The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-10-12
Moody and Shaw Will Retire Early
Next Year
Gossip Concerning Their Probable Sue
cesSors-Taft's Presidential Boom
Helped by His Absence in Cuba-In-
terest i'm h New York Campaign.
Work OF the Senate and House
Buildings.
(By Sheldon s. Ciine.)

Members Of the cabinet. with the ex-
ception of Secretary Taft, are at their
posts; the diplomatic corps is begin
ming to return from the New England
watsr1ng-places, and the hotels are fill
ed with statesmen, big and little. Mr..
Roosevelt is up to his eyes in work,
and, Of course, is happy.
The president had no more than
crossed the White house portals until
rumor got busy with prospective
changes in his cabinet. There will be
at least two vacancies during the COM
ing winter. Attorney General Moo1y
expects to retire about January 1, and
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw per-
haps a month later. 1t is known that
Mr.. Roosevelt has decided to summon
George Won L.. Meyer, now ambassador
to ST. Petersburg, to a seat in The cabi-
net, but it is no yet determined which
portfolio he will occupy.
1t has been the presidents wish
that Secretary Cf the Navy BonaDlrte
should succeed Mr.. Moody at the heai
of the department Of justice, but Mr..
Boz aparte has a liking for the navy
and is not enthusiastic over the pros
pectiye change. The original plan was
have Mr.. Meyer succeed Bonaparte in
the navy and transfer George B. Cortel-
you from the ~postoffice to the treasury
as the successor of Mr.. Shaw. 1t is now
regarded as more probable that Mr..
Meyer will succeed Mr.. Shaw. Should
Mr.. Bonaparte he induced to change,
Mr.. Metcalf, the secretary Of commerce
and labor. may 60 to the navy. The
navy was Mr.. Metcalf's first choice OF
cabinet positions, n Tire president
would like to crafty his ambition. Mr..
Cortelyou has done such excellent work
at the head Of he postofice department
that it has been about docid d not to
change him.
In the event that Mr.. Metcalf went to
the navy, the new man would enter the
cabinet as secretary of commerce and
labor. The guess in Washington is that
that man would be James Rudolph
Garfield, now chief of the bureau of
corporations in that department. Mr..
Garfield's work, especially in connec-
ton with the packing house investi-
cations, has been SUBJECTED to a good
deal of criticism, but he still retains
the confidence Of the president n IS
consulted as often, almost as are
members of the cabinet.
1t a during the absence from
American soil Of William J. Bryan that
his presidential boom grew to formid-
able proportions. Washington is now
commenting on the fact that while
Secretary Taft is in Cuba the presi-
idential boom is progressing like a
house on fire. Other presidential as
pirants are consulting maps and COL
lecting data as to desirable places for
sojourning abroad.
When President Roosevelt sent Mr..
Taft to Cuba he placed his val secre-
tary in the way of great opportunity,
and likewise Of great peril politically.
1t seems to be the unanimous verdict
of the country that Mr.. Taft has risen
to the opportunity, and side-stepped the
peril. The New York Sun voices public
opinion in four eight line stanzas under
the caption, Big Bill Taft. The con-
Guiding stanZas are worth reproducing:
He knows that arts of peace and war;
He knows when to refrain,
And when to emphasize his views
In ways exceeding plain.
It's a bad day for the scallawags
. And those who live by graft
When things are 50 hat they collide
Against Big Bill Taft.
AS special envoy you're all right!
Well send you ships and men.
And if you want more OF the same,
Bill Taft, just ask again.
For Uncle Sam we'll understands
A word is like a draft
That calls for honor upon sight
When from Big Bill Taft.
Members of congress from the west
who have arrived in Washington this
week report that Mr.. Taft is now being
seriously considered as a presidential
possibility, though he was hardly mem
toned q month ago. This does not
mean however, that Taft would have
any easy time in the winning Of the
west. Vice President Fairbanks. Sec
rotary Shaw and Speaker Cannon all
are strong west of the Alleghanies, and
in many instances they have pledges
that will not be violated.
Washington continues to take more
interest in the New York campaign
than In any other state. The prevail
ing opinion is that chances are very
largely against the election Of Mr..
Hearst, but the Washington opinion
OF New York politics is not necessarily
of serious weight. IN fact, New York
itself appears to be very much at sea
as to the probable outcome.
During the past week the writer has
talked to prominent democrats from all
parts of the country the c0ncensus
OF opinion seems to be that even the
election of Mr.. Hearst will not serious
ly effect tie national democracy in the
next presidential canvass. This, how
ever, is not unanimous. A number Of
men, who generally know whereof they
speak, have expressed the conviction
that the election Of Hearst will cause
a strong tide to set In favorable TO
Mr.. Bryan's preachment Of public own
ership CT railways. and that 1t will
s. TILL Rar Nh nawt democratic