New-York tribune., 1908-11-14
MR.. METCALF RESIGNS
ILL HEALTH THE CAUSE.
assistant Secretary NezobeTry to
Succeed HIM on December 1.
From The Tribune bureau. ]

[From The Tribune Bureau
Washington Nov. 13.-Victor H. Metcalf to-
day rendered his resignation as Secretary of the
, Navy to take effect on December /. and 1t was
accepted by the President. Truman H. New
berry. now Assistant Secretary. will succeed MI
Metcalf
Mr.. MetcaIfs reason for resigning IS given as
i'll health He was appointed Secretary of the
Navy on December Il, 1906. after having been
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor for two and
one-haI< years. He entered on his duties with
avidfty. and has maintained a keen interest in
the navy although in the last year he has suf-
fered from several illnesses and has been
obliged gradually to relinqush more and more
of the responsibility to Mr. Newberry. who was
a naval enthusiast long before he assumed his
present duties. A coutribUtory cause to Mr..
Metcaf's retirement is the serious and continued
illness of his son, Victor \. Metcalf, who was
recently obliged to resign from the navy because
of i'll health and is unable to live in The East.
On April t. Secretary Metcaf went to Cali
fornia to review the Atlantic battlesnip fleet.
He took a long vacation, hoping to be perma-
nently benefited. He returned here on Septern-
Der l. and on his resumption of official duties his
illness promptly recurred. and ne told the Presi
dent that he could not remain in the Cabinet.
AIr. MetcaIfs greatest achievement Secre-
tary of the Navy was the Pacific cruise Of the
battIeshp fleet A resident OF CALIFORNIA. he
was exceedingly anxious that the people of the
Pacific Slope should have 2n opportunity to see
the new navy. and he found ready sympa-
thzer in Admiral Brownson. then chief of the
bureau of navigation. whose efficient co-opera-
tion made the Pacific cruise not only possible
but unqualified success
In some respects. Mr.. Metcalf's methods and
policies differed from those of the President
notably with regard 10 the publicity to be given
naval affairs For instance Secretary MetcaIf
issued an order forbidding any discussion by
naval officers Of the details of the Newport
conference concerning the designs of naval yes
sells. whereas Acting Secretary Newberry. soon
after the conference, ordered that all details be
made public and removed the Injunction of Sc
Crecy from those officers who took part It was
Mr. Newberry also who issued the recent order
transferring the marines from sea to shore duty
and il is the belief Of some officers that Mr.
Metcalf not in sympathy with that policy
while It is known that he did wholly ap-
prove OF the policy of confding the command Of
hospital ships TO naval surgeons
The promotion Of Assistant Secretary New
berry has Of course. led to speculation regard
ing his successor, and the name of Frank H
Hitchcock is mentioned. it being suggested that
this place would conveniently ill in the interim
between Mr.. Hitchcock's closing Up the affairs
Of the Republican National Committee and
President Tafts organization OF his Cabinet In
some quarters it is suggested that Mr.. New
berry's promotion may indicate his retention by
President Taft. but there seems to be little basis
for the suPposition. Mr. Newberry naturally
stood in the line OF succession He is known
however. to aspire to the seat in the Senate now
occupied by Mr.. Burrows whose tern expires
two years hence. while the friends Of Mr. Ieeb
secretary to the President believe that Mr.
Taft's designation of his private secretary Fred
Carpenter as the future secretary to the Presi-
dent, also carries with it the likelihood Of Mr.
Loebs appointment as Secretary of the Navy in
President Tafts Cabinet.
Mr.. NeWberry had never filed any important
public office before his appointment as Assistant
Secretary Of the Navy November / 1905. He
was formerly in business in Detroit
The following correspondence was given out
at the White House tonight:
Navy Department
Washington, November g. 1908
Sir: hereby tender my resignation as Sec
retary Of the Navy, the same to take effect on
the 1st pr0ximo
Very respectfully.
V H AETCALF Secretary
The President White House, Washington, D. c.
The White House,
Washington. November g. 1905
Ny Dear Mr.. Metcalf: [ accept your resigna-
tion with real reluctance, and only because you
tell me- that il is imperative that you must go
on account Of the state of your health 7 had
earnestly hoped that YOU would be able tor
tinue with throughout my term I thank
you warmly for your faithfuI and efficient
vice in both Of the departments at the head of
which you have served under But my
dear Mr. Metcalf. you have always been more
than the head of department; you have been d
Cabinet minister upon whose aid and advice
and, above ALL upon whose stanch and stead
fast loyalty l could rely upon any and all
casions No President could wish more loyal
and hearty support than YOU have always given
me- thank you for it, l shall miss YOU when
you leave the Cabinet, and I wish you well In
whatever work YOU may undertake and wherever
your life may lead.
With regret. therefore, 7 accept your resigna-
ton. to take effect upon the first of December
With all good wishes
Faithfully yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Hon V H Metcaf. Secretary Of the Navy.