Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-05
his home in Clarinda, Ia, that he had
been defeated by W. D. Jameson.
Cabinet States.


| met states which invariably follow the
election Of a new President are making
their appearance and political wise
| acres are busy in forecasting the
names of those who will make up
..President-el Taft's official family
OF course there is no authoritative
ground whatever for the mention of
specific names in connection with the
new cabinet, as Mr.. Taft has not CIV
en- the slightest intimation of his in
| tentions, so far as can be learned. But
| this does not stop the usual conjecture
and gossip at the various rendezvous
| for public men, and it is expected that
various Taft cabinet states will make
their appearance from this time for
| ward with more or less outward ap-
pearancc of probability.
In this speculative comment which
is being INDUCED in the name of Sacre-
tary Root is often mentioned AS llkeiy
| to continue at the head of the state
department if he desires to stay. 1t is
known that Mr.. Taft has high regard
for his former associates, but whether
Mr.. Root would desire to carry the
burden of cabinet position, which
has already taken his strength and
health, the cabinet wiseacres are not
able to determine.
1t appears to be the general impress
sion that Secretary Luke Wright viii
be another cabinet officer to remain,
owing to the warm personal attach
ment existing between him and the
President-elect. Opinion seems to be
divided, however, as to whether Judge
Wright would remain the present war
portfolio or would be given a wider
range in his chosen profession, the
| law, as attorney general.
| 1t appears to be quite generally ac-
| copied in the speculation that Frank Fl.
| Hitchcock chairman of the Republican
| National committee, will be included in
the forthcoming cabinet, probably as
| postmaster general.
| The defeat of Congressman Hepburn
OF Iowa, long chairman of the Com
merce Commission of the House of
| Representatives, has aroused some
comment as to his availability as sec
rotary of commerce. The mention OF his
name is purely inferential however,
from the fact that Mr.. Hepburn's de-
! feat for Congress removes him on
March 4 next, the date that Mr.. Taft
will be inaugurated. AS Sec. Wilson
has held the agricultural portfolio
| through several successive adminiStra-
| tons and is a close associate of Mr..
Taft, there is a disposition to include
| his name in the list of continuing cab
met possibilities
| 1t is assumed pretty generally that
Mr.. Taft will look to his own state for
some of his cabinet material, and this
leads to conjecture concerning Tx
Gov Herrjck of Ohio, whose name has
been suggested in connection with the
secretaryship of the treasury. Cover
nor Herrick has long been identined
with financial affairs. The name OF A.
e. Hepburn of New York is also mem
toned Mr.. Hepburn was formerly
comptroller of the currency.
J. The navy and interior portfolios also
| come in for attention. In fact the cap
abilities and availability of most men
in public life are just now being scam
ned with reference to fitting them into
| the various places of this nroblematicai
cabinet list. Among those referred to
in a general way are two who have
been actively engaged on Mr.. Taft's
| advisory campaign COMMITTEES. Sena-
tor Murray Crane OF Massachusetts
and Charles F. Rrooker of Conpccti
cut and the active head of the orgaEi
zation of Republican Clubs, John Hays
Hammond. The latter's position as a
| mining engineer leads to conjecture on
his avails bilty for head of a depart
nent Of mines if this long contemplate
ed legislative project is ever realized.
| However, these latter names, and m
deed all of them are entirely the prod
| net of the active and fertile slate
makers, whose zeal is stimulated with
unfailing regularity on the morrow of
a change in the Presidency