New-York tribune., 1909-02-26
Mr.. TAFT FILLS CABINET
FR4NKLTN IIACTEAGH FOR
THE TREASURY POST.
Official Announcement Not To BE
Made Until Neat Week-Mr.
TdftS Little Joke

President-elect Taft has completed his Cab
met but will make further announcement OF
the appointments until his Inauguration 1t IS
understood that the Treasury portfolio VIII go
to Franklin MacVeagh of Chicago, whose name
has been frequently mentioned in connection
with the place.
1t is understood that Mr.. MacVeagh accepted
the place yesterday. and thereby the Taft Cabl-
net was made complete as heretofore announced
in The Tribune. Assuming that there VIII De
no shifts between now and March 4 the Cabinet
will be as follows:
Secretary of state-PHILANDER c. KNOX,
Secretary of the Treasury-FRANKLlN MAC
Secretary Of War-JAcoB NJ. DICKINSON,
Attorney eeneraI-eEoRGE W. WICKER
Postmaster General FRANK H. HITCH
COCK, of Massachusetts. 49,,
Secretary of the NaVy-GEOR0E NON l.
MEYER, Of Massachusetts,.
Secretary of the Interior-RICHARD A. BAL
LlNGER, of Washington ,.,,e CON
Secretary of Aqriculture-JAMES WILoON'
Secretary of Commerce and LabOr-cHARLES
NAGEL, of Missouri.
When asked last night about his Cabinet Mr..
Taft said:
~ shall maze no announcement of the ap-
nointments until Inauguration day When 1
told the newspaper men earlier in the week that
I expected to give out the name of the new Sec
retary of the Treasury before leaving New York.
ii was an inadvertence.
perhaps the newspaper men think that sus-
gestion was a contract" continued MI 1aIt'
laughing softly as he looked at the reporters.
Il wish TO suggest to you gentlemen that II is a
well settled principle OF law that contract to
be binding must be accompanied by a considera-
ton and am not aware of the consideration
Then the President elect laughed his hearty
laugh and seemed to think he had a good joke
on the reporters.
Franklin MacVeagh has had years of expert
ence as practical merchant. He was born on
farm In Chester County. Penn He was grad
mated from, Yale in 1852 He lawyer. but
abandoned practice. owing to i'll health, and went
TO Chicago. There he established a wholesale
grocery business.
He was president of the Citizens Association
of Chicago. which promoted many important
municipal reforms He is president of the Bu-
reau of Charities and of the Municipal Art
League and a member of the executive commit
tee Of the National civic Federation In 1905
he was vice president of the American CIVIC
Association.
Mr. Taft spent the day quietly yesterday, TAX
ing five-rniIe walk up Fifth avenue, through
the park and back to the home OF his orother'
Henry w Taft. at No. SO West 4Sth street
where he is staying. He was gone from -:4o
ill 4:1O o'clock He was recognized by children
in the park and he halted to chat with one OF
Two BOYS and pat them the shoulders
one of Mr.. Tafts objects in coming to New
York was TO obtain comparative seclusion lot
the completion of some magazine articles winch
he agreed some time ago to write. an oppor-
tunitv for which had been denied him IN the
nress of other business. He did lot OF writing
yesterday.
Among those who called Mr.. Taft yester-
dav were Isaac n. Seligmar, A. NJ stevenson
os colorado. James r Sheffield and William NJ.
Rarnum of the Yale Club. who talked about the
Yale dinner on March 10, at which Mr.. Taft
President Hadley of Yale and Mr.. Sheffield VIII
he the speakers; w. Fellowes Morgan, OF New
Jersey who played golf with the PTesident-elect
at Hot Springs; General Horace Porter samuel
Brill. representing the Sphinx Club; William v
Rowe. George r. Sheldon, treasurer Of .the Re-
publcan National Committee; james SpeFer'
Peter Jay and Clarence Bowen.
Chairman Hitchcock Of the Republican Ma
tionaI Committee called in the afternoon and ac-
companied Mr.. Taft on his walk.
There was a reunion of the Tafts last night,
including the President-elect and Mrs william
n Taft, Mr and Mrs Henry w Tart and
daughter and Mr. and Mrs. Charles r la1t ana
daughter OF Cincinnati. Mrs Henry W. 1a1t
and Miss Taft returned home yesterday from
Europe.
NJ ,ro4+ will attend the dinner for Elihu Root
70 he given tonight by the Peace Society of the
C,+v of New York at the Hotel Astor. The
sneakers will include Mr.. Taft. Ambassador
Bryce. Governor Hughes Joseph H. Choate' VINO
will preside; Ambassador Takahira, OF Japan
and Ambas ssador Nabuco, Of Brazil
Mrs William II. Taft went shopping yester-
dav She will accompany her husband to Wash
So on SATURDAY. The President-elect said
last night that he deeply regretted his inability
70 stav over and attend the dinner of the breth-
rem Of the Amen Corner at the Waldorf that
night.
Mr.. Taft has not yet received the letter from
the regent of China defining the attitude OF the
regent on questions affecting the Chinese En-
p!Te.