New-York tribune., 1908-04-20
THE ALLIES" SAY TAFT
WASHINGTON OPINION.
Talk of Successor to the Secretary
of War.
Lrrom vac rribane Rureau.l


Washington April 19-"All organized opposi-
tion Ia the nomination of Secretary Taft is
ended so far as Washington is concerned Ihere
may here and there be some sporadic oppositloh'
and of course Mr.. Foraker. with whom II Is a
purely personal matter, will not cease ms ahtas
onism but the allies, so-called have abandoned
all efforts to prevent what is obviously the VIII
of the vast maiority of Republicans
This statement was made to representative
of The Tribune by a man who. though not
candidate himself has been of the most
powerful influences against Mr.. Tafts nomlna-
ton and has hitherto given direction and en-
couragement TO the anti-Taft forces. In other
quarters where there is no particular friendship
for Mr. Taft but where there has been no open
opposition, the opinion gains ground that his
nomination is now assured, the only question
being whether it will come the first or the
second ballot
OFFERED RESIGNATION ONCE
There has been considerable speculation re-
garding the prospect of Secretary Tafts re-
signing from the Cabinet, and some talk or MS
successor. When asked, some time ago. IL lie
purposed to resign. he said no, as he was 700
greatly interested in certain legislative measures
to allow of his leaving the Presidents oHlcial
family at that time. The Secretary did not say
however, what equally true, that when ne
returned from the Philippines he told the Presi-
dent he wished to resign and that the President
earnestly and emphaticaly protested, as did also
Secretary Root The President told Mr.. Taft
that he needed him in the Cabinet; that there
were too many complex problems, with when
no man enjoyed a familiarity equal to that or
the Secretary to be solved and likely TO occur
and that he could not be spared from the Can
met The President admitted that the Secretary
would be obliged to spend a certain amount OF
time away from the capital, but insisted that
if half his time were 50 occupied, the re-
naming half would still be far more valuable
to the administration than the entire time of
any man who could be named in his place. The
reasons which prompted Secretary Roots pro-
test were somewhat different and may be at
tributed in large part to the sympathy which has
always existed between himself and Mr.. Taft
on subjects concerning which the President has
called on both of them for advice
Some persons taking Mr.. Tafts statement re-
garding legislation too literally, have assumed
that if Congress adjourned about May 10 that
reason would no longer obtain, and therefore
that Secretary Taft would probably resign I'M
mediately thereafter. Such view u.s. however,
based on q failure to appreciate the most I'M
portant duties of a Cabinet officer, and espe-
cially of the Secretary OF War. No greater
sponsibility devolves that official than the
distribution of the sums appropriated by Con-
gress the allotment OF contracts and work i'll
accordance with the provisions Of the appropria-
ton bills etc. It is the custom of Congress 20
hold such bills in conference until the closing
hours Of the session. and the work which will
follow adjournment will be all important
throughout the coming fiscal year With SeCre-
tary Taft's immense capacity for grasping prob
lens and his familiarity with the subjects. the
advice he will impart to his subordnates in the
month following adjournment Will be inval-
Bile, While the time he will devote to these
subjects will save his successor infinite anxiety
and responsibility
MENTIONED FOR WAR PORTFOLIO
Secretary Taft may have given no thought to
the subject of his successor. But others have,
and already the names of Assistant Secretary
Oliver Assistant Secretary Bacon of the De-
partment of State and Judge MagoOn. proyis-
ional Governor of Cuba. have been mentioned.
General Oliver has made a notably able AS
sstant Secretary of War and enjoys the highest
esteem of the President, but incidentally he has
developed a line of work in the War Department
in connection with the promotion of the eff
fcency and availability of the militia for which
he perhaps originally selected, and there is
a question if the President would care to saddle
him with the multitudnous duties of Secretary
of War, to the inevitable injury Of those mat
ters to which he is giving special and expert at
tentiOn. The President entertans a warm re-
gard for Assistant Secretary Bacon. and yet
it is questionable If he would deem it wise to
divert Mr.. Bacon from the diplomatic channels
to which he has devoted himself in order 10
make him fun fedged member of the Cabinet
for brief eight months. 1t is entirely probable
moreover. that Secretary Root would interpose
serious objections to being deprived of his chief
assistant Some time ago, when ii was rumorcd
that Mr.. Bacon slated for a diplomatic post
Mr.. Root denied ii with emphasis saying that
he could not spare Mir. Bacon's services while
he remained in the Cabinet
There is doubt that serious consideration
will be given 10 the name Of Governor Magoou
who has enjoyed snguiarly appropriate train
ing for the post Mr.. Taft occupies Selected
originally because of his wide knowledge Of CON
stitutiOnal law Judge MagOon filed for some
Mr.. Root, then Secretary of War and in that
capacity solved the many intricate problems in
Volved in adjusting the constitutional law of the
United States To the government of the PhiliD-
pines, and incidentally became familiar with
both the Philippines and the War Department
Secretary Taft promoted him from that position
10 counsel for the Isthmian Canal Commission
and later to Governor of the Panama Canal zone.
a post he filled with distinguished ability FINALLY,
he was appointed provisional Governor of Cuba
where he has not only administered an excen-
tiohal!y dlhcult office most successfully. but
mas enjoyed the widest opportunity 10 mako
iiiihsef familiar with the methods of thought
ana administration Of Secretary Taft.
TWO DELEGATIONS FROM ARIZONA
Republican Convention Splits, Governor