Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-26
Governor Shaw of Hawkeye
State Asked to Accept
Treasury Portfolio.
CONFERS WITH LEADERS


son and Speaker Henderson-Before
Leaving Refuses to Talk of the Mat
ter-Sketch of Shaw.
Des Moines, Dec. Ex-Governor
Shaw, who it is said was offered the
secretaryship of the treasury by Pres
ident Roosevelt, departed last evening
for Dubuque, where he today is con-
ferring with Senator Allison and
Speaker Henderson.
Governor Shaw Starts East.
Des Moines. Dec. Ex-Governor
Shaw left here last night over the
Great Western and, although he did
not state ms destination, it is general
ly thought here that he went in re-
Spouse to message from President
Roosevelt inviting him to Washington
to consider the acceptance of Mr..
Cages position as secretary of the
treasury. When seen just before the
train was pulling out he said:
q have seen the newspaper dis
patches which state that | have been
selected by President Roosevelt as
secretary of the treasury. | have no
information on the subject. Manifest
ly | cannot discuss it. | have not re-
ceived any intimation on the subject
from \, ashington, either from the
fra dc
there"
In speaking of whether or not the
appointment would be likely to come
rotary Wilson of the department of
agriculture, is an Iowan, Governor
Shaw said:
THE appointment of an Iowa man
would be a magnificent thing for 10
lican party of the state. That is a
consideration which far overtops the
personal factor, it seems to me. Iowa
has theleaderin the United States sen
ate, she has the speaker of the house
and she has a member of the cabinet
The fact that there are rumors of an
other Iowa man being called to the
cabinet illustrates her proud position
among the states, a tribute, perhaps,
to her wise. conservative, safe, ana
courageous attitude on public ques-
TONS"
The rumor that Governor Shaw was
to be offered the portfolio of the trea-
sury met with considerable credence
in Des Moines. Governor Shaw first
came into prominence during the cam
paign in 1896, when his addresses on
the money question attracted general
attention all over the country. Cover
nor Shaw is a lawyer and banker and
is considered one of the best business
men in the state. He has always been
considered sound on the money ques-
ton.
There is some doubt as to whether
Governor Shaw will accept the posi-
ton. He is a comparatively rich man,
but during his four years service as
governor has been compelled to neg
lect his business to great extent
Whether he will feel that he can afford
in a financial sense to accept the posi-
ton is not known.
Allison and DoIIiver for Shaw.
When it was announced that Gov
ernor Cane would not accept. Senator
Hanna pressed the name of Colonel
Myron t. Herrick of Cleveland, and
Senators Allison and Dolliver called
to speak for Governor Shaw, but the
President did not need to have Gov
ernor Shaw's qualifications presented
to him, and he had already talked to
Senator Lodge and Secretary Wilson
about him.
President Roosevelt already knew
about Governor Shaw in general way
and was already aware that Senator
Allison, chairman of the finance com
mittee, had always spoken of him as
man of capacity and force, sound on
every great public question, as his
speeches and writings show, and es-
pecially we'll posted on financial mat
tiers, of which he has made an exhaus-
tive study. When last summer Presi-
dent Mckinley announced that he
would not be a canidate for third
term, the veteran Iowa senator at once
announced that Shaw was his candi-
date for the Presidential nomination.
Roosevelt Impressed With Shaw.
The President likes men of courage,
and he was impressed with the cour-
age of Mr.. Shaw in planting himself
squarely on gold platform in his
first campaign for governor of Iowa
when other western men were trying
to find bimetallic platform strong
enough to support the republican par
,ty. President Roosevelt was impress
ed with Governor Shaw's clear finan-
ciaI views and his executive ability.
Hesis still comparatively young man,
able and progressive, and well repre-
sents the western sentiment on finan-
cial and tariff questions. The fact
that the Iowa governor is of New Eng
land birth did not hurt him with the
President. 1t only added to his avail
ability, for the President rather likes
those men who cut loose from old
home ties in New England to cast
their lot with the west.
Neither did the prominence Of Gov
ernor Shaw as Presidential candi
date before the tragedy at Ruffalo