Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-12-19
TAFT IS PLEASED
BY HIS ACCEpTANC {
Believes Knox VIII Fill Position OF
Secretary of State With Ability
is Looking for More
Good Men for
Cabinet.

anCe by Senator Knox of the portfolio
of secretary of state in Taft's cabinet
has precipitated an interesting battle
between ambitious Republicans of this
vicinity. Men already mentioned for
the senatorship are George T. oliver,
owner of the Gazette eTimes-Chronicle-
Telegraph; William Flynn, former
state senator and political leader of
Allegheny county; II. C. Frick, Con-
gressmen Burke and Dalzell, George
F. Huff, John p. Elkin and Josiah v.
Thompson, a millionaire banker of
Uniontown.
Senator Penrose, who is a candi-
date to succeed himself, also has
fight on his hands and his friends
want Knox to retain his seat in the
Senate until that matter is settled.
The Republicans meet in caucus
January 20 on which date the legis-
lature meets in joint session to elect
a successor to Penrose.
Taft Wants Good Men.
Augusta, Ca, Dec. 19.-President-
elect Taft last night confirmed the
announcement made yesterday that
Senator Knox had been selected as
secretary of state in his cabinet. The
announcement was made after Taft
received a telegram from Knox ac-
cepting the appointment.
Mr.. Taft without delay announced
that the matter was settled. He said
the offer was made to Mr.. Knox last
Sunday in New York and that since
Aff 1.A ho, nt
Knox until yesterdays telegram.
After a consultation with Secretary
Root in Washington Saturday Mr..
Taft said he tried to see Senator Knox
there but was informed that he was
in New York to attend the dinner Of
the Pennsylvania society. He wired
Mr.. Knox to see him at the Henry w.
Taft residence Sunday morning.
81 feel that l am to be congratulate
ed in securing the services of Senator
Knox in my cabinet" said Mr.. Taft n
making the announcement. In Sc
lecting a secretary of state l wanted
first a great lawyer, and second, a
man who would fill the public eye,
not only here but abroad, as a man
who stands out pre-eminently as a
great American.
"Mr. Knox was a great attorney
general; he was a prominent candi-
date for the presidency and he is rec
osnized in the Senate and elsewhere
as one of the great lawyers of that
body"
Mr.. Taft also feels that from a po-
litical viewpoint Mr.. Knox's selection
is most happy. He explained that
there was often a feeling that Penn
sylvania with its Republican majori-
ties, often was sighted in the matter
of recognition. That this will not be
the case in the next administration
was the indication by the announce
ment by Mr.. Taft that he would in
vite Senator Knox to come to Angus
ia that he might consult him freely
with reference to filling other places
in his cabinet.
While in Washington last week Mr..
Taft told several of his close advisers
that IL he could fill To his entire sat
isfaction the position Of secretary of
state, attorney general and secretary
of the navy ne would not be at all
disturbed by the difficulty of getting
suitable appointees for the remaining
positions. 1t is believed generally
here that an Ohio man will be Sc
lected as secretary of the treasury.
No name except that of Judge
Richard A. Ballinger, Of Seattle
Wash. former commissioner general
of the land office. is heard here In
connection with the seeretaryship OF
the interior department, and 1t a
thought that he stands an excellent
show for this place.
1t Is said at the capital that Mr..
Taft is looking for a man to take the
war portfolio who has had sufficient
experience to work out the reorgani-
zation scheme put into effect by Mr.
Root while he was the head OF that
department.
The position OF secretary OF labor
and commerce has oeen mentioned Il
q very light extent, and in some quar-
ters II is thought that Secretary
Straus will be continued in that post
for time at least
For secretary OF agriculture II is
practically conceded that James VIII
son, OF Iowa, will be continued for a
year or more. The appointment OF
Frank II. Hitchcock to be postmaster
general already has been announced
euthoritatively.