The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-06-09
CHARLES ]. BoNAPARTE
Selected to Succeed Morton
as Naval Secretary.
AN Y ENEMY OF GRAFT.
His Choice is Said to Sur
prise the Politicians.


WEEKLY LETTER FROM wAsHINGTON.
The President has treated the poll
ticians In his party to a tremendous
surprise by the selection OF Charles j.
Bonaparte Of Baltimore to succeed
Paul Morton as Secretary Of the Navy,
Mr.. Morton having resigned to be-
come president Of the great syndicate
which is reorganizing the transporta-
tion facilities OF New York city. In
connection with the announcement
Of Mr.. Bonaparte's selection it is
further stated that Attorney General
Moody has consented to remain in
the cabinet another year, that is un.
Til a ye,r, from July l, and no other
inmediate changes are anticipated at
this date.
The appointment Of Charles j.
'Bonaparte to the navy portfolio wilf
prove not only surprise but a shock
TO the politicians or at least to some
OF them. MIR. Bonapartc has long
been most energetic reforIner, ever
since he graduated from Harvard Law
School ia 1874, in fact. When the
p,stottlce investigation was at It's
height he was sent for by the Presi-
dent and retained as special counsel
and later he was called upon TO in
vestigate certain alleged Indian
frauds, which he did in manner so
satisfactory to the President that 1t
was supposed that the Baltimorian
was slated for Secretary Of the In
terror.
As the leading spirit OF the Balti-
more Reform League Mr.. Ronaparte
made MANY friends and host Of
enemies. lie has always been fear
less and an enemy OF corrupt prac
tices in politics and he has been said
To carry the annals Of the Reform
League in his head, those records be-
lnv described as "brief, pithy biogra-
phies Of local politicians: cold, dead
" accurate chronicles OF graft and
rake offs and DEALS" The average
politician hates a thorough going re-
former and for that reason Mr.. Bona
plrte's selection will prove unpopular
with many. On the other hand, ne
Is man OF great force, immense
executive capacity and rugged integri-
ty and by these qualities has won the
respect Of most of those who know
him best. He was associated with
President Roosevelt on the Civil Ser
vice COMMISSION in the 'e0s and
there the two men formed a friend
ship which has never diminished in
strength. During the campaign OF
last year Mr. Bonaparte made des-
perate flght in support of the Repuo'
lcan ticket in Maryland and when
the ballots were counted he was
found to be the only Republican
e.ectur who had met with success.
Secretary-elect Bonaparte comes o.
distinguished family being direc'
uecendent Of the family Of Napoleon
Bopaparte and grandson OF jerome
Bonaparte, one time King of. West
phalia. His grandmother was th'
famous Baltimore beauty, Elizabeth
Patterson, whose romantic story ha
been told In both prose and poetry
His house IN Baltimore is famous 10
the finest American collection Q
telics and souvenires OF the grea
First Consul and Emperor OF France
Mr. Bonaparte will be the first Rom
an Catholic in the Cabinet for som
years.
The President is convinced tina
the battle OF the Corean straits teach
esa valuable lesson regarding tn
hec. .ssity Of a large and a highly EN-
clent navy. He rejocts that tn
American navy has enjoyed every ad
vantage for target practice and hope
it will continue to do SO, while he bt
lieves that recent developments ]
the far East have 30 far proved tn
correctness of his intention that n
country can be great without grea
naval force that he cannot be success
sully opposed Id the next Congress.