The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-26
CABINET CHANGES.
Gossip Gives Bonaparte a Place and
Morton the Treasury.

Washington, Nov. 26.-Mr. Morton,
secretary of the navy. to be moved TO
the treasury department
Mr.. Metcalf, of the department OF
comm cree and labor, to take the place
of Mr.. Hitchcock, secretary of the in
terror.
Governor Murphy of New Jersey
and Charles Bonaparte, the latter
sound money Democrat of Baltimore,
and a warm personal friend of the
president, to be given cabinet places.
This epitomizes the most recent
phases of cabinet gossip
Two things become apparent In all
of the talk about cabinet places. Lit
tie by little the president is letting it
be known that he wishes to retain the
old members of his cabinet with the
exception of the present secretary Of
the interior and of the treasury. BY
this process he is expected to show
sible, that their places are to be
given to others. This does not mean
that the president is out with either OF
the two men named, or that they are
not valued as competent officials 1t
simply means that circumstances exist
which render changes in these two
places desirable. In the case of Sec
rotary Shaw, it is generally recognized
that he hopes to be the nominee of
his party four years hence, and no
matter what he may do, or how
faithfully he may perform his duties
in the future, he will be criticized, and
would probably be found embarrass-
ing to the administration to have in
the official family an acknowledged
aspirant for the presidential nom1na-
ton.
There are other reason for suggesting
Mr.. Shaw's retirement. 1t is well un-
derstood that some of the appointments
he has made are not pleasing to the
president, and that changes in the
places in question would be resented
by the secretary. That the president
has fully determined upon some OF these
changes is well understood. One or the
places in question is an assistant to TIE
secretary of the treasury. Unfortunate
ly, this particular appointment was a
personal one of Mr.. Shaw, and 1T Will
simplify matters for the president if
Mr. Shaw follows the usual custom and
tenders his resignation as soon as the
new administration begins. 1t Will pro-
badly be accepted. Management of the
treasury department is understood to
be much more to the liking of Mr.. Nor
ton than to remain at the head of the
navy department.
a general belief that If his resignation
is rendered at the beginning of the
new administration it will be promptly
accepted and the place flied. Mr..
agreed in most things relating to the
management of the interior department.
Where they have not Mr.. Hitchcock has
acquiesced in what he found to be the
presidents wish with alacrity.
No one has successfully aSSailed the ad-
ministration of the present secretary OF
the interior On the contrary, every one,
even his most bitter opponent, has admit
ted that he has tried to conduct the de-
partment along business lines and that
his honesty of purpose could never be
questioned. But the Missouri member OF
the cabinet has aroused undying antago-
nisms in congress and in the general Of
fetal circle at the national capital 1t
must be admitted that much of these an
tagonisms have grown out OF the very
fearlessness with which he has carried
out what he believed to be the best policy
for the government. Whatever may be
the merits or dement's of the controver-
sizes in which he has become involved, the
antagonisms and the bitter complaints
against him to the president have conttn-
ued throughout his administration Some
of those who complain of him never miss
an opportunity for his denunciation One
member of the United States senate, not
now living, claimed to have a promise
from the president of Mr.. Hitchcocks re-
tirement.
Gov Murphy of New Jersey is well quail
flied, 1t is believed, for the navy portfolio
and Mr.. Metcalf of California, now sec
rotary of the department of commerce.
for the interior department. Mr.. Metcalf
is familiar with conditions in the western
half of the country, with whose interests
he would have to deal secretary of the
interior. He is a good lawyer with the ju-
diciaI temperament which is needed in
handling much of the business of the in
terror department and in unraveling the
tangles of interior department business.