The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-22
SHAW IS CONFIDENT
Secretary Has No Fear of
Loss Of House This Fall.
TALKS MONEY At WHITE HOUSE
Believes II VIII Be Impossible to Get
Congress to Enact Any Currency
To stump Iowa for the state
Ticket-starts for New York.

I never saw such lethargy IN ali my
born days." commented Secretary Shaw
yesterday afternoon at the Treasury De-
partment. He had come down from Penn
sylvania to spend part of Sunday and
to have a conference at 9fO'clock last
evening with the President The Secre-
tary had thrown his hat and coat on
broad desk and plunged into business with
a group of bureau officials.
NO, sir" he added, there never was
such lethargy. There is no interest in
politics. I cannot tell you whether it
applies solely to Republicans, but think
it does not The audiences are smaller
than ever before. People are absolutely
contented That is the situation in Ohio.
Indiana, and other States west of the
mountains. There seems to be IttIe
more interest in New York and Pennsyl-
vania
Il have no doubt about the election Of
a Republican House. declared Secretary
Shaw; Il expect our majority will be
nearly as large as the present House ma
jority. Our only danger is in this leth-
argy.'
The Secretary told some OF his callers
yesterday how he got right back" at
the man in his Connecticut audience the
other evening who questioned him about
free hides He enjoyed the incident. He
processes no alarm over the money situa-
ton, but will not discuss it. 1t is known
that the Secretary believes some legisla-
ton by Congress is urgent, but he doubts
seriously whether Congress can be per-
suaded to legislate at the short session
this winter
The action of the Bank of England in
raising the interest rate is plainly giving
the Secretary some concern. Some think
he viii meet the situation by increasing
the government deposits in national banks
Talks Over Campaign.
Besides discussing financial questions
with the President last night, the Score
tary told him much about the campaign
II is known that he brought no assuring
word about New York. although all the
guesses that the Secretary heard were
that Hughes would win. He speaks at
New Rochelle. " Y. tonight. and at
Utica Tuesday. and then win stump
across the country to Iowa The last
week of the campaign will be devoted by
the Secretary 10 his home State. Iowa. In
his Iowa speeches. Secretary Shaw will
advocate the reelection OF Gov Cum
Minis and the entire Republican ticket
Unless conditions change materially be
tween now and January. the President
Will probably have TO drive some general
legislation through Congress at its short
I
under whip and spur. for the leaders are
decidedly averse To doing aught save the
customary short-session ''stunt'-the en-
actment Of appropriation bgls.
To Curb Trusts.
It is anticipated here. however, that
there viii be "a demand for something that
viii check the organization Of holding
companies abroad for the bad trusts that
/ the government is now prosecuting The
| Department Of Justice is uncertain vet
about how much enmity such tactics cai
cause There are rumors that the beef
trust is organizing "a foreign holding com
pany, and that the best corporation law
/ yers think it a pretty sure shelter. ard
that other trusts viii resort TO the same
subterfuge
/ Knowing the indifference of Speaker
[ Cannon and others about currency legisla-
/ ton. the pressure for Congress 10 act
At the short session will be very strong
tt is said that the President will cham
pion any specific relief the Congress would
enact
Secretary Shaw declined to discuss the
date of his retirement from the Cabi-
net. or his plans after retiring. There
| is a report, regarded as authentic, that
he is to become the head of trust
company in New York City after leav-
/ ing the Treasury Department Shaw
would tell nothing.
Would Tell Nothing.
After his visit to the White House he
was just as uncommunicatiye as he had
/ been before he saw the President He
wouldn't talk about his business with
| Mr.. Roosevelt, OF give any views about
plans for relieving the money market. No
doubt is felt that the President and Mr..
Shaw discussed means of helping the
money market, TO take the place of the
gold engagement deposits It was sug-
gested to the Secretary that this might
/ be done by anticipating the interest on
/ the four per cent bonds, which viii ma
ture on July /. 1907. II by depositing more
1 public moneys in itiOnal banks. but he
declined t. furnish any information
Secretary Shaw left for New York on
/ the midnight train