Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-16

become the nominee OF the republican
party this summer for the presidency.
Secretary Shaw was the first member
OF the cabinet approached on this mat
ter, because OF all the cabinet members
he is considered the best man to make
a successful run for the presidency AT
ter he had positively refused to con
slider any such scheme, the emissa-
ries from the anti-Roosevelt crowd
turned their attention to Secretary
Root. Here they were again indig-
nantly turned down, and after making
an unsuccessful attempt of the same
sort with Secretary Hay the campaign
among cabinet members ceased.
While Secretary Shaw's friends
heartily approve the stand he has TAX
en- in this matter, and the loyalty he
has shown the President, there is also
a secret feeling of pride and satisfac-
ton over the fact that the very men
the eastern capitalists-who, when
Secretary Shaw was appointed, looked
upon him askance, have come to him
and offered him their support to reach
the highest office in the land. There
are few men who have come to Wash
ington to accept high official positions
who ever wonstheir way as completely
as has Secretary Shaw Although
there were hundreds ready and anxious
to find fault with him as quickly as
possible after he was sworn into Office
they have yet to discover any mistake
and slip of judgment in which they
tcan find serious fault. Secretary Shaw
grasped the difficult details of the
treasury with a determined hand, and
without being too impetuous or radi-
cal, he has wrought changes and re-
forms in his department that is facil-
itating the work and saving the money
Of the government every day in the
year.
The closeness with which Secretary
Shaw has always been watched was
evinced when he appointed Robert B.
Armstrong, an Iowa boy, just 80 years
old, as assistant secretary of the treas
ury. Immediately there was talk
about the youth OF Mr.. Armstrong and
| the lack of wisdom in the secretary to
| appoint such a man to such a respon-
sible position. Secretary Shaw insist
ed the appointment was ratified and
after only a few months of evidence
| it is generally admitted that there is
no more efficient nor valuable man in
the treasury department than Mr.. Arm
strong.
While Secretary Shaw has at times
seemingly antagonized some Of the
money interests of the country by his
schemes, yet they have usually proven
to be wise in the end and the sound
ness of his Judgment has been thor
oughly impressed on the financial
world. For this reason and for the
undoubted fact. that Mr.. Shaw's popu-
larity as an orator and as a clear cut
type of American manhood he would
be vote getter at the head of the re-
publican ticket. The men who are
trying to find some way to discredit
President Roosevelt came to Secretary
Shaw with their tempting offers and
got-well it is said that Mr.. Shaw
came as near to being hopping mad"
as he ever did.
| When the senate confirmed the ap-
pointment of VIM. l. Buchanan, the
Iowan whom the President sent, as
special envoy to Panama some weeks
ago by vote of 3S to Is it gave evil
dence of about how the Panama treaty
will be passed when it once gets to a
vote. This vote, however, was strict
party vote and the canal treaty will
have several democratic votes, the
Louisiana senators for instance, hav-
ing been Instructed by their state leg
islatures to vote for the treaty.
All blissfully unconscious of the fact
Mr.. Buchanan went through several
precarious situations as far as his Off
cial position is concerned and has
raised quite rumpus in the senate.
In the first place the democratic sena-
tors allowed his confirmation to go
through without realizing that it was
practically recognition of Panama.
Then the republican senators allowed
the minority to inveigle them into a
reconsideration of the vote and as a
result when Mr.. Buchanan arrived on
Panama soil he had no official author
lty whatever though he was quite ig-
norant of the fact. The minority
fought this appointment on the ground
that the President in appointing Mr..
Buchanan actually recognized Pana-
ma, thing which he had no right to
) do without the consent of the senate.
The final <Gnfirmation which was Sc
cured quite nomptly this week shows
how firmly Vssi, majority members of
the senate Sgslecided in their inten-
ton to suppos4 the President in his