Middletown transcript., 1902-01-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

This is the close OF the nrst year Oh Cn'
! Twentieth Century and it seems tc
me appropriate that We should pause fol
a moment and look backward" f." said
member of the Cabinet Monday.
'six years ago Mr.. Mckinley assumed
the responsible duties Of the presidency
He was confronted by sadly depleted
Treasury, as a result of Democratic tariff
tinkering; the prosperity of the country
was waning from similar causes; condl'
ton of affairs prevailed in Cuba which
was adherent to all right thinking people.
Without stopping to review the history
of those six years look at the situation
to-day"
~
"The Treasury is bursting with sur
plus aggregating $5S1, 100000 including
the gold reserve, of which S221, ,OO0, 600 is
actually in gold coin or bullion. The
country is enjoying prosperity never
before equalled. Affairs in Cuba are
prosperous and she will soon be free
and independent sister republic. The
United States has demonstrated her
military prowess to an extent that has
commanded the respect of the world and
will make the Monroe Doctrine easy OF
maintenance. We are the owners of a
fair land in the antipodes which will in
time become one of the most prosperous
colonies. Civil government in the Phil
ippines is being rapidly extended and
with peace will come commercial prosper
ity such as never could have been hoped
for under Spanish rule. Everything bids
fair for the construction of the Isthmian
canal which will add to the prosperity of
our Western states"
~
"Under these conditions it is folly to
talk of politics in Mr.. Rooseyelt's selec-
ton OF the members of his Cabinet. The
credit for what has been accomplished
belongs to no one man but to the Repub-
lican party to which the people have
confided the welfare of the country.
Every true Republican realizes that and
will lend every aid to the faithful and
successful administration of those inter-
ests. Mr.. Roosevelt is too noble an
American, too good Republican, to be
thinking and scheming for the nomina-
ton in 1904 as the newspapers represent.
He will select for his official advisors
those men who are best qualified to assist
him and to administer the affairs of their
respective departments. You may rest
assured that the Presidents one aim is to
give the country the best possible admin
istration, irrespective of his own future,
although, of course, the ,Reople will
recognize the integrity of his intentions
and he will be the only possible candi-
date in 1904"
A.
"All this talk about Senator Hanna
scheming to secure the nomination, and
Senator Foraker's doing the same thing,
and Governor Shaw's sacrificing his own
presidential aspirations in accepting the
Treasury portfolio you can put down as
pure nonsense. There is nothing in
them but newspaper gossip. Mr.. Roose-
velt will be the next candidate of the
Republican party beyond peradventure
and it is safe to predict even at this early
| day, that he will be elected"
~
These statements are TN loubtedly true,
but it is known that had it not been fol
the Buffalo tragedy, Governor Shaw
would have stood fair chance of secur.
ing the nomination in 1904. He is man
of exceptional ability and has the happy
faculty Of making friends wherever he
goes. He has been in Washington or
several occasions during the past few
years and all who have met him speak
most favorably of him. He has long
been student Of finances and has proven
himself one of the most capable support
ers of sound money in the country. He
is not closely affiliated with Wall STREE
and for that reason it will prove more
difficult for his opponents to impugn his
acts than was the case with Secretary
Gage, who was an able fnancier, but
whose record as the head Of the largest
banking institution in the West and his
consequent acquaintance with New Yorl
bankers made it possible for his enemies
to insinuate that many of his acts were
actuated by his friendliness to the latter
Governor Shaw is expected in Washing
ton in the near future, but he will come
only for conference with the Presiden
and will not assume the duties of hi
new office before the first OF February.
~
The selection of Governor Shaw recall
the statement of Senator Depew at th,
national convention when he said, il
nominating Mr.. Roosevelt for the vic,
presidency: "The highest wisdom vii
be shown by this convention if it select
Western man with Eastern ideas ant
an Eastern man with Western ideas.
The Eastern man with Western ideas i
now President and naturally he turns t
the West for goodly number of hi
advisors. When Messrs. Shaw and Payn
have taken their seats there will be fou
members from the central West, and low
will have not only two Cabinet members
but the Chairman of the Senate Com
mittee on Appropriations and the Speake
Of the House Of Representatives.
~
The rumor that went abroad that Sec
retary Wilson would resign is withou
foundation. In his usual prompt man
ner the President determined to invit
Governor Shaw to enter the Cabinet an
Immediately communicated with him
When Mr.. Wilson heard of it he went t
the White House and told the Presiden
that if the presence of two Iowa men
the Cabinet was going to embarrass til
administration he was ready to resigr
but Mr.. Roosevelt assured him that tler
| xror,ld la M am iNo rru ccnnut and that Ii