Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-25
nm pE1RRa VarD c1nTgrT.

TIL MEANIfN " III laNlH W.
The cabinet changes just announced
IN anticipation OF the retirement OF At
torney Generalf Moody and Secretary
shaw have. obviously been determined
from considerations Of administrative
efficiency based upon the presidents
own personal knowledge and famil-
iarity and not upon partisan expedients
or political geography. The new presi-
dental advisory board will have three
members from the state OF New York
and only one from the state Of Iowa,
but It may, however. be confidently ex-
pected 20 prove itself working cabi-
net OF high potentality
The transfer OF Secretary Bonaparte
from the navy brings to thC head OF
the Department OF Justice not only a
lawyer OF distinguished ability, but
man Of remarkable force Of character,
known to be in complete sympathy
with President Roosevelts policies and
certain to direct the machinery of that
department with unremitting energy
for the enforcement Of the law, espe-
cially against deiant corporations and
trade consDirators.
Likewise the transfer of Postmaster
General Cortelyou to the treasury port
folio must be viewed as move put
ting him in a place where he viii fit
even better than he has as the head Of
the Postofice department. Mr.. Cor
telyou's rapid rise in political prefer
ment is unique in having had no out
side propelllng force behind it in the
form of political backing or pressure
/ from influential friends
AS secretary of labor and commerce
Mr.. Metcalf, who viii soon be secre-
tary Of the navy, proved himself in
dustrious and level-headed. His ex-
perience in congress makes him val
liable man in the cabinet without re-
spect 50 much to the particular duties
assigned to him.
The selection OF George Won L. Meyer
as postmaster general is probably more
OF personal choice than any Of the
others. Ambassador Meyer has had
the favor of President Roosevelt for
years, his association with the presi-
dent dating from their college days at
Harvard. It is safe to say that his
demonstrated ability in the diplomatic
service is ample assurance that he will
make good as postmaster general.
In naming Oscar 5. Straus of New
York to be the new secretary of com
merce and labor the president has set
another new precedent. Mr.. straus
will be the first cabinet ohicer Of jew
fish faith, an honor which cannot fail
to be duly appreciated by the large
body Of his co-religionists. Further
than this, he is comparatively recent
convert to republicanism, having
served as minister to Turkey by APP
pointment of Grover Cleveland. That
he is eminently fitted for the place to
which he has been called goes without
saying.
Such a Encouragement of the cabinet
is to be particularly distinguished from
disarrangement. The changes are
all caused by voluntary retirements
and promotions and not by enforced
dismissals. The strategic points In the
cabinet will continue to be manned by
veterans like Root, Taft, Wilson
Hitchcock and Cortelyou. bearing with
them the great prestige of success
The new cabinet will be without doubt
more closely Identified to President
Roosevelt himself, who, after all, is
the active force of the administration
and will share the. responsibility fol
all important action in whatever
branch Of the government service.