Evening star., 1909-03-12
FULL CABINET MEETS
Mr.. Dickinson Takes Seat as
Secretary of War.
SIT FOR GROUP PICTURES
Five Photographers Train Cameras
on Taft Official Family.
FIGHT ON PURDY APPOINTMENT
President Embarrassed by Opposition
of Senator Nelson-Wiborg Not
to Get Commerce Place.
SIT FOR GROUP PICTURES
FIGHT ON PURDY APPOINTMENT

wagon loads of apparatus, including flash
lights. got pictures of the full Taft cabi-
net. the first time it has been together.
The muffied roar of five fash lights
caused even the secret service detectives
to jump. President Taft was accustomed
to that sort of thing. but some of his
| cabinet members had never been through
II before under such a battery of instru-
inents
Jacob NJ Dickinson, the new Secretary
of War. completed the full family of
presidential advisers. He arrived at the
White House about 10 o'clock this morn
ing. conferred for short time with
President Taft and then went TO the
War Department. where he took the
oath of Office. Following this he returned
| TO the White House, took his seat at the
| cabinet table, was welcomed by his col
leagues. and learned something of the
work expected of him.
The new cabinet officers fell back upon
the rule of not talking about their work
TO newspaper men.
While President Taft has done some
preparatory work on the message he Will
send to the special session of Congress
Tuesday, that document was not in shape
to be read at the cabinet meeting today
Cabinet Officers to Travel.
President Taft intends to give every en-
couragement to his cabinet officers to
travel a good deal and thoroughly ia
miliarize themselves with every detail Of
the work over which they are to have
control. In pursuance of this policy Sec
retary Ballinger intends to go to Alaska
this summer and make tour of the ter
ritory, especially with reference to the
ca{I to - 1tru1 y, 10
and the possibilities Of reclamation. Sec
rotary Dickinson of the War Department
will also make a somewhat early visit to
the Panama canal, SO that he may be-
come fully posted as to the details of the
work there. Mr.. Taft Is the best posted
man in the country as to the canal. but
he realizes that he will shortly be out of
touch with the affairs there in a direct
way. This undertaking is one of the
greatest of his administration, and he
wants to know everything that is doing
about It,
Assistant Secretary Winthrop of the
navy has received a message announcing
the death last Saturday at San Juan.
Porto Rico, of Jose Severe Quinones,
chief justice OF the supreme court OF
Porto Rico. This makes another desira-
BILE judicial appointment for the Presi-
dent. Mr.. Winthrop, who was governor
Of Porto Rico for a number of years,
informed the President of the death.
Senator Shively of Indiana, Representa-
tive CoIlop Of that state, Representatives
Johnson and Hollingsworth of Ohio. all
new congressman, called on President
Taft today. Senator Flint of California
called with A. L. Munster, collector of in
ternal revenue at San Francisco. EX-
other caller Senator Burton of Ohio con-
ferred with President Taft as to some
Ohio matters.
The Standard Oil Case.
Frank B. Kellogg. the special attorney
of the Department of Justice in the big
suit for the dissolution of the Standard
Oil trust. the biggest of all the cases
pending against that combine, saw the
President today. to introduce a friend.
The case will come up April ) before
the judges of the eighth circuit at st.
Louis-Judges Sanborn. Van Devanter.
Cook and Adams The case was original
ly set for March 23, but at the request of
the defendants was postponed All the
testimony has been taken and both writ
ten and oral argument will be submitted.
Mr.. Kellogg is now preparing the brief OF
the government, working hard at the De-
partment of Justice to complete the i'm
portant document. He is assisted by c.
B. Morrison. formerly United States at
torney at Chicago. Mr.. Kellogg has been
In charge of the case from its inception.
Senator Nelson of Minnesota Is making
hard fight to prevent President Taft
sending the name Of Milton D. Purdy to
the Senate as judge of the district court
at Minneapolis. He has visited Mr. Taft
two or three times lately, submitting rea-
sons why Mr.. Purdy should be left off
the bench. He feels SO much concerned
about the matter that he is making 1t a
personal issue. MI. Purdy is well re-
membered in Washington. He was the
trust expert Of the Department of JUS
tice for years. and did such good work
there that President Roosevelt felt it a
duty to appoint Purdy, who is Mime
sofa man. coming to Washington from
where he had been assistant
in the fight on the Northern Securities
Company.
President Taft is placed in an embar-
RAISING position in the matter. Senator
Nelson Is arraigned on one side with an
obstinacy. when once his mind is made
up. that has no equal in the Senate. On
the other is the fact that the appoint |
ment was somewhat personal one with
President Roosevelt who liked Purdy and
believed that he had made no mistake in
naming him. While President Taft is not |
fighting Mr. Roosevelts battles he knows |
pretty we'll how Mr.. Roosevelt felt as to |
Purdy. He is likewise acquainted with |
Judge Purdy and likes him. The belief |
is pretty strong that President Taft will |
stand by Purdy.
Wiborg Not to Be Named.
Frank B. Wiborg is not to be named as |
assistant secretary OF commerce and |
labor, as has been indicated. If he gets |
a place it will be somewhere else. OBJ |
1ections have arisen to him that will pre- /
vent his being named.
President Taft took a long horseback |
ride yesterday, going out for TWO hours |
on his big riding horse. 'Sterrett" He |
was accompanied by Capt. Butt. his aid. /
Mgr Falconio, the apostolic delegate, ,
called on President Taft today and paid |
his respects. He said he had no business
to discuss.
Reception to Diplomats.
President and Mrs. Taft have arranged |
to receive the diplomatic corps and their |
ladies at o'clock this afternoon The |
reception is to be formal affair, and as |
all foreign diplomats in the United States |
are accredited to the President of the
United States undoubtedly the entire /
CORPS will be present. The diplomats will
appear in full uniform.