The Washington times., 1908-12-03
Ambassador to Germany
Considered as Next Sec
retary of State.
NEW YORKER HAS
WIDE EXPERIENCE
Believed by Friends TO Be Capable
Of Taking Up Difficult Dip
lOmatic Tasks Here.
BY JOHN SNURE.

The name OF David Jayne Hill, now
ambassador TO Germany. is being mem
toned in inner political circles in con
TeCuOn with the office OK Secretary Of
State.
Mr.. Hill has strong friends who would
like 10 see him selected by Mr.. TAFT 10
head the State Department as the sue
cessor to Elihu Root
While there has been a great deal OF
gossip 10 tine effect that Postmaster
General Meyer would be chosen TO be
Secretary Of state and the name OF
Theodore Burton. OF Ohio, has been
much discussed in this connection, the
best Information is that Mr. Taft has
lot yet settled on his Cabinet and that
states viii come and 60 freely betweeen
now and March T.
Mr.. Taft is understood to realize fully
that he viii have no easy task 10 md
a man who will I'LL Mr.. Roots place
and 10 be giving careful consideration
to this problem. Mr. Hils friends take
tile position that ia casting about for
Secretary Of State. Mr. TAFT could not
do better than to select the ambassador
to Germany. Mr.. Hill has worked his
way steadily upward in the diplomatic
service having served as minister 10
Switzerland and minister T. the Neither
lands before he was ambassador to Ger
many He was at one time Assistant
Secretary of state and is amply quail
fed by ais long diplomatic experience to
handle all state Department affairs.
Smoke Blows Over.
While there was an unpleasant Incl
dent iu connection with sending MIR. HHl
ss ambassador 10 GeTmay. owing 70 the
evident wish of the Kaiser 10 have a
Weather man than Mr.. Hul accred-
lated 10 his court this mas blown ,iver.
Mr.. Hill was received with marked cor
diality al Berlin. and mis- relations with
the German government have '.-eu
pleasant by his tact and uTbanity Ee
has smoothed over any rough pla-es
that may have existed when he was
first sent 20 the German capital
Mr. Hu is accredited Go New York.
u Is not understood any campaign on
lis behalf is being made, out his friends
think that iu looking about lUr man
who would Iu the post of Secretary OF
state well, Mr.. Taft can EHTdly escape
giving Mr. Hill consideration MT.
Meyer. it is true, has tlIg qualifications
for the position IN question lie also is
admirably fitted for the Treasury De-
pcrtment, and should some other man
be put IN the State Department NJ.
Meyer would doubtless become Secre-
tary OF the Treasury.
Roots Place Hard to Fill.
II is we'll understood by Mr.. Taft and
everyone familiar with Mr.. Root work
as head of the State Department that
the man who follows MIN will have no
easy task. No man WhO has not the
largest capacity for administration and
diplomacy can step into Mr.. Roots
shoes without rafting around IL tIcm
vlsibIy and painfully.
The recent exchange Of notes between
this country and Japan has probably
insured against q recurrence of serious
Japanese friction for years to come.
The Japanese question has. beyond all
question, been the great burden under
which MI Root has had to stand for
many months The stress Of il has not
been generally appreciated.
Bot even with the Japanese problem
seemingly adjusted for the time, there
still remain plenty Of large problems. I
The work o. forwarding the building up
and reorganization of the consular sery-
ice in itself IS large one
Much Progress Is Made.
Mr. Root has made great progress in !
this though there is much yet TO be
great field OF endeavOT for |
any Secretary Of State is presented in 1
Latin America. Mr. Root has made a |
beginning Of bettering relations with !
Latin America The next Secretary of |
state viii have 10 go forward and make /
Lrogress in the same direction, no light /
matter in view of the rapidly growing /
Importance o. Latin Amer !
lea
Though an understanding has been /
reaened with Japan. it. is apparent the 1
situation iu the Pacific, with China in 4
it's uncertain, perturbed state of evoIu- /
tior. will remain delicate for an in /
definite period, always requiring mas
terly handling. Plenty OF other prob /
ems might be named
7. can be set down as certain, there /
fore, that Mr.. Taft. who IS fully cog
infant Of the increased demands that /
American expansion has made on the /
state Department, will not pick a man /
for the place now held by Mr.. Root /
the most careful thought.