The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-11-08
GARFIELD GETS
SEAT IN CABINET
Secretary Hitchcock Resigns
His Portfolio, to Take e.
feet March q Next.
RICHARDS ALSO GOES OUT
LAND FRAUD CASES TO BE
PUSHED.
Especial to The Herald1

washington, ID. g, Nov. 7-President
roosevelt today accepted the resignation
OF secretary e. A. Hitchcock of the in
terror department. TO take effect March
4, 1907. He simultaneously announced his
purpose TO promote James r. Garfield of
ONO, now commissioner of corporations
20 tIie o1tlce OF secretary of the interior
oecretary Hitchcock voluntarily retired
because OF failing health. The president
promptly accepted the resignation for he
nlInseH on several occasions within the
PAST year, perceiving Hitchcock's alarm
hlln the ACCESSIBILITY of relinquishing his
burdensome cabinet duties Each sug-
gesslon OF this sort, however, was put
aside by the secretary, who was deter
mined to see to the finish more important
prosecutions of land thieves who had been
run down under his direction
His Family Concerned.
Mr.. Hitchcocks family have been more
concerned about his health than the nres-
ldent and it is well known that for the
past year his wife and daughters have
pe urged him to give up the
cdIes ana worries of the office and take a
rest put even the entreaties of his wife
were dlSregarded until now the secre-
tary, a much more aged man than when
he entered the cabinet is literally com.
PEELED to yield while his every desire is
administration
Secretary Hitchcock entered the cabl-
net on December q. 1885, coming direct
from the court of ST Petersburg When
ne retireS he will have served continu-
ously for more than eight years, breaking
ali records IN his department.
Had Many Troubles.
During his incumbency in office. Hitch
COCK mas had more troubles than any Of
ms Fellow cabinet officers and it is fair
to say he has surmounted as great OH
Of In
tenseiy suspicious nature. he soon gave
ear TO rumors of land frauds and early
IN ms term he mistrusted many of his
official advisers The countless prosecu-
lions and convictions of land thieves that
have been brought about in the past year
al pear evidence that the secretary'S
suspicious were well grounded.
his combatS with politicians and his
controversies with subordinate govern
ment officials and his contests with some
or the ShrewdeSt attorneys in the land
nave tended to impair the health of the
secretary until today he is on the verge
of physical collapse. He has earned
rest. and he can afford to retire having
established an unprecedented record The
courts have INDICATED him. if he needed,
vindication. Furthermore, the fact that
he was rendered the office of ambassador
TO France is an indication that the pres
ident appreciates his merits. But Mr..
Hitchcock health is such that he could
not even return to diplomatic service.
r1dO rev fFicnCS.
News of Secretary Hitchcock's resigna-
ton will be Joyously received by western
senators and representatives. In con-
gress Hitchcock had practically no
friends So strained became their re-
lations with the secretary that many SEN
ators and quite number of congress
men refused to call in person at the in
terror department. or meet Mr. Hitchcock
socially. Time and time again western
senators and congressman have COM
planned to the president of the manner
in which they were treated by Mr. Hitch
cock. and il is known that some of those
compaints-nOt all-left their impression
President Roosevelt for the past year or
tension between his secretary of the in
terror and many of his own friends in
congress. but he was not in a position TO
remedy the situation.
Upheld by President.
While Secretary Hitchcock was expos
ing land frauds and convicting land
thieves. the president could not consist
himself enthusiastically upheld the secre-
tary in this very work. Nevertheless
the president was embarraS Sed. for he
disliked and disapproved of Mr.. Hitch
cocks manner toward many prominent
public men. He probably had this in mind
when he suggested to the secretary that
his health demanded that he seek rest.
However. the president did not push mat
tinued TO pour into his ears. Therefore
when Mr.. Hitchcock finally rendered his
resignation. il was quickly accepted and
his successor was promptly named. MIR.
Garfield was chosen because the president
believes that he, better than any other
man. Will keep up the good work inaugu
rated by Mr.. Hitchcock. The manner in
which Garfield pursued the Standard OF
company and procured damaging evil
dence against that corporation is an i'd
dicatiOn that he is made of the right stuff
to continue the work against the land
thieves
Richards Goes Also.
Land Commissioner w. A Richards of
Wyoming who will retire With Hitchcock,
also resigned voluntarily. Since he be-
ca me commissioner Mr.. Richards has had
personal sorrows and afflic-
tons heaDed upon him and it has been
known for some time that his duties here
have not been pleasant. His thorough
Of public land matters; his
integrity and his western
nerve have enabled him to render eff
cient service in solving many of the per
picking problems that have arisen in
the Dast four years. end he ret1reS from
office with much credit.
Richards was appointed assistant COM
missioner of the land service February
"A. 1899 and when Binger Hermann was
fired from the office of commissioner.
Richards was promoted lie thus served
four years as assistant commissioner and
will have served little more than four
-e-f.a l1nn a.