The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-07
Executive Action COncerIng Of
flcers Causes Comment.
WHAT OF Mr.. SHAW.
Has He the Presidency in His
Mind2
James IL. Garfield's Prominence
Regarded With Suspicion.

four years yet distant, the talk of the
presidents successor is going the
rounds.
Some of the presidents actions are
being observed, and comment being
made on them. 1t is scarcely probable
that he win lend his aid and assistance
to any mans boom, especially when a
nomination will not be made for nearly
four years; but some things which The
odore Roosevelt does which strike the
observant as a trifie significant cannot
escape notice.
For instance the recent published
statement that the president had made
a suggestion to his cabinet officers that
he did not care to have them accept in
vitations to speak at various points in
the country is being construed, by sus-
picious ones, as an evidence that he
wishes to shut off any possibility Of one
Leslie Shaw Of Iowa advertising him
self and his personality throughout the
nation by contact with his fellow-citi-
zens.
Another thing that causes comment
IS the presidents so-called effort to
keep James R. Garfield of Ohio con-
stantly in the linelight.
There are other who profess to see in
the Presidents warm friendship with
Elihu Root certain evidence Of his pref
erence for the presidential succession.
Then you can hear a good deal to the
effect that Theodore Roosevelt would
not have brought home from the Phil
appine Islands William Fl. Taft, and
made him secretary OF war, to say
nothing of his glee in referring to every
good thing Judge Taft does, If he did
not desire the 3OO-pound, able Ohio man
to be IN position to forge to the front in
a presidential way
Then there is always the talk that
the man of all men the president keen
w desired G his r71nnfv7qr a ia
campaign, and his associate in the ad-
ministration the next four years
Charles w Fairbanks-win get nothing
the worst of It by reason OF his accept
ance of the nomination at Chicago last
June.
Take Shaw. This shrewd Yankee
wanted to be president for the term
which Theodore Roosevelt has not yet
entered upon. There is no doubt that
as governor Of the great state Of Iowa,
having successfully rounded out Il sec
ond term, he desired, some years since,
TO be a candidate for the nomination to
succeed Mckinley. Then the latter
died, and Roosevelt became president
That did not daunt Shaw for a. time
though he soon saw, as did Fairbanks,
who was also ambitious for 1904, that
If Roosevelt performed satisfactorily
no man could beat him for the 1904
nomination. Secretary Gage retired
from the treasury department The
president had met Shaw. He liked his
personality. He thought him a shreWd
able man. He wished to remove him
from the field Of presidential possible
ties in 1904. He invited him to accept
the treasury portfolio in 1902. Shaw ac-
cepted- He was not known to the
hnanciers, but he has made a good
head Of the treasury department He is
queer man; not over-popular; none
too able. perhaps; but he is one to be
reckoned with in 1908.
There is no probability that when the
president requested his cabinet officials
not TO accept the many invitations they
all receive to go out into the country
ana make speeches, he had any ul-
terror motive in keeping Secretary Shaw
tied town in Washington; yet it certain
~ does accrue to the advantage of Sen
ator Fairbanks and the others. For
instance, the Kansas Bankers aSSO-
citation desired Secretary Shaw to adj
dress Its state convention at Kansas |
City next May; and Mr.. Shaw practic-
ally declined the invitation outright.
Then there is the Garfield gossip. |
This young man was uTheard of a few
years ago. He was practicing law in
Ohio He was the second son of the |
former president. and if he possessed |
elements of greatness, they had been |
successfully kept hidden under a buShel. |
But when the president began his adj |
m1nlSIrauon, he was early confronted /
with a vacancy in the Office of civil |
service commissioner. He called in I
young Mr.. Garfield to take the job. /
He held it a year or so. Then the new
Department of Commerce and Labor /
was organized, in 1908, with its bureau 1
OF corporations This bureau was to /
examine into the conduct, organiZa ton, 4
etc. Of great corporations, trusts, If you /
please, and report to the president. It /
was a long step, this piece of legisla- /
ton, to the proper and judicious control /
of trusts and combinations. Mr. Gar
field was selected for the first chief
OF the bureau He has been busy ever /
since with the beef inquiries, and what |
not. He recently made a report recon- |
mending federal license and control OF |
corporations engaged in interstate COM |
merce. This is now the talk of the |
day. in the light of the tremendous
agitation all over the country for re- |
form in interstate commerce, and in |
creasing the powers of the Interstate /
commerce commission. Mr.. Garfield, by /
direction Of the president, has been sent /
hither and thither, to conduct exarnina- /
lions, prosecute inquiries, and the like;
and has been IN print more, on the
E-st page. top-head, than any man in /
the administration since Bristow and
the postal scandals He goes to the
White House constantly for conference /
He is a big gun"
It is recalled by the seers that Theo- |
dore Roosevelt practically began his
career as civil-Service commissioner:
that his second task in the government /
was assistant secretary of the navy: and |
that Garfield began in a like way, and |
now holds a better and bigger job
than assistant secretary OF the navy. /
What more natural. then the seers say, |
than that President Roosevelt is keep
ing Jimmy Garfield in the limelight |
Tor a 0enn1te ana SpecInc puTpOSeE
Then there is the case of Charles /
Warren Fairbanks. OF all the presi- |
Dental timber for 1908, he is, perhaps. !
the most likely. in a way. President /
Roosevelt himself has paved the way
for a vice president to aspire with reas- /
enable degree Of certainty to the pres (
dents Office. And any grass that Sen /
ator Fairbanks permits to grow under
his feet while pursuing the presidency 1
for the next four years will not be I
noticeable. But assertions that Roose-
zelt Is helping him are sillys and yet /