The Washington herald., 1909-02-17
TAFT'S SLATE MADE.
Judge Van Deyanter Nay Sue
ceed Dir. COrtelyOu.
REPUBLICAN, PARTY LEADER
Presiaent-elect said to Have Decided
on New Secretary OF the Treasury
After DiIiEent Search Outside Of
the Ranking Observation-Disclosures
Cheyenne Jurist Best Qualified.

New York. Feb. ia special from
Washington says:
The uncertainty regarding the selection
Of the Secretary OF the Treasury in Mr..
Tafts Cabinet seems to have been ended
through the choice Of Willis Van Devan-
ter. Of Cheyenne. Wyo.. now United
States judge for the Seventh district cir
cult.
While Judge Van Devanters judicial
Office has a life tenure, it is understood he
Is willing TO resign in order to enter the
Cabinet Of Mr.. Taft. although his prefer
ence was for the Attorney Generalship-
Completes the Slate.
This selection completes the slate of
Mr. Taft's Cabinet, and unless there
should be some changes not now expect
ed the official advisers OF the next Presi-
dent viii be the following:
Secretary Of State-Philander c. Knox,
OF Pennsylvania
Secretary Of the Treasury-willis Van
Devanter. Of Wyoming.
Secretary of war-Jacob NJ. Dickinson,
OF Tennessee.
sham. Of New York.
Postmaster Generai-FTank II Hitch
cock, Of Massachusetts.
Secretary Of the Navy-George Won L
Meyer. Of Massachusetts.
Secretary Of the InJeriOr-Richard A.
Ballinger. OF Washington.
Secretary Of Agriculture-James VII
son. Of Iowa
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor
Charles NaEel, Of Missouri
ESteeused by Taft and Knox.
Judge Van Devanter is regarded highly
both for his ability and for his personality
by Mr.. Taft and the next Secretary OF
state, Mr. Knox He is not quite fifty
wears old. having been born on April L,
1855 He is a native az Indiana. was edu-
Gated in The public schools Of that State
and al the Indiana AsbuTy University
now De PAW University and was
graduated from the law school OF Clncin-
natl College
In 1881. the year % his graduation. he
began the practice ~ law in his native
town. Marion. and IN 1884 moved 10
Cheyenne. where he soon obtained consid
cradle prominence. He was city at
torney Of Cheyenne. a member Of the
Territorial legislature. commissioner 70 re
wise the Wyoming statutes. and was ap-
pointed by President Harrison as chief
justice Of the Wyoming Supreme Court
under the Territorial government. and
was elected 70 that Office when Wyoming
was admitted as a State.
From 1877 10 1893 he was assistant att0r-
ney for the Interior Department. and
during that period was a professor IN the
law school of Columbian University. in
this city. On February IS 1893. President
Roosevelt appointed him United States
circuit judge for the Eighth circuit the
Office he now holds
Leader in Politics.
Judge Van Devauter has been prominent
in Republican politics. in 1876 ne was
chairman Of the state Republican COM
miJtee. and the same year vas dele
gate 10 the Republican National Conven-
ton in s. Louis. He was member
also OF the Republican National Com
Hittee. Mrs. Van Devanter was Miss
Dolly BUrhans. Of Ionis. Michigan.
They were married IN October. ISss.
Il has been understood among public
men who were aware OF Mr. Taft's ef-
forts 70 get a Secretary OF the Treas
ury who would he entirely satisfactory.
thar lie preferred somebody who was not
engaged il the banking business. While
IL IS not known that Judge Van Devan-
ter has had any particular experience Of
. kind that would III him for this i'm
portant Office. he is regarded as an ex-
eellent bus ness man. and is said TO be
qualified 10 Eli any Cabinet position.