Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-05
Boomers of the Secretary Al
ready Casting About For Suit
able Cabinet Members
WILSON MAY BE RETAINED
Secretary Of Agriculture Only One
Certain to Remain MetcaIf and
Meyer Might Remain = Bill for Re-
vision of Sherman Antitrust Law
to Be Introduced.

Especial Washington Correspondence
Washington, March 5.-It's a bit
premature, but the more confident OF
the Taft boomers are figuring quietly
on how President Tafts cabinet is like
" to be made up.
They began, indeed, a long time ago,
pointing out how nice it would be for
the officiary it, Taft should succeed
Roosevelt. "Just keeping the same
family organization in charge of
things: it would be almost as If there
hal heen no change at the top, !t
was argued. And it would have to De
admitted that this prospect had good
deal 10 do with lining up the official
contingent in Washington.
presidential cabinet, whatever the
circumstances, doesn't survive very
long change at the top of things.
The last member Of the Lincoln cab
met had retired in about a year after
the death Of Lincoln. Gartields cap-
met evaporated with the accession OF
Arthur. McKin1ey's cabinet, despite the
assurances of President Roosevelt that
he meant and wished to continue tne
Mckinley policies, has been changed
at every point except one, and the
prc Dc ton Of changes under Roose'
vel. has been greater than under any
other president.
Doubtless the same would be true
OF cahiret which the mutation of
politics should transfer from Roose.
velt to Taft. Secretary Root, the
premier, rather notoriously is anx-
ious to get out of public life. feeling
that he has given to it as much as
could fairly be expected of him. Sec
retary Cortelyou at the treasury de-
rartment would hardly be persona
crata with Taft administration. He
would retire early. A new secretary
of war must oe provided. and in all
probability a change at the navy de-
partment would come early.
1t has been banded about rathe:
freely that Theodore E. Burton OF
Ohio will be secretary of state, in case
Taft administration comes to bae,
provided he doesn't become a sena-
tor from Ohio. The secretaryship of
the treasury might go to Mr.. Car
field, now head of the interior de-
uartment, but it would be more likely
70 he offered to Myron T. Herrick If
an Ohio man were to have it, and
still more likely to go to some New
ork man. Secretary Of Agriculture
Wilson has been in his present seat
j
ated. and he is looked upon as the
man most likely of the entire official
council, to be retained under new
renublican president. If Mr.. Garfield
doesn't become secretary of the treas
ury he will be pretty certain to remain
in the interior department; but he is
understood to aspire to the senatorial
seat of Senator Dick, which, how
ever, will not become vacant for some
time to come.
Postmaster General Meyer would
make an ideal secretary of the treasury
for President Taft. He is from MAS
sachusetts, and man OF wealth. anu
business experience. Maybe he woulu
want the place, tho he has become
much interested in some postal re-
forms which have seemed to engross
0ost of his interest lately.
At the office Of the attorney general
IT is believed a change would take
place. Frank b. Kellogg of Minnesota
is picked for attorney general. pro-
yided Minnesota lines up for Taft. Mil
ton D. Purdy, assistant to the attorney
general, also a. Minnesota man. is in
line for such q prom otion. and might
get the preference; but the impression
is that he is slated for a judicial posi-
ton.
Secretary Straus Of commerce and
labor, is man of fortune, whose in
terest in the routine drudgery of Of
fetal life is regarded as likely to wane
before long. So there Is calculation
on the probability that he will want to
retire. A new man at his desk is
counted among the probabilities.
In all this figuring there is constant
hesitation as to what is to become of
Theodore Roosevelt. Nobody knows
nobody who will tell. That the presi-
dent might want working job-a
place as secretary of state, or some
thing of that SORTS among the pos
sibilities considered by everybody. 1t
has been said he would not travel,
he had the chance-nobody knows
what he may want to do. Per-
haps he would desire an embassy
abroad; certain it is that he will want
to lead an active life, and that he will
have no worries about breaking prece-
dents.
The house committee on interstate
commerce, whose head is Congressman
Hepburn of Iowa. will probably be the
medium thru which will be introduced,
in very few days, one of the most i'm
portant pieces of legislation of this
session.
This is bill for the general revision
Of the Sherman antitrust law. Econo-
mists students of affairs. government
administrators, college professors. la