The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-21
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT TAKES UP
ROUTINE DUTIES OF HIS
HIGH OFFICE
FIRST MEETING OF CABINET
Mr.. COrtelyOu Earnestly Requested
to Retain His Position as Sec
retary to the Presi-
dent.
CONFERENCE WITH GEN. WOOD

WASHINGTON, Sept 20.-After a sus-
pension of three days, as a mark of re-
Spect to the dead president, the business
of the government at Washington was re-
Sumed at a. m. today. The train bear
ing President Roosevelt and the members
of his cabinet arrived at the Pennsyl-
vania station at 9:20 o'clock and fifteen
minutes later the president entered the
White house and, going at once to the
elevator, proceeded to the cabinet room,
where President Mckinley was wont to
do the greater part of his work. When
the new chief executive reached the
White house he walked briskly to the
big front door, which swung wide open
to receive him. He spoke pleasantly as
he passed the watchmen and other en-
ployes of the mansion and reaching his
office, was joined almost Immediately by
Secretary Long, who did not go to Can
ton to take part in the funeral cere-
monies. Soon afterward Senator Cullom
called to pay his respects and following
him came Senator Proctor, one of the
presidents closest personal friends. Sec
retary Long informed the president as to
the condition of affairs in his office and
was asked as to the work of the Schley
court of inquiry. With Senator Cullom
President Roosevelt exchanged pleasant
greetings and received the assurance OF
the hearty support of the Illinois senator.
exchange of expressions of good will.
The presidents former secretary, Mr..
Loeb Jr., will remain with him and
probably as assistant secretary. Mr..
Cortelyou, at the presidents earnest re-
quest, will retain his position as Sec
retary.
At II o'clock all of the members of the
cabinet had arrived at the White house
and were soon seated around the
familiar table President Roosevelt oc-
cupied the seat at its head for SO long
a time occupied by his predecessor.
Nothing seemed so strange to these de-
voted advisers of the late president as to
sit at the table without him at its head,
and the gloom and solemnity which char
acterized the meeting was betting of the
occasion.
LONG MAY RETIRE.
Nearly all the members of the cabinet
are quite certain to remain during Presi-
dent Roosevelt's term, but it is very
probable Secretary Long will retire with
in the next few months. He feels that he
cannot resign without embarrassment to
Mr.. Roosevelt and therefore it is thouS<st
that within the next few months he will
ask the president to permit MIN TO retlre
to private life.
The cabinet was in session about an
hour and a half, all of the time being
spent in a general review of the more
important questions which will require
the attention of the new president. All
of the members were present, except At
torney General Knox, who stopped for
few days in Pittsburg. Each member
explained to the president the policy
which had been followed in dealing with
the matters under consideration, and
their present status No new business
was taken up Members subsequently
expressed themselves as having full con-
fdence in Mr.. Roosevelt's ability to give
the country strong, able and conserva-
tive administration, and he will have
their loyal support to the same degree
as they gave it to the late president. 1T
is thought that Tuesday and Friday will
be selected by the new chief executive
as cabinet days, following in this the
preference of Mr.. Mckinley.
CONFERENCE WITH WOOD.
After the cabinet meeting today, the
president, Secretary Root and Gen. Leon
ard Wood governor general of Cuba, had
a long conference at the White house.
The discussion related to Cuban affairs,
! more particularly to the new electoral
law adopted by the Cuban constitutional
convention. Gen. Wood had a copy of the
law, and its provisions were considered
carefully. especially certain features
tory.
1t is believed that recommendations
made by the United States will be re-
ceived favorably by the Cubans. The
principal objections to the proposed law
are to its provision for too frequent cleo
tions and the length of time given to
each election. 1t is believed that so
many campaigns will not be in the in
terest of peace and quiet in the island.
NO FEAR OF ANARCHISTS.
About 1:30 o'clock President Roosevelt
| left the White house to go to the resi-
! dence of his sister, the wife of Com
mander Cowles, of the navy, for luneh-
con. Disdaining a carriage, he walked
| swiftly and alone. No one had known
| when he would leave his office, and as
/ he passed briskly out of the grounds cf
! the executive mansion he attracted little
! attention, scarcely anybody recognizing
! him. He crossed Pennsylvania avenue
into Lafayette square and thence up
| Sixteenth street to his destination. In
the course of an hour and a half he re-
turned to the White house, still alone
and still walking.