Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-10
WHY HE ACCEPTED
Gov. Shaw Talks to His Friends
at a Banquet at Des
Moines.
WENT TO WASHINGTON TO DECLINE
But Finds Himself Secretary of the
Treasury and Explains
How 1t Was.

Des Ioines. Ia, Jan. 10.-Governor
Shaw arrived in Des Moines at an
early hour yesterday. After a hur-
ried breakfast ut home he hastened
To his office at the state house, where
he glanced at II mass of correspond
ence that had accumulated during his
absence. He then locked the door and
denied himself to all callers for two
hours. during which time he consid-
cred the final proofs of his annual
message. At IL II. III. he received eX-
Representative Perkins, of Sioux City,
and a number of other notables. Before
departing for lunch he received Il per
sonal message from Washington ap-
prising him of the confirmation of his
appointment by the senate.
Reception and Banquet to Shaw.
The governor was given public re-
ccption last evening by the Grant club,
in honor of his elevation to the secre-
taryship OF the treasury. The recep-
tion was held at the Savery House,
and was followed by IL banquet at
which covers were laid for $50 guests,
which included nearly all the leading
Republicans in the state and city.
Governor-elect A. B. CummlnS preSid-
ed and delivered a brief but eloquent
address i'm honor of his distinguished
predecessor. Senators Allison and Dol
liver were unable to be present. Hon.
Charles y. Clarke, of Cedar Rapids,
spoke in place of Senator Allison on
THE President" Judge Smith Nc
Pherson, of Red Oak, spoke instead of
Senator Dolliver, on THE Senate"
Governor Shaw spoke to the toast,
"The Secretary of the Treasury
Went to Washington to Decline.
He expressed profoundest gratitude
for the many kind and gracious things
said of and to him. and for the kind
ness beyond measure of the people of
Iowa. AS to his new position in the
cabinet he said in part: Il think L
need not say that the responsibilities
which l am about to assume came
unsought and unexpected. 1 had
planned and hoped to return to my
home and to pursuits to me far more
congenial than public services. When
in obedience to the summons received
through the courtesy of Senator ALI
son l left for Dubuque on the evening
of Dec. % it was with the fixed un-
derstanding with Mrs. Shaw that l
would decline.
"A Man DOes't Always Know"
THE sequel is but an illustration of
how little we know of what we will
do i'll given emergency. Josh Bill
ings used to say a man who says
what he would have done had he been
there was never there | don't think
L need review the considerations which
led TO the conclusion l reached. Gen
eral Grant says in his memoirs that he
never sought Il promotion or Il posi-
tion of responsibility and never de-
clined one When father tells his
son to stand in the gap while he drives
the herd past. filial loyalty demands
obedience without questioning the wis
dom of the order. and when the pres
ident of the United States makes a
similar request there should be no al
tentative.
Declines tn Talk of Policy.
Concerning policy. 1 have nothing
to say. Concerning the duties of the
treasury Department. might say much.
At this time | shall content myself.
however. and content you, by saying
little. Theoretically, l am told, there
is little for the secretary of the treas
ury to do. The work is so SyStemat-
lied as to be mostly performed by sub
Ordinates. Unfortunately. however. al
most anything is liable to come before
him for ultimate determination, and in
practice. he has as many and diversi-
fed questions TO decide as the average