Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-12-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent,

VIZ Jul IsCEuldI OOIToSpOuQeub.)
Washington, Dec. 23.-Secretary
Gage is, at LAST to leave the Presidents
Cabinet and new Secretary of the
Treasury is to be selected. Ithas been
evident to everyone in touch with the
White House that this change has been
desired by the President for some time
but, having included the Secretary of
the Treasury in the general Invitation
to the members of the Cabinet to re-
main, Mr.. Roosevelt postponed bis ac-
ton in the hope that Mr.. Cages res
ignation would be voluntarily offered.
1t is believed that the Wakeman affair
in New York and the objections to AS
sistant Secretaries Spaulding and Allies
have precipltated Mr.. Cages resigna-
tion.
The removal of Mr. Wakeman and
the probable appointment of Mr.. Geo.
w. Whitehead to succeed him were
announced In these letters some time
ago. Mr.. Mr.. Wakeman, however, re-
fused to surrender his position as ap.
praiser of the port of New York and
lodged complaints against the Secre-
tary of the Treasury and some of his
subordinates. The president has disap-
proved OF the language in which Mr..
Wakeman couched his complaint and
has summarily removed him, ordering
Mr.. AltreW w. Brown. appraiser at
Boston, to take his place until Mr..
Whitehead, whose name will be sent
to the Senate as soon as Congress re-
convenes, can be confirmed. The
charges of Mr.. Wakeman include,
among other things. the statement
that, after be had unearthed extensive
frauds in the valuation of importations
of Japanese silks, he was refused per-
mission to come to Washington to con-
fer with the Secretary and the legal
advisors of the department and was
subsequently instructed to pursue his
investigations no further. He also
states that, after he had recommended
the dismissal of Assistant Appraiser
Warner Sherwood and his recommen.
dation had been approved by the
Whitehead Commission, after investi-
eating the facts, Mr.. Gage assured him
that Mr.. Sherwood would be dismissed
and later wrote personal letter to
friend authorizing the friend to show
the letter to Mr.. Wakeman. This let
ter stated that Mr.. Gage had reconsi-
dered the dismissal of Mr.. Sherwood
because OF the personal opposition of
Assistant Secretary Spaulding.- Mr..
Gage says that the relations between
himself and the President are cordial
but others say that Mr.. Wakeman's
revelations revealed to the President
a condition of affairs be could no long
er tolerate.
The President has not yet selected
Mr.. Cages successor and the latter
will retain his portfolio until the new
appOintee is ready to qualify. The
names Of Colonel Myron T. Herrick,
President Of the American Bankers
Association, and Mr.. L. Jefferson
Coolidge, of Boston, ex-Minister to
France, are both believed to be under
consideration.
Mr.. Roosevelt has not remained con
tent with merely recommending rec.
iprocity with Cuba In bis message but
has taken steps to ascertain the facts
in relation to the objections of the
Beet Sugar men who called on him
and presented their views some time
ago. He gave them no encouragement
and met their objections with some
very pointed questions and emphatic
statements. His friends outside the
w 1.-Two A4Ou6O h0VO UCOA Ou w
renewed efforts, and when the ques-
tion comes up in the Senate, Senator
Lodge will have by him an amount of |
ammunition with which to put the
to hasty flight. Whether
the Presidents friends are warranted |
in their belief is questionable but they
believe that they have all the logic OF.
the situation on their side and that will
carry the day.
The most powerful implement of
warfare at Mr.. Lodges command will
be a letter written by Henry T. Oxnard,
president of the American Beet Sugar
Company and cou1tersi9ned by W.
Bayard Cutting, director of the same
company. The letter was issued in
S99 and definitely stated that there
s, however, no fear that Cuban pro-
luction, even under an annexation to
he United States. can, in our day, ex-
and to the point where the United
states would become exporters of
ugar instead of importers and hence
hat protection would no longer pro
ect." The letter goes on to say that !
s sugar can be produced more Cheap. 6
= here than in Europe that even with
be free trade provided by the McKin-
~ tariff bill the price Of sugar never
ell below $1,000 per ton which might
Q assumed as the lowest price to which h
ugar would go under free trade. that :
be beets necessary to produce ton of 7
ugar cost $500 and the cost of manu- q
acture was $500. therefore, there T
'Ould be profit in competition with RI
le world of So. 90 per ton, profit of +
) per cent. q
MIR. Roosevelt continues to demons !,
'ate that be is q master hand at the |,
anne of politics although his methods T.
re particularly clean. His appoint a
tent of Mr.. Henry G. Payne to sue. 4
led Mr.. Charles Emory Smith, as Post y,
aster General is considered master h
roke. Mr.. Payne is vice. chairman a
the republican national COMMITTEES e.
I'd will bring to the Presidents coun. Af
liable long and successful politi- 8,
j experience. 1t has been rumored -
lat Mr.. Payne would succeed MI. Va "a
anna as chairman of the National Vi
mmittee but chat report is discred-
ed and 1t is believed that Senator
anna is too good philosopher to
axe such step necessary.
In the contentious of the varions
OoAOAo "hAOh ontO lIOM UlIQ0 TO Clmo.
sleged the White House Mr.. Roose.
1t has always managed to come out
cad, even where he was Obliged toll
fuse appointment to all the candi.
ties urged and select clark horse. ~ a
henever be has been obliged to do this Y
has managed to select man so we'll
Ted for the office that he was sure to
in the approval and support of the
trict in which the appointment was
tde and he has almost convinced
affecting political factions that their
ly safe course is to agree on a candi-
te before they take their claims to the
bite House, as to appear there with
Weakens
Your Kidneys.