The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-03-24
CHAS. NACEL IS THE FIRST
NATIVE TEXAN IN CABINET

W dSUlutltu, MdItn -'." u' llI-l
native Texan 20 hold cabinot po-
siuou in the United states is Charles
Nagcl. secretary ot commerce and
labor. lie is credited to the west
ana by training and maturer cN-
prrirucc be- belongs TO the west, ioe
hc left his home ar Columbus.
Texas. when yet q lad vcrging ON
his siNtrcnth year His father aus
many another German who could
not cspouse IN, Confederate cause.
made his way 10 Mexico with his
family and sailed for the north
during The height Of the civil war
The family sottlcl I'm Missouri and
became identified with the affairs
and the progress of that state.
Young Nagcl obtained his entire
education from the primary grades
10 the collegiate course in law In
- Louis rounding out his profcs.
sional education by course az the
University of Berlin
Thus. while Scc-'tary Nagcrs de-
yoIopmcut is W stern and his finish
European the striking environment
of his youth. with its urucnce ON
character building is Texan. The
pleasures and the hardships cf the
pioneer days I'm Colorado county and
the hi~cncss of the struggle for
slavery. I'm which he aul his family
were ont of harmony with their
neighbcre. left their lights and
shades ON his mind at an impress
siouabln age.
Secretary Nagcl has not entirely
ceased to be q Texan. He has rcla-
tivos I'm the state and the family
left behind them a wide circle Of
devoted friends. In reminiscent mood
the trip through Mexico to reach the
north and the activities OF his boy.
hood DAYS stand ont vividly. The
moss hung groves OF Colorado coun.
": the very swimming pool. a
broad. placid bend in the river are
still lifclikc pictures with him.
Until 1904. Secretary Nagel was n
mino~ factor in politics. Always an
ardent republican, the success of
his party in Missouri in that year
awoke in him an interest in party
affairs that drew him rapidly into
thu the councils OF the state leaders.
He showed an aptitude tor me game
which attracted the attention of
President Roosevelt and caused that
impptuous fighter To speedily revise
his earlier judgment Of the St Louis
lawyer. whom he had characterized
as "a "parlor politician" Mr. Naecl
and senator Warner became the
trusted political advisers Of Mr..
Roosevelt in the state Of Missouri.
and the acquaintance bctwe Mr..
Roosevelt and Mr. Nagel ripcncd
into warm friendship. It was the
st Louis lawyer on whom President
To carry the Missouri delegation for
Taft AGAINST Cannon and Hughes.
who had made headway in the state.
The accomplishing of this task by
NJ. Nagel forms an interesting chap
ter in recent republican national
politics.
Secretary NagcI IS counted one Of
President Taft's strongest advisers.
Under the Roosevelt administration
In, development of the department
Of commerce and labor was IN the
direction of commercial expansion,
and the men whom he put at thc
head Of that department were either
of strong executive ability, or had
won distinction i'm the commercial
world. Tn7or the Taft administration
the functions Of the department IN
the direction Of corporation regula.
ton will be made 'prcpondcrating
and fer This purpose President Taft
has chosen this man. whose reputa
tion as a civil lawyer shone brilliant
| ly long before he was ever heard
Of as politician Tho confidence
which President Taft has plac d in
his secretary Of commerce and labor
| was exemplfied a few days after
| the new administration went into
power. when the president committee
TO Attorney General Wickersham and
Secretary Nagel the task Of prepar
ing amendments 10 the antitrust
and interstate cNmm'rce acts, look
ing to a more effective and logica
enforcement Of these laws.
In the department OF rec
and labor the advent OF Secretar,
Nagel created kenest interest TIL,
bureau chiefs and division bosses