The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-19
TAFT IS INITIATED
MASON AT SIGHT"
Takes Degree in Cincinnati
in Forty Minutes.
CABINET NOT YET COMPLETE
Il Not Obliged to
'eRtde the Goat" During Ceremony
of Initiatfon-Attends Masonic Ball
in Evenfng-Confers with Hitch
cock About Treasury Portfolio.

Cincinnati, Feb. lS-President-elect Taft
IS a Master Mason. but he cid not Fide
the goat. They made Mr.. Taft Mason
AT sight wflich meszS that Re got il
forty minutes what the ordinary candi-
date would not get in less than three
months
The ceremony. took place al o'clock
this afternoon in the Scottish Rite Ca
thedral. More than so prominent Masons
were present from ali parts OF the coun-
Try. Among others were grand masters
from twenty States. They put Mr Taft
through one or two stunts. just as a mat
ter OF form. but as far as possible Il was
an at sight' affair
Grand Master Charles s. Hoskinsou, of
Ohio. and William B Melish. acting ss
master of ceremonies, were the only ones
who participated in making a Mason of
SIr Taft. The invocation was delivered
by Rev. Paul r. Hickok. grand chaplain
Of Ohio. and the benediction by Bishop
John NJ Walden, Of this city.
Kllwinning Lodse. SO. is the one that
VIII have the honor Of counting the next
President OF the United States among
its members. Mr. Taft's father was
master Of this lodge. and his haif-brothe-.
c p. Taft. belongs TO II. Following the
ceremony, c. P. Taft threw his home, in
Pike street. open TO the visiting MssOns,
and there the President-elect met all Of
them
In the evening Mr. Taft attended q
session Of Kilwinning Lodge and wit
messed the exemplifcation OF the Master
Mason degree. incidentally. OF course.
seeing the candidates do a few things
that he missed in the at sight cere-
mony-
Attends Masonic Ball.
The President-eIect topped OF his first
dsy as a FIeemason by attending a Te-
oeption and bah given by HanseIman
Commanders. Mons. knights. Templars.
at the Hole. Aims MI Taft seemed 10
enjoy himself as much at the Masonic
ball rs he has at other dances he has at
tended recently
BIr. Taft arrived here from Washington
at SD o'clock this morning and almost
Immediately entered into 8 conference
with National Chairman Hitchcock, who
has been selected for Postmaster General
in the Taft Cabinet Mr.. BitchcOck had
come from Chicago 10 this city to meet
Mr.. Taft
The selection Of a Secretary OF the
Treasury was the chief subject OF the
conference. Mr.. Hitchcock left at noon
for washington and the President-elect
said afterward that there vas nothing
that he could announce as a result Of the
talk.
Mr.. Hitchcock met Mr Taft in New
orleans last week. and went from that
citv to Chicago. In view Of Mr.. Taft,s
veIl-known desire to have an Illinois
man in his Cabinet. Il is believed that
Air Hitchcock went there for the purpose
OF looking OYER available Cabinet mate
rial and reporting TO Mr.. Taft Strong
nressure IS being brought to bear on Mr..
Taft 20 appoint ex-Gov. Myron 7. Her
rick Of Ohio. 70 the Treasury portfolio.
but the lsresident-eleCt'S friends say that
the OhIoan's chances are poor
Cabinet UncompIeted.
Mr.. Taft himself says that his Cabinet
is stin uncompleted As a matter Of
fact. the Treasury and War portfolios are
the only ones unsettled II he gets them
settled definitely within the next week, he
aav. announce the Cabinet few days
before the Inauguration. but otherwise he
viii hold it. he says. until he sends the
names TO the Senate for confirmation
Ameng the Chicagoans who have been
mentioned for Secretary OF the Treasury
IS Franklin Macveagh. q brother Of
Wayne MseVesgh-
Mr. Taft viii leave here at 3 O'Clock
Saturday afternoon for Philadelphia. He
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