Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13
loWAN WHO le MINISTER 70
PEklN WILL BE SUCCEEDED
BY RockhILL.
IOWA in THE CABINET
Both Secretary Shaw and Secretary
Wilson Can Retain Their Official Po-
sitions If They Desire - President
Determined on Railroad Reforms.

[BY H. J. MAHIN.I
Washington Bureau Of the Courier.
Washington, b. c., Dec. IL.
According to persistent reports cir
culated In Washington Of late the
President Is in somewhat of guam
Diary IN regard to recognizing Iowa in
important appointments.
These stories are based on reports
that Minister Conger is to be removed
from his position as this nations rep
resentative to China and also that
there has been some talk of letting
either Secretary Shaw or Secretary
Wilson out Of the cabinet.
There is now no doubt about the
Presidents intention OF removing Mr..
Conger and giving his post to Mr..
hockh1ll, whom he considers better
fitted for the place. Mr.. Conger, how.
ever, is strongly backed by Senators
Allison and Dolliver and the President
will remove him In the face Of their
opposition. There seems at present
little opportunity Of taking care of Mr..
Conger in any other diplomatic post
that would be acceptable to him and
1t Is said that the President when re-
monstrated with in regard to Mr.. Con-
ger justified his act by the> assertion
that Iowa is already well taken care
of by having two members of the cabi.
net. II Mr.. Wilson or Mr. Shaw
would be displaced 1t would of course
kill this argument.
Wilson VIII Remain.
It Is safe to state once for all that
there5is little chance Of Secretary vii
son ieaying the cabinet except on his
own volition. The only sentiment in
the country against Secretary Wilson
lies in little coterie of eastern col.
lege professors who have rubbed up
against the secretary Of agriculture in
several little disputes and have been
disciplined by him without gloves, as
is his custom. The kind of man
the college professors would have in
the place. however, is a kind
that President Roosevelt would be very
unlikely to appoint, The department
Of agriculture is essentially the one
place in the cabinet that belongs to
the farmers and the farmers would be
very unlikely to be able to agree with
the college professors. They are for
Secretary Wilson to man, simply be-
cause no man in the cabinet knows his
business more thoroughly or has given
the country more practical and valu-
able service
The case Of Secretary Shaw is more
complicated. Should Secretary Shaw
leave the cabinet 1t would be by no
means because of any dissatisfaction
with him or his services but for en-
tirely different reasons. The belief
that Secretary Shaw is q candidate
for the presidency in 1908 is in fact
the chief reason why the story of his
possible withdrawal from the cabinet
has any credence whatever. It is true
that Secretary Shaw and the President
are not in accord on every question.
This, however. has nothing to do with
Secretary Shaw's services in the cabi-
net and would scarcely affect the
President to that point.
Shaw and the Cabinet.
It is generally believed in Washing
ton that Secretary Shaw can stay in
the cabinet as long as he wants to,
but that he desires to be specifically
urged to do so by the President.
Whether the President will do this re-
mains to be seen. He has not done SO
as yet but as far as that is concerned
he has not done so with any other
cabinet officers except Secretary Hay.
There is undoubtedly sentiment
In the east that is trying to get Sec.
retary Shaw out and get his place for
an eastern man. 1t is these men who
are responsible for the numerous ru-
mors in regard to his leaving the cabi-
net. It has all the appearance of a
preconceived plot to frighten the fam
ous Iowan out. II that is the case this
eastern clique has struck the wrong
man. Secretary Shaw Is very unlikely
to be affected by such tactics. A prom
lnent official in position to know
told the Courier correspondent posi-.
lively today that there was no truth
In any rumor about Secretary Shaw be-
Ing dropped from the cabinet.
Roosevelt for Railroad Legislation.
There Is no longer any doubt that
the President has set his heart on
legislation providing for government
control of railroad rates and also some
sort of a revision of the tariff.
Both Of these projects are strongly
in both the house and senate.
and it looks as though battle royal
was on between the chief executive
and congress.
Congressman and senators who have
talked with the President during
the last few days have left the White,
House perfectly satisfied that Mr..
Roosevelt will do all in his power to
bring about legislation on both these
questions. He stands squarely on his