Evening star., 1908-01-16
Both He and White House
Hold to Statements.
WHAT HAS BEEN OFFERED
Presidency of the Knickerbocker
Trust Company.
ALL UP TO THE SECRETARY
President Does Not Want to Force
His Resignation, But Leaves to
Him the Decision.

AT neither the White House nor the
Treasury today was there additional In
formation as to the talked-of retirement
OF Secretary Cortelyou from the cabinet.
Mr. Cortelyou rested with the statements
he made yesterday, and the White House
had nothing more to say.
1t is recalled today that Mr.. Cortelyou' s
denials yesterday were confined to three
things: That he had not resigned; that he
had not accepted an offer to become pres
ident of the knickerbocker Trust Com
pany: that he did not talk with j. P.
Morgan while in New York a few days
ago In no specific manner did he say that
he did not intend to resign. AS to his
future movements he had nothing to say.
The White House answer to questions
was that Mr.. Cortelyou had not resigned.
but everything said was with extreme
caution. showing that the White House
did not know what might happen. Both
at the White House and Treasury ends,
therefore. the future was left hung In the
air.
What He Has Been offered.
From New York come positive state
ments that Mr.. Cortelyou has been offered
the presidency of the Knickerbocker
Trust Company. and that he is consider
ing the matter. The fact is that Knicker-
booker affairs are SO badly tangled that
an ofrer OF its presidency is coupled with
the possibility Of inability to deliver the
goods. Mr.. Cotelyou would not be so un-
wise as to cut loose from the cabinet
upon the assumption that he was pro-
vided for. IT is a case of two birds in the
bush and not one in hand. In the next
few days Knickerbocker affairs are ex-
pected to work out so that an offer of its
presidency may become synonymous with
ability to deliver II there Is acceptance
In that event many believe that NJ. Cor
.telyo6 will leave the administration.
II To significant that the White House
.expreosed no surprise when approached
with nQujries 40 to the probability of Mr..
CortGvou leaving the cabinet. Ordinarily
denialB of rlmors or reports OF this kind
are promptly Forthcoming In a manner
to leave no further doubt. In this case
the White House bears an atmosphere of
expectancy that has not escaped atten-
tion. =
Vehement denials, columns OF them In
the aast six weeks, of strained relations
between the White House and Mr.. Cor
telyou have not affected those cognizani
Of the exact situation. Nobody who knew
tn facts has believed that Mr.. Cortelyou
woukl stay In the cabinet unless there
a
however, that whatever feeling may have
been lengendered by events connected with
the republican presidential race would
be obliterated by time and the tolerance
which is shown between men OF broad
intellect. 1t Is at least known that In
the last few weeks matters conce rnine
the President and Mr.. Corelyou have
appeared to be moving more smoothly
and more along the lines of former close
relationship. Outwardly the past was be-
ing forced into the background rapidly.
All Up to Mr.. Cortelyou.
The White House attitude is one that
the whole question of resignation is VI
t. Mr.. cortelyou. The President does moi
seek II or wish 1t. but leaves to Mr.
Cortelyou the decision of what he con.
siders best. The delicacy of 1t. from 9
political viewpoint. Is fully impressed
upon the White House. and that leads tc
extreme care in the smallest utterances
The President does not care to be placed
in the position of having forced Mr.
Cortelyou out of the cabinet, because he
knows what would be said of any such
action
So far as Secretary Taft is concerned
Il r. IS no quarrel with Mr.. Cortelyou
The Secretary Of War has seen to it that
his relations with the head of the Treas
ury were not marred. He called upon Mr.
Cortelyou when the latter was In bet
since the two men have. on the surface,
appeared most friendly.
Political Callers and Talk.
There were not many callers at the
White House today and these were
mostly men interested in the political
map. Senators Carter and Dixon of Mon
tana introduced to the President two OF
the political leaders of that state-Fletch-
"a fc Y
state committee, and III. ]. Miller, mem
Der of the legislature. Both Of the visi-
tors asserted that Montana is strongly for
Secretary Taft and will send delegates
10 the convention for him. There is nc
Taft organization in the state said Mr.
Maddox but the politicians of all grades
know that the people want Taft. That
settles II with them. Mr.. Miller is from
the southern part OF the state and said
that sentiment there Is just as strong as
in the northern part. from which Mr.
Maddox halls. There are lot of big
criminals out west who have been steal
ing thousands OF acres of lands from the
government. In the past these men have
simply been regarded as shrewd an(
standing upon a different level from the
man who stole $50. President Roosevelt
has taught things differently. and II is be
lieved Secretary Taft will do the same
St. Louis Not Against Taft.
Three St. Louis men saw the Presiden
today. They were Representative Cou
drey OF the twelfth district; Henry w
kiel republican chairman of that district
and Hiram Lloyd one of the leaders TIL,
republican congressional organizations o
the tenth. eleventh and twelfth district.
recently arranged that their delegates Il
the national convention should be elected
by primaries This has been heralded a.
an anti-Taft victory. because it mean
uninstructed delegates. Messrs. Coudrey
Kiel and Lloyd said today that the mat
ter was not regarded In that light b,
them. and that II was the understandinj
that most of the delegates IL not all, viii
be Taft men. II expect to be elected ;
delegate from the twelfth district" sal,
Mr.. Lloyd. 'and / am for Taft / hay,
talked to men In the other districts VIII
believe they will be elected. and they ar
also for Taft
Consular Agency to Remain.
Representative Croner of North Da
kota called on the President today will
II. Berndecke. vice consul OF Norway
stationed in North Dakota. to protes
against the talked-of extinction O
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