The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-02
TAFT'S CABINET.
POLITICIANS IN WASHINGTON
ARE ALL GUESSING.
Since Elihu Root Has Decided to En-
ter the Race for Senator From New
York Cabinet Makers Find Diff
Guilty in Picking a Man for Secre-
tary of State-SOme of the Men
Who May be Selected.

Washington, Nov. 26.--It simply is
Impossible to keep away from the SUBJ
ject of President-elect Taft's Cabinet.
Judge Taft announced that it would be
some time after the Christmas holi-
days before he seriously undertook the |
task Of selecting his official advisers, |
but not day goes by but that the
VOLUNTEER assistants do not place some
new man in Taft's official family. Any
Republican statesman who hasn't been
mentioned for place in the Taft Cab
met has right to feel sighted.
Your correspondent decided some
time ago that he would accord the
President-elect the privilege Of select
ing his own Cabinet ministers, Mr.. Taft
having publicly intimated that he felt
quite equal to the responsibility. But
because unsolicited and perhaps un-
welcome advice is not to be thrust upon
the next president is no good reason
why the selections Of less considerate
amatuer Cabinet builders are not prop
erly subjected to discussion. Those
who persist in going to the relief of
Judge Tafs in the matter appear 20 be
having most difficulty in finding the
right man for his Secretary of State.
Most Of them had Elihu Root slated
to continue in the premier portfolio,
until Mr. Root began to evidence signs
Of senatorial yearnings. Now they are
al at sea.
There is a considerable faction that
wants to place Representative Theo'
dore e. Burton Of Ohio at the head {"
the State department, but as Mr.. Bur
4 ton is running for Senator Foraker
seat and is being doomed for Speake
Cannon's job, his selection for the pre-
miership doesn't give general satisfac
ton. Besides, while 1t Is admitted Mi
!, Burton is equipped intellectually TO
the place, he lacks in other respect:
/
member Of the Cabinet who has socif
obligations which are of any conse
quence to anybody but themselves. Th
Secretary of State has to entertain tn
diplomatic corps and momentol
questions Of world policy may be d.
termined by the sort Of dinner he Civ
the Ambassador from Timbuktoo {
:. the Minister from Dahomey. Now, n
only is Mr.. Burton crusty bachel
with little knowledge of and less likii
for the social stunts in which dipl
mats indulge, but he is dispepti
looking individual and probably wou
not recognize a good dinneri should
meet one on the street. Mr.. Burton
a book worm, a devourer Of weigh
things in the original Greek, and Lat
and Sanscript No doubt he would
able to tell you the scientific name
the diamon-back terrapin, which fiol
ishes on the eastern sho' of Marylai
but served at his table he couldn't
It, from goldfish balls. And for canv
back duck, beyond the fact that 1t
aythya vallsneria he takes no inter
M -
!, in the bird. Clearly he would be
lat
and diplomacy are SYNONYMOUS teri
Those who urge these weighty r
sons against the selection of Burton
succeed Root find their ideal fore
minister in George Won Lengerke NJ
er former ambassador to Italy. fo
er ambassador to Russia, and at p
=. ent postmaster general. There
anything in the art of feeding di
a. mats which Mr. Meyer doesn't kr
He picked up lot of useful infor
ton around Rome and st. Petersb
=, and besides. he has the natural
Mr. Meyer is effulgent in a draw
room and when he sits at the hea
the mahogany, it's said, those ga =
-. ed round the festal board forget t
rs any higher allegiance than tn u
lnLO
Bacchus and Epicurus.
Moreover, Mr.. Meyer has the WI
with to feed the whole hungry tril
diplomatic, while Mr.. Burton is
Of moderate means. In his ambas
Crial capacity at Rome and st. Pc
burg, Mr.. Meyer was one of the c
nal social splurgers," about whi
LAD much has been heard in criti
since the Tower Hill incident at b
Be- He likes diplomats, speaks the
guage Of the tribe, as 1T were,
would be bowling social succe
Will the head of the State Department
he L. nft ftol nj me- 4 hnrn TO liSl: