Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-12-19
SENATOR KNOX FORMALLY
ACCEPTS PREMIERSHIP

Augusta, Ga, Dec. 1S.-PreSident-
elect Taft tonight announced the ap-
pointmcnt of United States senator
Philander C. Knox, Of PENNSYLVANIA,
as secretary of state in his cabinet
The announcement followed the re-
ceipt by Mr.. TAFT of a telegram con-
jVeying the information from Mr. Knox
that he would accept the premiership
OF the Taft cabinet.
Mr.. Taft without delay announced
that the matter was settled He said
the offer was made tG Mr. Knox last
Sunday in New York and that since
the offer he has not heard from Mr.
Knox until today's 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.
II feel that | am to be congratulate
ed In securing the services of senator
Knox in my cabinet" said Mr.. Taft in
making the announcement. I'm Sc
lectng a secretary of state | wanted
first great lawyer, and second, a
man who would fiji the public eye. not
only here but abroad, as a man who
stand out pre-eminently as a great
American.
"Mr. Knox was a great attorney gem
eral; he was a prominent candidate
for the presidency and he is rccogniz-
ed in the senate and elsewhere as one
Of the great lawyers Of that body
Mr. Taft also feels that from a poll
tical viewpoint Mr.. KnoNs selection is
most happy He explained that there
was often a feeling that Pennsylvania
with its republican majorities, often
was sighted i'm the matter of recOg
milton That this will not be the case
in the next administration was indi-
cation hv the announcement by Mr.. |
Tart that he would invite Senator
Knox to come to Augusta that ne
might consult him freely with ref |
erence to filing other places in his
cabinet.
While i'm Washington last week Mr |
Taft told several of his close advisers !
that if ne could fill to his entire sat |
isfaction the position Of secretary of |
state, attorney general and secretary !
OF the navy. he would not be at all dis |
turbed by the difficulty of getting suit |
able appointees for the remaining po- |
sitlOns 1t is believed generally here |
that an Ohio man will be- selected as !
secretary of the treasury.
No name except that Of Judge Rich /
ard A. Ballinger. Of Seattle Wash. |
former commissioner general of the
land office. is heard here i'm connec-
ton with the secretaryship of the in
terror department and it is thought
that he stands an excellent SHOW for
this place.
II 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 at the head of that
department.
The position OF secretary OF labor
and commerce has been mentioned to
4 very slight extent. and in some quar-
-ers il is thought that Secretary Straus
win De- continued i'm that post for a
time. NJ least
For secretary OF agriculture il is
practically conceded that James VIII I.
son. Of Iowa. win be- continued for a
year or more. The appointment II