The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-15
MANY WANT TO Be
SECRETARY To
MRS. TAFT
APPOiNTEE WILL NOT WELD
POWER MISS HAGNER DOES
MRS. NewsERRY's SECRETARY
is CANDIDATE FOR PLACE.

WASHINGTON. Jan. l5.-Who will
/ be- the next social secretary OF the
I White House is uestion which has
reached the acute stage in societ!
circles AT the capital, and as March
4 approaches the uncertainty begins
I 10 wer on the social nerves. When
/ Mrs. Taft was in Washington recent
/ liz she Is said To have had the avail
ables' pass in review but nothing def
I mite in regard To the appointment
cept that Miss Hagner. the incumbent.
will not succeed herself.
! Through long residence in the city
Mrs. Taft is herself thoroughly famil'
/ lar with Washington's peculiar social
code and the next mistress of the
White House will enter upon her du-
( ties as one OF the few women In White
! House history To whom the life will
offer neither novelty nor surprise.
During her career as cabinet hostess
Mrs Taft never emplyed secretary,
preferring to attend personally TO all
details OF her social and domestic
menage. Notwithstanding the greatly
| increased possibilities which the
election OF Mr. Taft has brought about
/ MIS-. dll SNlll VII hti Wv vi
respondence and practically every
note OF congratulation forwarded 10
| her after election brought forth per-
sonal reply from the wife OF the pres
/ identelect
/ woman OF pronounced individual
/ ity and character. with executive abil-
! ity above the usual, IL is not at all
/ probable that the next social aid at
D fDy a y,
a secondary importance. In this
/ thouse, Mrs. Taft will entirely reverse
the condition of affairs which obtain
ed in the Roosevelt administration.
/ Miss Haener Dominant.
! Either from disincl!nation or indif-
/ ference Mrs. Rooseet seemed con
1 tent To have Miss Hagner dictate the
social policy OF the administration
and with the favors Of the White
House at her disposal Miss Hagner
has been dominant for the last seven
years. That an entirely different pol
icy will be instituted upon Mrs. Taft s
advent as first lady of the land is an
openly expressed conviction.
In the local field Mrs. Taft has a
large list 10 choose from, but those
who hold the most important posi-
lions are Miss Alma Ruggies. Miss
Jane Hunt Mrs. Bessie Stewart Hook
or. Miss Helen Squire. Miss Sara Todd
and Miss Edith w. Benham.
Miss Ruggles successfully smooths
the social path for Mrs. j. Van Fech-
ten Olcott. the dashing wife OF the
representative from New York; for
Mrs Bonaparte. wife of the attorney
general and for Mrs. Oscar Straus
wife OF the secretary OF commerce
and labor She is a colonial dame
and her father and brother are both
officers in the army. BY her brother
marriage. Miss Ruggles was brought
into intimate personal relationship
with the Cleveland Perkinses. an In
fiuential and rich family. whose so
cial status Is assured. Miss Ruggles
Is young and attractive, and as one
OF Mrs. Olcott's favorites In her co
terie OF young friends has all sorts OF
good times socially Mrs Bonaparte
and Mrs. Straus also smile upon their
young friend. and altogether Miss
Rugges generally enjoys life. in add
ton To keeping care and anxiety away
from the doors OF her patons.
Miss Jane Hunt Is also recruit
from the army set. Miss Hunt man
ages the social scheme OF things al
the Japanese embassy. the japanese
showing an especial fondness for army
and navy personages Miss Hunt
who devotes practically her entire
time to looking after little Baroness
Takahira's schedule OF affairs. Is gen
orally regarded as well up TO hel
work" Miss Hunt is a daughter OF
the late Gen. Hunt, for many years
connected with the Soldiers home
near this city. Famous as an Indian
fighter Gen. Hunt occupies a forward
position In the canvas depicting the
battle OF the Little Big Horn, which
hangs IN the rotunda of the capitol
Daughter Of Former Senator.
Mrs. Bessie Stewart Hooker as the
daughter OF a former senator from
Nevada has had long and eventfu
social career In Washington. She has
ali sorts OF interesting lore at her
command. and is not at a loss for