The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-04
TAFT BOASTS
BRILLIANT CABINET

ton.
Mrs. Dickinson. wife OF Jacob Nc
Gavock Dickinson, picked for secre
tary of war, presents the novelty of
a southern woman prominent in a
republican cabinet; in fact, the wife
of a man who actually as a boy served
against the north in the war of the
rebellion.
Mrs Dickinson, it is believed is
destined to be one of the most popu-
lar women of the cabinet. She is
noted for grace and tact. She has
travelled all the world, and was the
head of the social life of Memphis,
Tenn. Mrs. Dickinson accompanied
her husband to Pekin, whence he
went as a member of the commission
to settle the Boxer troubles. Like
Mrs Taft Mrs. Dickinson is quite a
linguist, and she and the wife of the
president can converse together in
several | languages. Mrs. Dickinson
has the true southern drawl, so de-
lightful to northerners, and she is
sure to be immensely popular
Coming back to Washington is al
most like returning home to Mrs.
George Wtckersham. for here she
spent a considerable part of her girl
hood Her father, Cornelius Wendell,
was very fond of the capital, and had
a handsome home there. Mildred
Wendell attended Madame Burr's
fashionable school. and here she made
friendships with many girls who nave
now taken places of prominence in
the social life of the capital. AS. Mrs.
Wickersham she will be destined to
play hostess to many of these old
time school girl friends.
Miss Constance Wickersham, a
daughter of fourteen, will accompany
her parents to the capital.
Mrs George Won L. Meyer. wife of
the new secretary of the navy, has
had excellent experience in the duties
of I'd cabinet officers wife, for her
husband as postmaster general was a
valued member of the cabiner of
President Roosevelt, and Mrs. Meyer
made a great success by her charms
as a hostess. She has been presented
at most of the foreign courts, and
lived at Rome, where her husband
was ambassador. 1t will also be re-
membered that MIR. Meyer was am
bassador to Russia during the period of
the Japanese troubles with the Mus
covites. and all through the crisis ac
Quilted himself most creditably.
Besides the attraction of the per-
sonality of his wife, the secretary of
the navy will also have his house.
made brilliant by the presence of his
daughters, Miss Julia Meyer and Miss
Alice Meyer, who are almost of an age
and almost of a size, and are noted
for their life and dash Both are fond
of automobiling, and have the nat
test kind of a little electric brougham
in which they make their calls.
Mrs Richard Ballinger does not
come to Washington as a newcomer,
for the secretary of tins interior was
connected with the land office for
some time, and has the advantage of
many valuable connections and friend
ships made during that time. His
wife is very partial to society.
The secretary of agriculture, the
veteran James Wilson, who has serv-
ed under three Observation-Disclosures
Roosevelt and Taft-is widower,
and the entertaining ne does is en-
ely IN the hands of his daughter,
Miss Flora Wilson. Miss Wilson is
noted TOR her beautiful voice, and her
singing has added much to the pleas
ure of cabinet society; but it was
also the means of taking her out of
Washington. Miss Wilson mas been
planning an operate career for her
self. She had planned to go abroad
this year. but it is possible that for
the present at least she may stay with
her father and preside over the social
side of his public life.
Mrs. Charles Nagel is perhaps the
least known of the women who will
dominate the social life of the present
administration.
Her husband is the new secretary
of commerce and labor For her il
will be a duty of building up new
friends and connections, but those
who have known Mrs. Nagel at her
summer home in Marion, Mass, speak
of her as a most tactful and clever
hostess, who is certain to become a
favorite in Washington.
The only one of the cabinet officers
who lacks a wife or daughter to take