Evening star., 1909-04-23
STRAUS TO GET JOB.
Slated for Some Good DipI0-
matte Post.
WORKING FOR FREE HIDES
Tanners Point Out to President Ad-
vantage to Labor.
PLEASANTS NAY BE APPOINTED
Alabama Jrd2eship Fight Shaping
Itself in Favor Of Huntsville
Lawyer.
WORKING FOR FREE HIDES
pLEASANTS NAY BE APPOINTED

oscar SttauS, iOrmer secretary or tRe
Department of Commerce and Labor, viii
soon be named to an important diplomatic
post. After a call he made upon Presi-
dent Taft today he said he could not d s.
cuss any question relative to his prob
able connection with the diplomatic serv-
ice. Mr.. Straus saw the President after
the cabinet had assembled.
There are two posts which President
Taft considers requiring the services of
the ablest men to be found. These are
the embassy to Great Britain and the
Chinese mission. DIR. Eliot having de-
clined the OFFER of the London post the
President will take time to find suitable
man. Mr. Straus has sufficient wealth to
maintain the dignity of the post, and his
past diplomatic experience as minister to
Turkey under President Cleveland would
add much to fitting him for the honor.
Because of his business training land
his his service as as Secretary Of Commerce
to the Chinese mission. which Presi-
dent Taft considers about the most i'm
pOrtant place to American business and
industry in the world. In the mind of
the President the opportunities in China
are worth more to this country, prop
erly handled, than anywhere else, and
he wants man thoroughly familiar with
business and yet sufficiently skilled in
diplomacy to cultivate existing cordial
relations with the great empire in the far
east.
The Turkish situation is growing SO
critical that a man Of special qualifica-
tions may be needed there. 1t was dis
cussed at today's cabinet meeting. So
far Minister Leishman has taken good
care Of the interests of Americans, de-
spite the chaos that is growing. 1t may
be decided to send special commission
to Turkey, in which event Mr.. Straus
would be the man selected.
Ex-Secretary Straus was picked by
President Taft for minister to Japan,
but the fact leaked out and Senators
Smith and Burrows got to work at once
to save Thomas j. O'Brien, the present
minister at Toxic. Mr.. O'Brien is a
Michigan man and a neighbor and friend
of Senator Smith, who asked as a per-
To this request President Taft acceded.
and Mr.. Straus will not be sent there.
Mr.. Straus. John w. Riddle has made a
good ambassador.
politician, who is slated for ambassador
to Austria-Hungary, is in Washington.
and Is expected to be named in a short
time.
Argue for Free Hides.
The Russian post is also talked OF for
The President today granted an inter-
view to Edmond p. Harrison of Gin.
cinnati, August II. vogei of Milwaukee
and John E. Wilder of Chicago. repre-
senting the National Association of Tan
ners, and the National Boot and Shoe
Manufacturers Association. Their in
terview related to the duty on hides.
They told the President that free hides
would immensely stimulate the shoe and
leather industry of the country, enab-
ling the employment of thousands OF
men now out OF work. With free hides
the country would import freely from Ar
gentina. A better grade of shoes would
be furnished the masses Of the people,
and there would be increased exports OF
finished products. American shoe work.
men averages only eight or nine months
work each year under the Dingley tariff.
England. Germany, France and other in
dustrial nations of the world admit hides
free. and profit thereby.
1t was claimed that the beef trust,
which handles more than half of the hides
in this country, is the leading factor back
Of the demand for a duty on hides. The
tannery and shoe industries would inn
mediately thrive under free hides, the
President was told.
Alabama Judgeship Fight.
Representative Richardson. the Ala
baman. who has been on track of Judge
Hundley for over two years to prevent
his being confirmed as judge of the north
ern district of Alabama, handed Presi-
dent Taft some papers in the case today.
The Judgeship situation in Alabama is
said to be shaping itself in tie direction
of the nomination of s. S. Peasants, a
lawyer OF Huntsville. He is lifelong
republican of judicial temperament, and
would not be Objectionable to Alabama
democrats or to his own party.
Representative Cocks OF the Long Is
land district of New York, an intimate
friend of President Roosevelt. took up
with President Taft today number of
matters concerning his district. He pre-
sented a request for the appointment of
James I. Gaskins, a we'll known negro
of Nassau county. as consul general to
Liberia. The President said he had a
number of applicants before him for this
position.
Peter Dippel, collector of the port at
Sag Harbor. has resigned to take the
more lucrative post of supervisor of his
township, and Mr. Cocks is called upon
to pick the right sort of man for coIlec-
tor. Before making a recommendation
he will put the question up to the Mas
sau county organization.
Mr.. Cocks is also having trouble about
the post Office at Bay Shore. Two men
were applicants to fill the office. They
were Lorenzo Garrett and John j. Ed
wards. The Post ONCE Department sent
an inspector there to look into the habits
of the candidates. He does not advise
the appointment Of either, and now Mr..
Cocks must find another candidate who
will suit the exacting tastes of the in
spectors.