The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-04
ROOSEVELT,S HEADLIGHT MUST gE
ON BEHIND, JUDGING BY
HIS ACTIONS
GOES BUMP ALL TOO OFTEN
Tender of Treasury Portfolio to Pa
permaker Crane Was Almost an
IneXcusabIe BIunder in the
Chief Magistrate.
SHAW LIKELY TO DISAPPOINT
FROM THE GLOBE BUREAU,
Washington, d. c.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3-President
Roosevelt is just about as diplomatic as
June bug. His way of arriving is al
most identical with the way of that
brand of the cOleoptera. He sees some
thing which appears bright, and goes
buzzing toward it; sometimes there is
windowpane in the way, and he goes
bump Then he backs up and goes bump
again. He makes a terrible lot of fuss
and gets into all kinds of places where
he does not belong. 1t is difficult to dis
cover sometimes just what he does in
tend, but it is generally conceded that
his intentions are good.
ROoseVelt's trouble with his cabinet
has resulted from his June-bug propen-
sites more than from any other causes.
He is forgetful of the nice courtesies.
He OverloOks the proprieties of official
organization. When he should do busi-
ness with the head of a department he
sends for some subordinate. That is the
kind of offense that hurts.
Roosevelt leaps before he looks. The
proffer of the treasury portfolio to Muir
ray Crane, of Massachusetts, is an eX-
ample. If he had thought for a moment
or consulted his Office boy, he would have
remembered or been Informed that Muir
ray Crane is the man who makes the
paper on which the government prints Its
money. He would have known that
crane COu1u not 40 UuSluGSS WIFI llllIl-
self, and that if he chose to be secre-
tary of the treasury he would have to
give up his paper mills, which are the
most profitable and perhaps the largest
in the country. But with his google
eyed impulsiveness Roosevelt dashed off
q telegram, wrote a letter and sat down
to think.
By the way, Murray Crane is likely
yet to be a member Of the Roosevelt
irwin 70 1r1NoT T1crn n
have Crane succeed Long. AS the lat
ter does not care to quit just sow, under
fire, and as the governor is willing to
serve out his term, and as the owner
ship of the paper mills would not inter-
fere with the administration of the navy,
it may be brought about.
Accounting for Shaw.
A lot of people have been trying to ex-
plain the choice of Leslie M. Shaw as
secretary OF the treasury. The eXplana-
tions differ widely, and none of them is
very satisfactory. The talk that the cab
met place is a stepping stone to the pres
idency, and that Shaw figures on being
a candidate in 1904, is the sheerest non
sense. If he contemplated being a candi-
date, the last thing he would do would
be to become a member of Roosevelt S
official family. 1t is much more likely
that he was taken in to remove him
from the presidential n6ld. If the reason
is to be found in political conditions, it
is more reasonable to presume that
Roosevelt would be on the alert to nip in
the bud any presidential boom which
might spring UP in that section of the
country.
1t is suggested by some that Shaw's
appointment was to demonstrate to the
country that the administration is not
under the spell of Wall street. But
Gage was not Wall street appointee,
and there are plenty of men in the West
who have had experience In banking.
and who are equally exempt from the
stigma of New York. On the whole the
appointment does not meet with very
hearty commendation. 1t is one Of the
surprises which Roosevelt has been
springing of late
More will be heard this winter of the
elastic currency" plan of Mr.. Shaw.
About all that is left Of the Indianapolis
sound money convention organization is
lobby which is here, working QUIETLY
but persistently to this end. They have
plan all carefully worked out by which
they claim that currency may he issned
against the assets of the bank with
safety, and this will be put into the form
of a bill and introduced soon after the
holidays. The president was STRONGLY
urged to recommend their scheme sDe.
cIfcally in his message, but declined r.
do so. Both branches of congress have
been polled and it is said the hill vii
command considerable support.