The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1908-12-21
CABINET GOSSIP
INCLUDES many
Only Two Selections Have Been Made
Burton Still On the
List.

4
Washington. Dec. 81. = Cabinet
builders at the national capital and
those who have moved to Georgia as
part of the encourage of President
elect Taft are succeeding in placing
on the anxious bench public men in
all sections Of the country who have
been looked on as aspirants for port
folios or whose qualifications have
been urged by admiring friends
The announcement Of the appoint
ment of. Frank H. Hitchcock to be
postmaster general, followed by that
of Senator Phi!ander C. Knox to be
secretary of state, and the generally
accepted report that George W.
Wickersham~ of New York is the
choice of Mr.. Taft for attorney gen.
eral, indicates that the state is being
made up rapidly, and that an an
nouncement of the entire cabinet
may be expected before many weeks.
From discussion Of the cabinet
slate among Mr. Taft's close friends
in Washington, there seems to be a
reasonable certainty that Secretary
Wilson will continue for a year or
more at the head of the agricultural
department; that Secretary Garfield
will retire from the cabinet; that
Judge Richard A. Ballinger Of Seat
tie, Wash, will be given place,
probably that of secretary Of the in
terror; that Luke E. Wright will re-
tire from the cabinet and again take
q post in the diplomatic service, and
that an Ohio man will be given the
position of secretary of the treasury.
For these posts no selections have
been made definitely, although Mr..
Taft has men in mind. For the last
few days the name of Charles Nagel
Of Missouri has been discussed In
connection with the secretaryship Of
the department of commerce and la
bor.l 1t is known that at one time
Judge Taft thought very strongly of
naming Nagel as attorney general,
but that later he considered Wicker
sham more adaptable to the purposes
Of that department
Other names heard in connection
with that department are those of
William Loeb, Jr, secretary to Presir
dent Roosevelt; Oscar s. Stratus, who
now has the portfolio, and George A.
Knight Of California. It is not be-
lieved here, however, that two places
will go to the Pacific coast.
Probably the most difficult place
remaining to be- filed is that of Sec
rotary of the treasury. Among the
Ohio men mentioned are Former Gov
ernor Myron T. Herrick and Repre-
sentative Burton. The rumor that
there has been a break in the cordial
relations that existed between Mr..
Burton and Mr.. Taft is not generally
credited by the friends of both in this
city, and In many quarters Mr. Bur
ton still is regarded as a possibility
for the second post of Importance in
the cabinet.
For secretary Of war the name OF
Charles Magoon, now governor of
OAOos 40 AAOHiQ II Jul Tic
generally accepted idea is that Mr..
Taft has not yet made up his mind
whom he will appoint to that posi-
ton. He is said to be looking for a
man who has made a record as a
business man. William Loeb, Jr., is
also mentioned for secretary of the
navy, as is also Charles H. Thompson
of New York. There are some close
friends of Mr.. Taft also who think
that Secretary Newberry win be re-
tanned
Practically all of the discussion is
mere speculation, however This is
proved by the success Mr.. Taft had
in keeping quiet for SO long the fact
that he wanted Senator Knox above
all others to take the place as secre-
tary Of state.