The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-07-06
SPECULATIONS
ON THE CABINET
REPRESENTATIVES, BURTON oFaoHo GENERALLY AGREED ON AS
SECRETARY OF sTATE-KELLoGG OF MINNESOTA FOR ATToR-
GENERAL FRANK HITCHCOCK FOR POSTMASTER
GENERAI-GARFIEID MAY PROBABLY REMAIN.

WASHINGTON, June 26-It will be
unnecessary for Secretary Taft to
bother himself over the tentative Sc
lection of cabinet officers, for cabinet
makers are already busy fixing up
slate for the popular candidate Tor
President. AS to the makeup of the
Taft cabinet there is much difference
of opinion, but on one point there Is
general unanimity, namely, few mem
bers of the Roosevelt cabinet will sit
at the council table of the next admin
istration.
Some few cabinet Offices would APP
pear to be settled, judging by the coin
Gliding views of volunteer cabinet maxi
ers. For instance, it is generally
agreed Though not announced by Mr..
Taft that Representative Burton of
Ohio is to be Secretary of State. 1t is
also agreed that Frank B. Kellogg of
Minnesota is to be Attorney General,
and furthermore it appears to be the
concensus of opinion that Frank H.
Hitchcock is slated for Postmaster
General. But with these exceptions,
the views of the cabinet-makers are
far apart, and one mans guess is as
good as another's.
AS a matter of fact Mr.. Taft will
give little thought to cabinet appoint
ments during the summer; his first
concern will be over the campaign. It
is his purpose to keep in close touch
with the campaign managers, and to
lend his assistance to planning the
party fight. He will not go upon the
stump, but he will be constantly In
touch with the situation and give his
entire time and attention to the fight
against Bryan. Late in the fall, per-
haps, he may take up cabinet ques-
tions, but not until after election will
he make selections, and then only in
event the Republican ticket is victori-
GUS. So no one is in a position to
speak authoritatively of prospective
cabinet appointments until after the
election.
BURTON'S POSITION.
Those caDinet-makers VINO pick
Burton for Secretary of State do SC
with good reason. Burton wants the
place; he Is peculiarly equipped to fiji
1t; he is very close to Secretary Taft
and the latter is under many obliga
|
tive Burton has probably gone as higf
in the House of Representatives as hi
can ever go. He is chairman of the
Committee on Rivers and Harbors-
and a most efficient chairman. There
is no more scholarly man in the House
than he; none more gentlemanly ant
courteous. But Burton is not the type
of man who could be styled a "leadel
of men" He lacks personal magne
tism. Added to that, he has, as chair
man of Rivers and Harbors, made
many enemies. In point of ability HI
Is fit man for Speaker of the Blouse
but his lack of magnetism, and old en-
mites would probably forever keel
him out of the Speakers chair. Why
then, should he not wish to retire from
the House, to some place of create
honor, and greater responsibilities
Burton is a progressive man, and real
tzing his predicament, as he does, it i
natural that he should look to tn
head place in the cabinet? There
only one thing likely to keep Burtol
out of the State Department, if Tai
is elected, and that is the defeat O
Senator Foraker and the election q
J burton 10 MS place.
Mr.. Burton has not had previou
training in diplomatic work, it is true
but many men have been chosen 70
; Secretary of State who had no specia
preparation for the work. and hav
= made good The present Secretary {
State was never in the diplomatic SCI
h vice, yet he is a born diplomat. N
more so, however, than Mr.. Burton
( The State Department calls for a mai
ural diplomat and a man long on dis
nifty. Burton is such a man.
MEYER FOR TREASURY.
1t being practically certain thu
Frank Hitchcock, former First Assls
ant Postmaster General, is to be hea
of the Post Office under Taft, the pre-
ent occupant of that Office. Hon. &c
Won l.. Meyer must move. Meyer ca
remain in the cabinet If he desire
and it is the understanding of h
friends that he likes official life
Washington. Mr.. Meyer has had loI
training in the diplomatic service
the Nation, but previous to that tin
was prominent in business and ban
10 ing circles His familiarity with ma
u ters of finance, and his sound jud
Inent on business questions promp
e the general belief that he will su
coed Mr.. Cortelyou as Secretary of Il
Is Treasury. If Meyer remains in Il
cabinet, that is probably the post
will receive. Only one other name
10 as yet mentioned in connection wi
this office; that OF Representa-
Vreeland OF New York, one of Il
leaders in the currency fight in Il
recent session of Congress.
WRIGHT WILL STAY.
On July l Luke X. Wright of TIE
nessee, democrat, will succeed N
Taft as Secretary of War. 1t is undo
stood that Wright was appointed lare
L ly ON recommendation of Taft, and
Taft would favor him under this a