The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-09
Friends of Meyer and Herrick
Both Advocating Candidacy
OF Their Favorites With
Great Energy.
GENERAL OPINION IS
MEYER HAS ADVANTAGE
Ohio Man Also Has Strong
Chance of Landing Porto
Ito as President-EIeCt Owes
Him Political Debt.
10y Guy W. Finney.

(6y Guy w. Finney.
Washington, Jan. 9.-There is prom
Use of lively row over the treasury
portfolio in President-elect Taft's cab.
lnet. At least, that is the way matters
are shaping in view of the instance
of the friends of Postmaster General
George Won l.. Meyer that he is entitl-
ed to the place and the later claims
of the friends of Ex-Governor MyrOn
r. Herrick of Ohio. The probability
Is that Mr. Taft will ponder long and
hard before he decides for or against
either man.
II there is anything in being first
ln the field for an office, Mr.. Meyer
may have slight advantage over his
Ohio rival. But this is likely to be
offset when the forces behind Mr..
.Herrick get to work. A strong in
kluence favoring the former governor
10 his long standing friendship with
the president-elect, though the post
master general enjoys almost an equal
measure OF 1t. If the score of political
Aebt counts for anything there Is
something coming to Mr.. Herrick from
pMr. Taft. 1t will be remembered that
Mr.. Taft once caused the defeat OF
ahe former governor. when the latter
was seeking reelection to the COVER
worship of the Buckeye state. That
rs a matter of political history, and
Whatever Mr.. Taft may do to make
amends must be judged in the light
Of repayment for standing debt.
Herrick TAFT Victim.
! When Mr.. Taft in the gubernatorial
campaign of 1906 went to Akron, O..
and delivered verbal assault on ma
chine politics, with Boss Cox, OF
Cincinnati as his particular object, he
may not have forseen the conse-
'quences. Anyway. many stalwart
Ohio voters took the cue. and the re-
suit was that Governor Herrick tasted
defeat at the hands of his democratic
rival the late Governor Pattison. 1t
would not be remarkable, therefore, if
Mr.. Taft. by naming Mr.. Herrick for
the important treasury portfolio, seiz-
led this opportunity to heal an old
wound. If he did. the president-elect
kould justly be commended for select
hing man who could fill the bill with
entire satisfaction. Mr.. Herrick has
had considerable experience as a
banker IN Ohio and his stewardship
lof the treasury department doubtless
would show ability in no sense infer
Tor to that of any of his predecessors
in that office.
When the availability of Mr.. Meyer
flor the treasury berth is discussed
Shis administration OF the post office
department, one of Uncle Sans most
important workshops. must be consid-
ered. To say that he has conducted
his department wisely, economically
land progressively is hardly enough
.credit to Mr.. Meyer. Former first
assistant postmaster general, now re.
publican national chairman, Frank
Hitchcock. once liked to hear it said
that he was 'the real official head OF
the post office department" but this
has been convincingly disproved since
The left the department, for business
methods have continued under Mr.
Meyer. Mr.. Taft knows all this, and
he has been nightly impressed by
khe postmaster generals efficient rec
ord. On this record alone, Mr.. Meyer
I'm the opinion of his friends, is en-
kitled to place in the councils of the
TAFT administration.
Meyers Friends Not Idle.
While former Governor Herrick's
friends have been quietly active in his
behalf, Mr.. Meyers well-wishers have
mot been idle. Senator Lodge, whose
lclose relations with President Roose
welt and Mr.. Taft are well known, has
Must paid a visit to Augusta to urge
upon the president-elect the desirable
hty Of retaining Mr.. Meyer in public
1ife. Whether Senator Lodge spoke
OF him for the treasury portfolio or fol
some important Enthusiastically is
mot yet definitely known. but whatev
er were his representations they are
likely to go far toward convincing Mr.
Taft.
II this nut should prove too hare
for the president-elect to crack it i.
Timely VuAk lCudlot NIuHS, Vi NdcNd
chusetts, will be called upon to do
bit of political modifying. The junior
Bay State senator has earned some
thing Of = reputation as mollifie
and his good offices could no debut b,
obtained in this instance. He il
known to differ somewhat with hi
colleague as to Mr.. Meyers fitness
for the treasury portfolio, preferrins
II 10 said, that his fellow New Eng
lander should re-enter the diplomats
service.
Even though Mr.. Meyer should b
disappointed In his cabinet aspiration
he likely would be offered an ambas
sadorial post. Just what post doe
not appear at this time. unless it b.
as successor to Whitelaw Reid, pres
emit Ambassador to England. who's
retirement has been persistently run
ored. Mr.. Meyers diplomatic servic
was OF the sort to give him the pre-
erence should any important vacanc
occur. His excellent record OF III