The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1906-11-08

la
Washington, Oct. 26.-In selecting
Oscar s. Straus for secretary Of COM
merce and labor President Roosevelt
has established two presidents. He
gives three cabinet positions to "A
single state, something that never
happened before, and he invites into
the cabinet man Of race that has
not been honored in like manner by
any previous president.
But President Roosevelt, as has
been demonstrated many times, cares
nothing whatever for precedent. In
making appointments he utterly dis
regards geography and the race ques.
tIon. Other presidents have consid-
cred these two things In filling i'm
portant offices, but not so MIR. Roose-
welt. His aim has always been to
pick good men. and when he finds
them he appoints then, regardless OF
where they come from or what ma.
tionality their ancestors may have
been. IL Is enough IL they them
selves are good American citizens
and are qualified to fill the chosen
Offices.
In the recognized cabinet New
York has three members, MIR. Root,
secretary of state; Mr.. Cortelyou,
secretary of the treasury, and Mr..
Straus, secretary Of commerce and
labor. Under any other president
than Roosevelt this would not have
been possible; indeed most presidents
have objected to giving any state two
cabinet Offices. But such objections
don't bother Mr.. Roosevelt. For a
long time he has had two Iowa men
In the cabinet, Secretary Shaw and
Secretary Wilson, as well AS two New
Yolkers, Secretary Root and Post
master General Cortelyou. Shaw re-
tires, leaving Iowa with single
place, and Iowa's loss is New York's
gain.
j But the appointment Of Mr.. Straui
is more interesting because Of thu
fact that be Is a Jew than becans'
he makes the third New Yorker II
the cabinet. While Jews have hell
other prominent positions In Wash
ington, none OF them has ever beer
rim the cabinet. There have beef
! Jews In the senate and Jews In tn
! house, and for the most part the
I gere well received, officially and soci
aiiy, at the national capital. III the
} we've not well received, they Ina
D tbemselyes to blame. Representativ
D Levy, OF New York, was one OF tn
= best liked men In congress, and wa
4 one OF the busiest men, socially, tina
4 Washington ever knew. Senate
Rayner, OF Maryland. is a Jew, bu
= that fact does not operate agains
, him in the slightest degree. He hi
= the respect OF his colleagues, and Ell
. Joys rs great prominence az would
4 bis were he of English or Germa
4 blood. Senator Simon, OF Oregon
= was an exception to the rule. j
, was never happy in Washington;
\ never mingled with the social set:
q never mingled with his fellUw sena
q ors. But 1t was his own fault
q was not ostraciseo; be rather sougl
- seclusion from preference. His ma
ner gave rise to the rtport that
- was not well received because be W
lew, but there was never any fou
4 dalton for the report. Had he be
SI of a different disposition he wou
~ have had as vide cicrle OF friends
~ any other man.
" Mr.. straus, on the other hand, Il
" man of high character: man
Qf great means; a phifanthfopist,
I an excellent business man.
~ stauos high in business and soc
~ e,rcl0 In New York, and be
* stand as well 10 Washington,
y A not handicapped 10 the slight
~ degree because he Is Jew. Pr
N dent Roosevelt mas put his seal
M approval upon him: has expires
"a his confidence in him, aud that
90 a long wars tos ard pushing
w reg secretary to the front
W veaItb gives assurance that ne
W narticIapate extensively In ~ashi
-GT Ton society. as all cabinet oficers
~ expected TO do. And MS 'e0'''