Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-08
WILKIE A CANDIDATE
HIS FRIENDS URGING HIM FOR
MR.. AILES PLACE.
Fact That He Is From Chicago May
Operate Against Him-His
Qualifications.

John q. Wilkie, chief of the secret service
Of the Treasury Department. is candidate
for the position of assistant secretary of
the treasury to succeed Milton E. Ailes
who will retire within short time to be-
come vice president of the Riggs National
Bank of this city. Just how much effort
Mr.. Wilkie is making for the position is not
known, but his friends are urging his quail
fications upon Secretary Shaw and will con-
tinue to do so until the matter is settled.
The employees of the department are greatly
interested in the outcome. 1t is Of deep in
terest to them, as the new assistant secre-
tary, unless otherwise designated, will have
charge of the personnel of the department.
Mr.. Allies management of this feature Of
the treasury has been acceptable, and the
actions of a new man would be keenly
watched especially in view of changes be-
Ing made in different bureaus of the treas
ury by Secretary Shaw himself
Other Receptive Candidates.
1t is understood that several other high
officials In the treasury are to be regarded
as receptive. If not actual candidates for
the position Mr.. Allies now holds. The most
prominently mentioned man in the field up
to the entrance of Mr.. Wilkie was Wallace
H. Hills. chief clerk of the treasury. Mr.
Hills undoubtedly has the good will and
pest wishes of large number Of employees
or the department, in which he has been
employed in various positions for so many
years. He has come in touch with all the
offices and employees of the treasury, is per-
sonally acquainted with the majority of the
several thousand employees Immediately in
the building, and his uniform courtesy has
made him well liked throughout the build
ing.
Mr.. Wilkie possesses executive ability, his
thorough management of the secret service
bureau being a testimonial to that neces-
sary characteristic of an assistant secre-
tary. He is also fairly familiar with many
of the details Of the treasury outside Of his
own office. The chief reason urged against
Mr.. Wilkes selection by friends of other
candidates. and that will stand in his way
more than any other, is the fact that he is
from Chicago. Mr.. Wilkie was a Chicago
newspaper man for many years. 1t was in
this capacity that he met Frank A. Wander
lip, who was at the time a newspaper re-
porter without fame and with no influential
friends to start him on the path that has
since led him to positions of prominence in
the financial world.
A Friend Of Vanderlip.
Mr. Wilkie proved friend to Mr.. Wander
lip. Mr.. Vanderlip made the acquaintance
of Lyman ]. Gage, who was soon afterward
asked by President Mckinley to enter the
cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury. Mr..
Gage picked Mr.. Vanderlip as his private
ocCicIdIy. ne uduc SuCn b SOOO one IQdt
four or five months later Mr. Vanderlip
was made an assistant secretary, with close
personal relations to Secretary Gage. While
In this position he decided upon a reorgan-
iZation of the secret service bureau, then
in charge of Chief Hazen. He remembered
Mr.. Wilkie and through Secretary Gage Of
fered him the place of chief of the secret
service. 1t was accepted and Mr.. Wilkie
came here from Chicago and took charge
of the Office.
Secretary Shaw recently appointed a
Chicago newspaper man, Robert B. Arm
strong, assistant secretary of the treasury
to succeed General Spaulding. Mr. Arm
strong had been Chicago newspaper re-
porter and correspondent prior to coming
to Washington as private secretary to Sec
retary Shaw. The appointment of Mr.. Will
kie would give two out of three assistant
secretaries to Chicago. This is considered
unlikely, although Secretary Shaw would
disregard this fact If he concluded that
Mr.. Wilkte could be more valuable to him
and the department than any other man he
could think Of.