The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-03
MORTON TO STAY
FOR ROOSEVELT
Secretary Of the Navy Will Not
Retire from the Cabinet,
Despite Rumors.
BY w. w. Jermane.

Washington, May 3.-That Paul Nor
ton will retain his position as secre-
tary OF the navy for at least another
year, seems to be certainty, based on
more or less official information from
sources close to President Roosevelt.
There are several reasons why Mr..
Morton will remain in the cabinet. The
president has confidence in him. When
the greatest stir was being made about
Mr.. Morton s sanction of rebates given
by, the Santa Fe railroad to the Colo
RADIO Fue! & Iron company, Mr.: Nor
practice, or, rather, his lack of knowl
edge of it, which the president, it is
said, accepted in good faith. Nothing
furt her has passed between the presi
dent and his secretary of the navy
about this matter. The interstate COM
merce commission, in it's report on the
Santa Fe case, gave Mr.. Morton clean
bill Of health.
,-~ Only Railroad Man.
A second reason for Mr.. Morton s
remaining in the cabinet, at the presi
dents desire, is the fact that he is the
only cabinet officer with a practical
knowledge Of railroad management and
railroad men. He has, it is said, been
of invaluable aid in the selection of
members of the new Panama canal com
Theodore P. Shonts, president of the
Glover Leaf road, was made it's chair
man. He has also advised the presi-
dent about the management of the
| transportation problems on the isthmus,
and his advice has, in most instances,
been followed.
That the president has relied upon
Mr.. Morton for advice on the revision
| OF the interstate commerce law is
something that has been known all over
the country since he entered the cabi-
net. He is still acting as adviser in
that direction.
Schenling in Kansas.
The foregoing statements are called
out by stories recently published in the
middle west, particularly in Kansas and
in Kansas City and reproduced in the
east that Morton is going to retire, to
be succeeded by Henry c. Frick or some
other man Of that type.
AS to Fr1ck, he has set at rest stories
Of his going into politics, but denying
that he has any such intentions. FricB
could not be secretary of the navy be-
cause he is heavily interested in con
Germs which are selling supplies to that
! epartment-armOr and steel products
of various kinds.
Well informed men in Washington say
1 these stories have been printed with {
view to their effect on the next sena
torial election in Kansas. While Nor
| ton is not citizen, or even resident
of Kansas, there is fear there that h
can influence sentiment, thru his &C
quaintance with Santa Fe railroad off
: cials in favor Of any candidate tina
road should back.
The Kansas senatorial fight is sal
to be really fight between the SAINT
To on5 tho Pocly leland Th
king pins of the Rock Island are sal
to be backing Congressman Charlie
Curtis to succeed Burton, whose tern
. expires in 1907, and who may retir
sooner because of his difficulties wit
the federal authorities. The candidat
of the Santa Fe has not been named.
;, President Has Confidence.
Stories about Morton s probable re
tirement from the, cabinet have bee.
called to the attention of the presiden
on several occasions, and always wit
5 tn same result. The president reserve
: the right to choose his cabinet officer!
2 and to retain them as long as he see
: fit. He has the full confidence of tn
country and he feels he should be az
Quilted Of the charge of retaining i
S public place any man not in ssympath
8 with the administration policies Th
e Morton resignation STORIES are lhu!Iec
: ly such charge, and the preslden
f doesn't like them. A close friend G
f the president says:
@ Mr.. Roosevelt has better sources of il
+ formation regarding Mr.. Morton's allege
I trust and corporation connections, an
t law violations, than anybody else in II
C country, especially than any of the pee
pie who have been criticizing Morton, an
: he would be, the last person to insist c
: Mortor's keeping the navy portfolio
: any of the charges were true. The mel
Ifact that Morton is to remain in the cab
net ought of itself to be a sufficient rep