The Mena weekly star., 1908-12-24
MR. TAFT'S CABINET
GOSSIP AMONG PUBLIC MEN IN WASHINGTON ANXIOUS TO
 AID IN SELECTION.
4 MISSOUSI MAN MAY GET 4 PORTFOLIO
Charles NageI of St. Louis Discussed in Connection With the Department of Commerce and Labor-President Elect Taft Announces That No OF. fers of Position Had Been Made.

Washington Dec. 21.-. Cabinet builders at the national capital, and those who have moved to Georgia as a part of the entourage of President elect Taft. are succeeding in placing on the anxious bench public men in all sections of the country who have been looked upon as aspirants for portfolios or whose qualifications have been urged by admiring friends
 The announcement of the appoint. ment of Frank H. Hitchcock to be postmaster general, followed by that of Senator Philander c. Knox to be secretary of state and the generally accepted report that George w. Wick ersham of New York as the choice of MT. Taft for attorney general, indi. cates that the slate is being made up rapidly and that an announcement of the entire cabinet may be expected be. fore long.
 From a discussion of the cabinet slate among Mir Taft's close friends in Washington, who would not be likely to indulge in idle gossip con cerning it, there seems to be a req sonable certainty that in addition to those named, Secretary Wilson will continue for a year or more as the head of the agricultural department; that Secretary Garfield will retire from the cabinet; that Judge Richard A. Ballinger of Seattle. Wash, will be given a place, probably that of secre' tary of the interior; that Luke k. Wright will retire from the cabinet and again take post in the diplo- matic service: and that an Ohio man will be given the position of secre. tary of the treasury.
 Within the last few days the name of Charles Nagel of Missouri has been discussed in connection with the sec. retaryship of the department of com. merce and labor.
 It is known that at one time MT. Taft thought very strongly of naming Nagel as attorney general, but that later he considered Wickersham mors adaptable to the purposes of that de partment.
 He said however, that he would like an able lawyer to head the de partment of commerce and labor. Re publican politicians are urging the claims of Missouri for recognition and as Judge Nagel played a prominent part in the campaign as member of the executive committee of the Re publican national committee. the mantle would fall upon him naturally if a place is given to that state
 Other names heard in connection with that department are those of William Loeb, Jr., secretary to Pres ident Roosevelt; Oscar s. Straus, who now has a portfolio, and George A. Knight of California. It is not be- lieved here, however, that two places will go to the Pacific coast.
 Probably the most difficult place remaining to be filled is that of sec retary of the treasury. Among the Ohio men mentioned are former Gov. Myron T. Herrick and Representative Burton. The report that there has been a break in the cordial relations that have existed between Mir. Burton and Mir. Taft are not credited by friends of both iu this city and in many quarters. Mir. Burton is still regarded as possibility for the sec ond position of importance in the cabinet.
 For secretary of war, Charles Ma, soon. now governor of Cuba, is heard freouently, but the generally accept cd idea is that MT. Taft has not yer made up his mind whom to appoint He is said to be looking for a man who has made record as q fus ness man. William Loeb, Jr, is also men toned for secretary of the navy, as IS also Charles II. Thompson of New York There are some close frlends of Mir Taft also who think that Sec retarv Newberry will be retained.
 Practically all of the discussion Is mere speculation. This is proved Oy the snccess MT. Taft had in keeping ouiet for so long the fact that ne wanted Senator Knoy above all others to take a place as secretary of state