The Washington times., 1909-04-01
At Request of President, Re-
fuSal Was Not Made
Public.
HIS ADVANCED AGE
GIVEN AS EXCUSE
Feels. Responsibility Will Be Too
Heavy-Declination Not
Made Final.
By JAMES HAY, JR.

That DR.. Charles w. Eliot, preSi-
dent of Harvard University, has
practically declined the Ambassador
ship to Great Britain and is with
holding the publication of his refusal
only on the urgent insiStence of
President Taft, are facts which be-
came known today.
His reasons for the refusal are that
he is seventy-five years old, that he
resigned the presidency of Harvard
to escape its responsibilities and
labor, and that if is too late in life
for him to take up work which is
entirely new to him
He explained these things to the
President in the conference he had
with him yesterday morning, but
M ait earnestly requested him not
to make the refusal final, and point
ed out that, as Whitelaw Reid will
be at the Court of St. James for
eight months or a year longer, The
noted educator viii have plenty of
time to consider the matter. In view
of the Presidents wishes in the mat
Ter, DR.. Eliot said he would let the
matter stand as it IS now.
Friends Oppose It.
There is hardly any probability that
he will change his mind In addition
TO his own averseness TO taking the
position, his friends advise against it.
They say that, o. account Of his age,
he is entitled 10 rest from worA. and
that he would endanger his health by
undertaking the work OF the embassy.
which might at any time become so
heavy and so laborious as TO make the
demand on his energies even greater
than was the case at Harvard. Also.
they object to the amount of entertain
ing he would have 10 do
II may be said. however, that Mr..
Taft has not given up hope Of per
suading the doctor TO accept the post,
and in this he is seconded by sach men
as Senator Root of New York and Sec
retary Of State Knox Unless they can
bring forward some new argument or
advance more persuasion than has al
ready been done. DR.. Eliot win not be
the next American ambassador 20
Great Britain.
To Insure Economy.
The Administration plan OF insur-
ing economy in Ghe expenditure Of the
Governments money viii be intrusted
TO subcommittee Of the Cabinet.
This matter has been discussed for
some time by the President, and now
a finaI decision In it has been reached.
OF the Treasury MacVeagh
viii be chairman of the subcommittee.
The other two members have not yet
been definitely chosen. but 1t is more
than probable that they VIII be Sec
retary Of the Navy Meyer and SecRe-
tary Of War Dickinson.
The proposal to put on the subcommit-
tee the heads Of the Navy and War
Departments - in line with the desire
of the Administration to promote as
far as possible the economy idea in
army and navy circles. It is not p-opos-
ed to stop the development of a great
navy or to cripple the army, but there
is a general idea that there are PAGES
in both organizations where less money
can be spent and as good results obtain
ed as was donz with more money
Mr. Meyers abilities as a hnancier,
coupled with these OF MacYeagh in the
same line and With Dickinson's gift for
organization and business details, wHI
be an excellent agency for the economy
work.
Carolina Judgeship.
The judgeship OF the eastern district
Of North Carolina is taking I'D a LOT
Of time at the White House NOWADAYS.
Those who profess TO know the real
there are many OF these
say there Is a strong probability that
q Democrat will be selected TO succeed
Judge Seawell, whose nomination wa
held over from the Roosevelt Admins
tratiOn. There are several prominent
Democrats of the State in the race for
the position, and delegations In support
Of one or the other of the candidates
visit the President every day.
Mr.. Taft today sent to the Senate