The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-02
MRS. SHAW TALKS ON POLITICS
SAYS THE IOWA IDEA" DOESN'T
co WITH ROOSEVELT.
She KNOWS. for MIR. Shaw Has Told Her
An About NGov. Cun,inins Needn't
Platter Himself Life In Wash.
ingtOn rs an Iowa Woman Sees u
Matter Of Precedence Discussed
--EApenses OF Cabinet Ninist ers

-hApenses OF &aD'nct ministers.
CINCINNATI. June 1.-The Enquirer yc.-
terday printed the following interview
With Mrs. Leslie NJ. Shaw under a DIS
Moines, Ia, date line
"'pid you ever know of man getting
harder slap in the face than Gov Cummins
did when, short time after he commenced
talking his Iowa idea SO actively. Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Secretary Root and Mr.
Shaw made speeches against tinkering wit h
the tariff, one in ST. Paul. one in Boston,
and the other at Peoria?'
.Thus did Mrs. Leslie NJ. Shaw, wife of
next to the highest Cabinet officer. discuss
politics to-day with characteristic frank
ness She is a charming woman to meet,
possee-ed Of engaging manners that have
endeared her to all the society women Of
Dies Moines with whom she has come in
contact during her sojourn of a week a.
dis her home. In discussing society in
Washington. or politics there and in Iowa
she is equally interesting.
1'Do you know she said this afternoon,
continuing her discussion Of Gov. Cuinmins,
that the Iowa idea" is regarded by good
Republicans as decidedly un-Republican?
so he fattcrs himself that he has won big
victory for tariff reform, does he? don't
see how he figures that out. l guess he'll
find his views don't accord with the Ad-
ministration, and il hos brought about
harmony, 1t was by changing the idea"
at was stated in the newspapers that he
claimed to have been called to Washington
by the President. But he was not. The
President says he was not. and guess he
ought TO know
|'Mr. Cummins may like to have it appear
L .-... l.
welt. but he needn't fatter himself that
tariff reform suits the Administration
know he decent like Mr.. Shaw, but there
is no love lost on either side for that matter
Mr.. Shaw intends TO meet the President
in Deninon, our old home, this week. Mr.
Cummins told Mr. Shaw that he wouldn't
he there, hut Mrs. Cummins told me at
reception last night that the Governor
intended to GO
in discussing society Mrs Shaw manifess
the intense interest of one on theme next
her heart. When Gov. Shaw unexpectedly
received his appointment to the Cabinet
portfolio, a little over year ago. il was Mrs.
Shaw who evinced the deepest concern.
II was she who determined whether or not
the tender should be accepted, and in weigh
ing the matter her chief inquiry was rs TO
the expense attending the social require
ments of the wife of Cabinet official. and
When she announced her decision she
set about providing a wardrobe in a de-
lightfully matter-of-fact manner, and took
the whole public into her confidence. Some
were 30 unkind as TO start the report that
she invested in artificial diamonds extern
-ively, but no one credited it. Although
she had spent her entire life of nearly fifty
years in little town OF 5000, she entered
trepidation. and with apparent enjoyment;
The success with which she acquitted
herself is a matter Of history:
Its pleasure to be back IN Des Monies
after the formalties Of season in Wash
ington. Socially, you know. Des Mones is
more like an overgrown town But the
ladies here are very charming hostessee land
have had luncheons receptions ana dinners
for me until have scarcely been able to
"'At Washington the social season begins
in November and stops promptly at the be-
Served in the matter of precedence. or
course Mrs. Roosevelt is first. then Mrs
Hay is next and ! am third Mrs. Root.
Mrs. Knox. Mrs. Payne, Mrs Hitchcock,
Miss Wilson and Mrs. Cortelyou rank next.
in the order named, as remember it.
There was an unfortunate controversy
between Miss Wilson and Miss Hay, over
the matter Of precedence. which was finally
that she is the head Of Secretary Wilson's
family taking the place OF Mrs. Wilson,
while Mrs Hay occupies the full posito
TO which her husbands rank k entities her.
leaving Miss Hay unprovided for in the
same sense as Miss Wilson.
"'You know Mr.. WilsCn is from Iowa.
When Mr.. Shaw used o talk to me about
The possibility of going to the Cabiret be-
fore he got the me me al aiw ws
wait for lightning to strike you as for me
10 20 to the Cabinet while one Iowa man
is already there" But Mr.. Roosevelt, hap
ply. didn't take that view Of it:
me after the Treasuryship had been offered
TO Mr.. Shaw that the cost Of living in Wash
ington didn't need 10 be more than 5000
year over MIR. Shaw's salary and that II
ali depended on my common sense
find that common sense pretty nearly con-
trols everything in this world.
"'But then there is no end to expense in
Washington society. The Cabinet members
are supposed TO entertain according TO
their rank, but that doesn't mean that the
poor ones should entertain more lavishly
Than the weather. just because, they hap
pen to outrank them. 1t largely depends
on the kind of house they occupy. Take
Secretary Knox. for example. Mrs: Knox
ran entertain on a much larger scale tfMh
some of the rest of us because her NUS
hand happens to be rich and occupies enc
of the finest homes in the city. Mr.. Will
son lives in a very moderate home, and we
occupy one that is just reasonably good
with the greatest economy possible
however the expense AMOUNTS up wonder
fully. You have no idea how it does count
Nd The fact is that Secretaries in the
Cabinet ought to have much higher, salary:
But ! don't suppose Congress Will ever
grant it, 1t is duty that they can't shirk
10 entertain to q certain extent much
larger salary is necessary. even to make
enda meet. This operates TO bar from the
Cabinet many very bright men who happen
10 be poor. Brains should be the sole con-
-ideration. not wealth.
ain the Cabinet circle we are like one pig
family OF course there was some trouble
once between Mrs. Root and Mrs. Long
but that was before my time Outside .n =. t o,
habit of entertaining one another informally
in a very neighbory way s Mrs n, Eoosss
sncb wonderful tact In the Diplomatic
Corps il is much more formal; In fact ii
has never been decided just what RANK an
Ambassador holds az compared with
cabinet officer have been told never to
invite both to meal at the same time, as
il would be sure TO result in III feeling over
the question Of precedence. cant say that
The members Of the Diplomatic Corps are
IN