
the Mckinley element In Congress
chance to inspect his work and gain their
approval and cooperation II possible. He
practically announced such poncy In
his statement when he took the oath, but
the spirit of the performance is what will
tell.
Lodge the Chief Parsonage.
mean that he will soon surround himself
with a new group of advisers, to the ey-
cluson of the present ones. Certain
changes Will, of necessity be made in the
high offices. but these might take place
without general policy being laid down.
Henry Cabot Lodge will be the chief new
parsonage of this administration. He will
occupy the same position toward Roose
welt that Judge Day occupied toward Nc
Kinley for several years.
When the Vice President first arrived at
Buffalo he peremptorily insisted as
right that he know exactly what the Pres
ident's chances of recovery were. This re-
quest was so vigorously made with the
explanation that he wanted to tell a friend
in Europe that 1t caused little gossip
That friend was Senator Lodge. He
frankly said he wanted to request the re-
turn of Lodge Is he was to be President.
This incident only served to call atten-
ton to what is generally known, that
Lodge is the closest to the President of
any man in public life.
Naturally the inquiry is aroused as to
whether Lodge Is to be asked to assist in
forming a new cabinet. IL such is the
case 1t would be radical one-Lodge has
the same bold and daring manner of
Roosevelt.
May he Secretary of State.
1t is possible that Roosevelt hopes that
Lodge will become his Secretary of State.
1t might be a sacrifice for Lodge to take
this place. In a radical sweep, Secretary
of War Root would drop out. and his.
place be taken by a Roosevelt man; posi-
bly, Gen. Wood now Governor General of
Cuba. If Lodge does not want the place
it might be offered to Judge Taft, now in
the Philippines. He is very able, and fur
thermore, might prove. If left alone. oppo-
stion for the Presidential nomination four
years from now.
Postmaster General Smith Is reasona-
bly, certain to go in any event, and Penn
sylvania will get recognition through At
torney General Knox. Quay is for Knox,
and Quay has always been for Roosevelt.
Smith would have as successor Henry C.
Payne, of Wisconsin. Payne is expected
to have either this or the Secretaryship
of the Interior.
Hitchcock Is sure to retire. He has no
political standing He was a personal
friend u Mckinley, and was kept in Of
office because he is absolutely and uncom-
promisingly honest. The Interior Dpart
ment is a great nesting place for thieves.
If Payne should take the postoffice chair,
good politics would be to appoint a south
ern man to succeed Hitchcock. Hanna has
the southern delegates in the hollow of his
hand, ana they need attention by Roose-
welt.
Gage May Stay In.
There are reasons why Roosevelt might
care to get rid of Gage, in the Treasury,
but this would bring out strong opposition
from the money people. Gage is not popu-
lar but he is sound and steady. 1t would
seem to be good politics to induce Wilson
to remain. He is good officer and good
politician.
Long would be very glad to retire. He
is tired of office. Allen, who has just re-
signed as governor of Porto Rico and
who was formerly Assistant Secretary Of
the Navy. is frequetly spoken OF as Longs
successor
Former ssenator William E. Chandler.
now Chairman of the Spanish Claims