The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-11
From Sunny San Diego to
Bleak Bangor, Desirable
Citizens Would Serve.
MANY THERE ARE
TO GIVE ADVICE
Taft Learns That He Could Make
His Official Family an
Army Corps.
By JAMES HAY, Jr.

DO one or the most abused phrases In
cui eht literature. BY a reckless and
uiiDIldleI use Of t. gentlemen Of other
wise exemplary habits Of thought and
speech nave bounded triumphantly into
mat arena known as the Anapias Club
Ii'Iiuehtaiys other gentlemen have re-
oeiNeO distinction they did not de-
serve by being mentioned as future
members OF the Taft official family.
AS matter OF fact, the careful math-
elhallclan can come pretty near TO
counting on the fingers Of his two hands
all the men who are now really "seri-
ously considered for the Cabinet" The
remainder OF the seriously considered"
are as likely 10 get the honor as Is q
dear mute with amputated hands to
make funeral grafton.
One Big Trouble.
Few people realize the difficulties
President-elect Taft encounters in franz
ing his Cabinet There is one anuov-
anoe he constantly suffers. This is
when a leading citizen OF distant
and obscure town journeys to Augusta
Feeonmends man for the Cabinet, re-
turns 10 his distant and obscure town
and has IL In the newspapers in a day
or TWO that Mr. So-and- So is seriously
considered for the Cabinet" He nat
urally thinks this is true since Mr. So
and-So is basking in the effulgent glory
and daWning greatness Of his recon-
mendatiOn.
Again, Mr.. Taft has to be Influenced
by many other considerations. one OF
these Is geographical The Pacific slope
insists on being represented at the
council table. The South wants a man
in the Cabinet, and each of the big Re
publican States thinks it should have
a similar privilege. When it is remem-
bered that there are only nine members
OF the Cabinet and that most Of these
have been tentatively filed, 10 is easy
TO realize what these geographical
claims cause In the way Of thought and
worry.
Another Trouble.
Another trouble Is that. as soon as a
report gets out that a man IS IikeI. 10
get a Cabinet post. many other mn
suddenly develop an Unprecedented
knowledge about the lucky mans past
life. his Objectionable business connec-
lions, and so on. They write, telegraph.
and telephone. They hate TO see Mr..
Taft making such a mistake. They are
his friends, and they want to tell him
this and remind him of that All of
which is very kind but as a rule very
misleading and sometimes very untrue.
The President-elect is strong on TAX
Ing advice. Those 10 whom ne has
turned chiefly for counsel regarding mis-
Cabinet are senator Puilauder &. Knox
OF Pennsylvania, his Secretary of State.
Senator Lodge of MassaC huEetts. Henry
W. Tart ms brother, Gen. Clarence Il,
Edwards chief OF the iusular bureau
IN the War Department. and Euhu
Root the present Secretary OF State.
with all OF these he has held frequent
conferences. Their advice cOmmeuds
itself 10 him as good but. So strains
his nerves and his CheerfuIness TO go
sent In by the most powerful members
Of the Knockers Club
he does not expect TO make "A formal
announcement OF his Cabinet until
about March 4, the date of his inaugura-
ton IL the meantime, however, me is
practically finishing zap hts Cabinet maxi
Ing before departing for Panama He
viii nave little time for il after his
return.
Nerve Wrecking.
If he were seriously considering an
those who have been advertised by their
friends and promoters as seriously con
sidered' he would have nervous pros
Jraicn. u would he impossible to pick
cut nine men from 3 host. all OF which
looked good TO him. He would find him
self wondering whether be were running
a vaudeville circuit or selecting his off,
cial advisers.
While Mr.. Tafrs troubles are being
mentioned d. might bo wei 20 announce
th5t ne ls not running au emnIovmrnr
agenCg here nor does he consider il ms
duty 10 furnish work for am the uuem-
ploSeQ and -Il the unsatisfactory en-
pIo\eu lu the United states and it's
insular possessions. 1t might also be-
well % make t. clear that he does NOT
icel prepared 10 discharge every official
and eWpioEe Oh the Government rolls
Tor the purpose Of mailing room for all
hose VINO would like To get JIM.
Much Work Ahead.
With AN Inaugural address to write
"a special message 10 Congress to pre-
pare, cabinet TO make. and politics ia
frame. William Howard TAFT is a rea-
s0nably busy man. II is no sinecure
to be a presidcnt-CleCt IN country i'm
habitcd exclusively by cabinet timber
and job seekers The only way to mako
tine job AN easy one IS to increase fha
cabinet TO the size OF q stand ne arrny
and put everybody else ON a salary for
not committing murder Mr. Taft. how
ever viii make up such recommends
lions 20 the next Congress
in the meantime, it Is wen to remem-
Der that not every man who is advf~-
tiscd a. seriously considered for The
Cabinet WtU get there. Some Of them
viii not This may be regarded as an
authoritative statements are cOnsDicG-
GUS Joy their absence.
UEEICED ONED