The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-04
BUREAU is MADE UP OF WIVES OF
HER HUSBANDS OFFICIAL
ADVISERS.
It Is a Notable Array of Women of So
ciaI Distinction and Remark
able Skill.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May A.
SpeciaD-Rarely has any first lady of
the land gone into Washinston's socia!
life backed by such an array of talented
and clever women as Mrs. Taft. The
wives of the cabinet members, those
who will assist her in entertaining and
in debating the social life of Washing
ton in the next four years, includes
brilliant women who have spent years
with their husbands in public life, and
know everything essential to success
in the society of the capital. Mrs.
Knox, Mrs. Meyer, Mrs. Sherman, Mrs.
McVaugh, have all had notable sue
cesses; in fact, if President Taft had
selected his advisers only with a view
to the social fitness of their wives he
could not have done bRtter for Mrs.
Taft.
Brilliant beyond the social life of
Washington under any administra-
ton in recent history should be the
reign Of Mrs. Taft
1t is the first lady of the land who
determines the polite life of the cap
ital, and her sway is just as complete
the affairs of state.
Much depends on the character of
the women who compose the cabinet
of the presidents wife,, the wives of
the officers who mold the various port
fol;os This term sees perhaps the
most talented assembly of ladies ever
known together at one time. In fact
if in picking his cabinet, the president
had in mind the social qualifications
of their wives. he could not have done
better
Nearly all of them have had bril-
liant experience in Washington. II
the number is represented consider
able wealth. and there will be no lack
of distinction during the years that
they are in the high place of power in
Washington.
Mrs. James S. Sherman is expected
to maintain the high ideals of Mrs.
Carrot A Hobart and Mrs. Charles
w Fairbanks the two most talented
wives of the vice presidents. Mrs.
Sherman has never had a social sec
rotary, vet her judgment is so good
and her memory so excellent that she
never makes a mistake. Her expert
ence was gained largely while her hus-
band was a member of congress. She
knows everybody, and there is small
chance that her stay in Washington
will be marked by any plumbers.
Mrs. Philander G.. Knox, wife of the
head of the cabinet, will be an inval-
liable lieutenant to Mrs. Taft. The
two are old comrades. They have
been associated together for some
time. during the period that their nus
bands served in the cabinet of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Their houses used
| only to be a short distance apart, and
they were so fond of each other that
| it was the most common thing in the
| world to see them together.
No one knows Washington much
better than Mrs. Knox, and she even
has a mastery of the peculiar duties
| that fall to the lot of the wife of the
secretary of state. for she has been
for many years the close friend of
| Mrs Elihu Root who was the premier
under the Roosevelt administration.
The new secretary of state has the
wealth to crafty all the social aspi-
rations of his wife, and she on her
part is mistress of the last word in
the art of receiving and entertaining
with tact and grace
Mrs. Franklin McVaugh, wife of the
new secretary of the treasury, will
stand next to Mrs. Knox She has
already had excellent training in the
life of Washington through her close
friendship with the family of her hus-
bands brother, the Hon. WAYNE Nc
Waugh, of Pennsylvania, who has
served in two cabinets. She is of
New England stock. and like Mrs.
Knox has ample wealth to crafty her
desires in the way of adding bril-