Bisbee daily review., 1909-01-17
GUESSING AS ID OFFICERS
 IF CABINET
Hitchcock and Knox Only Ger taintieS-- Speculation Is Rife As To Remaining Vacancies. StrauS May Remain.

cision of President-e:ect Taft to re- frain from making puomc tho names of the persons he has selected to be members of his cabinet, with the ex-. ception of Senator Knox and Frank II. Hitchcock. has had the effect of greatly melting cabinet gossip. With no possibility of an official contradic- ton confronting them, wOuld-be cabi- net builders are now free to exercise their ingenuity and imagination to the full. and they are not slow to avail themselves of the opportunity.
 Without doubt among the many names being brought forward for the various portfolios are those of least a few successful aspirants. The most that can be done. however, Is to ac- cept probabilities as such simply. for any attempt to make positive state ments would be Unwarranted in the light of Saturday nights announcement from Augusta.
 The enc possibility of accurate in
 formation transpiring regarding the seven vacant cabinet places lies in the proneness Of friends Of some of the se- lected persons to discuss the matter. For it is hardly conceivable that any public man would decide on the ac- ceptanCe of a cabinet office without conferriDe with friends.
 Informed Sources Restrained.
 Yet Senator Knox. who has been aiding the president-eIect in this work of cabinet building. on his return from Augusta Saturday, rather grimly rNF. F.4d baH rA al personally or through his friends be- trayed the confidence of the president elect might find that. after all. he was not on the list when the final cabinet is announced, and that state straining cabinet talk by people who are really advised.
 But following in the line of proba- bilities, certain names. by dint or reit- eration in connection with cabinet va cancies, without developing denials, have come Co be regarded as feasible. Such, for instance, Is that of George W. Wickersham, the New York law yer and legal partner of Henry Taft, | the presidentelect's brother. He has been consistently mentioned in con- nection with the attorney generalship.
 
 Senator Knox is a potent influence 1 with the president-elect, and that he has a feeling us the highest I regard and admiration for the abilities of Solicitor General Hoyt. with whom he was in intimate relations during his own occupancy nf the office of at .orney general It. easily may be be- ieyed that he would urge Hoyt's se- ! sham's appointment was found to be from the fact of his busi- ness connections with the president elects brother.
 RepresentatiVe of Coast.
 The fact being conceded that the Pacific coast is to be represented in he new cabinet causes great weight .o be given 10 the suggestion that Richard A. Ballinger is to be the lucky nan, and his name has been connect d with the secretaryship of the In- eTior, though it is well known that he Pacific coast people would preIer hat the naval portfolio came to their ection, because of their important lavy yard interests. Judge Ealing r, however, has been quoted saying ie could not accept the place.
 Because of the feeling that there hould be a Hebrew in the cabinet, Straus' friends are hopeful f his retention as secretary of con- nerce and labor, and they point to ( lis record of accomplishments. But [ he president-elect is understood to iave said that he did not propose to ( lave regard 10 any mans religion or reed in constructing his cabinet: that le intended to look rather to the busi- less ability of a man rather than to Onsider whether or not any particu- ( ar sect or denomination was repre- l, ented therein.
 That statement has gone far toward trengthenIng the candidacy of ; ,haTles Nagel of St. Louis for the sec { of commerce and labor. Pc { itical considerations are strongly Irged fin his case, it being asserted 1 hat such an appointment would have , reat weight in landing Missouri safe- , in the column of republican states { ereafter. :
 Pinehot May Succeed Wilson.
 The discovery that Secretary VII I on had already succeeded in estab- shing a record for longevity service I s a cabinet officer has weakened | That appeared to De his stronghold on , Is present position. Clifford Pinchot, I be chief forester. is the only person those name has been prominently 4 lentioDed in connection with the de ! of agriculture portfolio in | ase Secretary Wilson is to leave But . bis recent discovery will doubtless h ave the effect of bringing forth o umber of candidates for the place ' ho were estopped frcm doing so only :, ? the supposed impregDable position !, the venerable secretary.
 Having been selected as secretary war when William H. Taft was the Ositive choice of the people as presi- ent and consequently presumably by z Is advice, Gen. Luke E. Wright seems most certain to retain his position a a the new cabinet, though it is un- n srstood that his incumbency will not D 3 long. Postmaster General Meyer would u uch like to be President Taft's sec p itary of the treasury. but the friends sl
 former Gov. Herr7ck of Ohio have .d 'esented his claims with such ability te to make him a formidable candl- tte for that position. tf
 May Head Navy Department. bl Should he prevail. it would not be Ia uprising if Mir. Meyer were asked pt
 accept the naval portfolio. which. W deed, would be gratifying to his na- A Fe state by reason of the existence B'