Evening star., 1909-02-15
TAFT AND ROOSEVELT
Their Political Relations Sub
ject of Much Speculation.
THE PRESIDENT IGNORED
Not Thus Far Consulted in Framing
of New Cabinet.
LOOK TO MEETING THIS WEEK

William Fl. Taft's visit to Washington
this week may be fraught with far-reach-
ing political possibilities.
Pessimists predict that it will be the be-
ginning of wide breach between the
outgoing chief executive and the incoming
head of the nation. They claim to base
their belief as to this upon certain things
that have happened. and still others that
have not happened. They are sure that
Mr.. Taft has ignored his former chief
too much up to this time in his cabinet
selections and in other ways, and point
out that Mr.. Roosevelts nature is such
that he wants to have a hand in every
thing going on, even in the prospective
affairs of the next administration. Then
they go on to assert that the sting of
being entirely overlooked will rankle with
the man who is to go into Africa for a
year right after he leaves office to escape
opportunities of friends and to avoid
meddling with his successors affairs to
an undue degree. When he gets back
from Africa the small breach will grow
wider, and then the pyrotechncS will
start. That is the way it is mapped out
anyhow.
Citing the Facts.
In the analytical process by which this
is reached there are facts that are used
deniable fact that Mr. Taft has framed
part of his cabinet. possibly most of it
without the least consultation with Mr.
Roosevelt. The President is in as much
ignorance of the composition of the abb
net as any other man in Washington. He
has taken particular pains, too, to tell
friends who have made inquiries that he
is uniformed The members Of his pres
ent cabinet are just as ignorant, although
/ III fflnja arSta and ~, nj
them will be in the next administration.
President Roosevelt is said to have no
knowledge of the plans of Mr. Taft in
keeping out of the next cabinet members
of the present He is not posted as to
the motives actuating this To see many
of his most intimate friends and advisers
set aside for new men in the cabinet
might be undisturbing if the reasons were
strong enough. Taft people supposed to
be on the inside say that the next Presi-
dent is leaving off members of the pres
ent cabinet because there are some of the
members he does not want If he were to
invite a few to enter his admnistra tion
the friends of those left out would charge
discrimination. Rather than do this he
will start with new men.
Expecting a Conference.
In the conferences Mr.. Taft will hold
with the President this week the cabinet
selections may be fully discussed and the
advice of Mr.. Roosevelt asked. If this is
not done there will be great surprise in
the political world.
Another interesting phase of the situ-
alton is that President Roosevelt has
freely set aside for the next administra-
ton to settle certain perplexing questions
in departmental work and certain appoint
mentS. particularly in the south. Officials
have set before the President some prob
lens which. they told him, would save his
successor embarrassment should he dis
pose of them before he went out of office
Unless the questions were suuarely ready
for settlement at this time the President
has frankly decided to let them go over.
He has expressed the opinion that Mr..
Taft will be we'll able to care for himself.
and that there is no use worrying over
what may happen to the new chief magis-
trate.
Some knotty southern appointments are
among those to be passed over into the
next administration. They concern the
appointment of negroes to Office one of
them being the Crum case, the democrats
of the Senate having succeeded in pre-
venting confirmation of his nomination
to be collector of the port at Charleston.
Rumors that President Roosevelt may try
to settle this case in advance to relieve
Mr.. Taft have not been verified at the
White House. 1t is safe to say, from
present information, that he will not do
so unless he gets request direct from
Mr.. Taft