New-York tribune., 1909-01-10
WON'T REVEAL CABINET
SECRET TILL MARCH 4.
Mr. Taft VIII Not Make Further
14nnOu7sceme eRts--At Barbecue.

Augusta, Ga. Jan. 9-Beyond the reiteration
of the announcement that Philander c. Knox
VIII be Secretary of State and Frank H. Hitch
cock Postmaster General in his Cabinet. Presi-
dent-eIect Taft has determined that other
Cabinet appointments shall be known until
March f. To make this determination effective.
he will deny all Cabinet rumors predictions
announcements from any source quarter
whatsoever.
In the statement of this policy attention
directed to the announcement of the Knox ap
pointment made on the day Mr.. Taft arrived
in Augusta, and to the authoritative announce
ment from Hot Springs Va, of the selection OF
Mr.. Hitchcock as Postmaster General, both of
which pronounced correct by Mr. Taft
1t is predicted that Mr.. Hitchcock will retire
as chairman Of the Republican National Com
mittee at some convenient time to be determined
O after he has assumed the duties of his official
position. In this event he Will designate vice
chairman from among the members OF the COM
mittee, who will head the committee until it's
meeting in December preceding the next ma
tional election at which time the formal election
of chairman will be in order. It is stated that
no controversy has existed over xhis matter;
that it never has been and is not Issue
In any quarter Mr.. Hitchcock, who Is here, de-
clined to discuss any plans he may have in this
connection, and would make no prediction As to
what member Of the committee he would desg-
nate as vice chairman.
The ambition of James Wilson. Secretary OF
Agriculture to longer as a Cabinet officer
than has any other occupant Of similar posi-
ton in this country has developed interest
ing discussion as 10 whether Mr.. Wilson does
not at the present time hold the record of the
longest Cabinet service His tenure of office
on March next will be twelve years and three
months according to information here His
competitors in this line are said to be- william
Writ who was Attorney General for eleven years
and six or eight months. and Postmaster General
Granger, who was at the head Of the postal
service for thirteen years, but during none or
that time was he member OF the Cabinet. The
office of Postmaster General was not then
Cabinet place. Should it develop authoritative
" that Wilson will have achieved his ambition
on March 4, it is regarded as highly probable
here that he will wish to relinquish his official
duties. in which case Mr. Taft will have the
additional task before him Of selecting a Secre-
tary Of Agriculture for his Cabinet. Otherwise
Mr.. Wilson will doubtless be a member of the
Taft official family, at least for few months.
Aside from this place. it is regarded far
assertion that Mr. Taft has fixed in his mind
and has had approved by Messrs. Knox and
Hitchcock the whom he is to invite to seats
around his council board. This is believed 10
he the extent of his progress at the present time,
as II is understood that no offer OF places be-
sides the two determined on has been made 10
anv one That the proffer of places is the next
stem in order is a matter OF course.
Like a trip into the good old days of the
mast" was the novel experience of the Presi-
6ent-elect to-day in being the guest of the Beech
Island Farmers Club, of South Carolina. at
repetition of a barbecue the club has held once
month without missing month for nearly
seventy years. The old negro, John Hays,
made the "'cue" just exactly the same he
has been doing every month since long befo'
de war" The plain board clubhouse, with it's
holes in the roof and walls, has been the meet
ING nlace for the discussion OF all questions as
sau as for the feasts served in one of its two
,,o-,s for more than fifty years, 1t stands
,Ione in a beech forest about seven miles from
Augusta. and in and around 1t to-day We're