West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-10-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Government Being Run With Under
StrapperS at Helm
CABINET OFFICIALS CAMPAIGNING
Democrats Much Encouraged by Repub-
liean Divisions ard Fac
tioral Fights.
From oar Regular Correspondent.

From Oar Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct. s.
With the President away on politics
and hunting bent, and Root and
Taft, the two chief members of the
cabinet, in foreign parts, and the
other members of the administration
absent from their departments on
politics or private business, the gov
eminent of the country is running
with the Republican understrappers
at the helm. This has been pretty
much the case all the summer, since
the President left errly in June. No
other administration has such
record for absenteeism. Nor has
any administration spent so much
time on partisan politics and inter
ference with local party squabbles.
Every kind of excuse has been
made to send out the cabinet off.
Gals and their assistants to do the
preliminary work to round up dele
gates 10 the next Republican ma
uonal convention. Secretary Taft
has made speeches in all the states
where he could Go any good; Secre
tary Metcalf has been for months In
California and the other Pacific
states; Secretary Cortelyou has been
IN New York, in close touch with
Wall street and the New York poll
rcians; Secretary Bonaparte has
been rusticating in Canada and his
Maryland country home, and Incl
dehtally has helped to muddle up
Republican prospects in Maryland;
Secretary Meyer has been boosting
up Senator Lodge for control of the
Massachusetts delegates; Secretary
Garfield besides spending the sum
mer In the west, ostensibly on gov
eminent business, but really on
politics, then took another month
at home in Cleveland to help fix up
the proposed defeat of Tom John.
son for mayor by the Presidents
favorite, Congressman Burton; Sec
rotary Wilson has been travelling all
over the west at government ex-
pense, and if the truth were known
the other cabinet members have not
paid out much from their private
purses on their political junkets.
Assistant Postmaster General
Hitchcock has been rounding up
the postmasters and instructing them
to secure delegates to the Republl-
can convention favorable TO Score.
tary Cortelyou. Pinchot, Of the
Forestry bureau, member of the
"Tennis cabinet" has been in the
Rocky Mountain states trying to
overcome the opposition developed
there on account Of the enlargement
of the forest reserves. The politi.
cal expeditions of many others
might be mentioned who have put
in more time for partisan purposes
than for what they are paid to do.
Booker Washington and other adj
negro leaders have
been attempting TO turn the current
of darkeY voters away from For
aker, but with no effect, outside the |
negro ofice-holders.
Myl my but it has been a strenu-
Gus summer, and after all the result
looks quite doubtful for the admin.
istration unless the office holders
can induce the President TO run for
a third term, for they at heart fear
new deal with another candidate.
The Taft men are now accusing the
Cortelyou boomers of using the pat.
ronage of the United States treas
urY and the postoffice department
TO force his nomination, and as far
as the southern states are concerned
hey have no doubt rounded up the
who compose the
Republican party there, leaving out |
The darkey contingent.
The Democrats, while they have
bot been 50 active as their Repubi
-an friends, are much encouraged |
by the Republican divisions and fac
ional fights, but are still at sea
about who will lead the party. The
rend OF events has led 10 a thor.
'ugh investigation Of the merits Of
possible candidates and their re.
1uted strength 10 the close and
doubtful northern states, which il is
feared Mr.. Bryan could not carry II
'gain nominated.
The boom for Lieut.. Gov Chan.
en- Of New York, is pred,cs,ed
ipon bis strength in his own state,
1ut there is feeling that eventually
be will be only seriously considered
.or second place on The tickle.
Gov. Johnson, Of Minnesota.