Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-27
The New Cabinet.

The completion of Mr.. Taft's cabi-
net, as authoritatively announced after
the acceptance by Franklin Mac
veagh Of the treasury portfolio gives
the public an opportunity to become
acquainted with the men who are to
form the presidents oficial family.
or the nine men, seven are lawyers
by education. Mr.. Meyer and Mr.. Will
son being the exceptions. MIR. Mac
veagh has not practiced his profession
for many years. but is admittedly one
of the great business men of the coun-
try, with vast experience In financial
and business affairs, an experience that
will serve him well in dealing with the
complex problems of the Treasury de-
partment.
Six of the nine men have had more
or less varied experience in federal
public life and therefore are trained
in the work that will devolve upon
them.
AS secretary OF state, Philander
Chase Knox will have had a more va
ried experience than any other member
of Mr.. Taft's cabinet. AS attorney
general in the cabinet of two presi-
dents and as United States senator he
has been actively and intimately asso-
.ciated with the Roosevelt administra-
ton and finely equipped to carry on
his work under Mr.. Taft.
George Won l.. Meyer, who Is to be
secretary of the navy, has made an ex-
%cellent record as a diplomat and as
postmaster general. Jacob M. Dickin-
son. the new secretary Of war, is cor
daily endorsed by the south as a man
OF marked ability and integrity. For
attorney general Mr.. Taft has selected
George w. Wickersham of New York. a
man unknown to public life, but recog-
nized as one of the ablest attorneys
in the country, skilled in legal work
of the larger kind and particularly
equipped for the wide scope of work
that has developed in the Department
of Justice under President Roosevelt's
administration. Charles Nagel of st.
Louis will come to the head of the
Department of Commerce and Labor
enthusiastic and vigorous, with a high
reputation at home for ability and in
tegrity. Richard A. Ballinger of Seat
tie, the secretary OF the interior. has
served as commissioner of the general
land office and is familiar with the
land, lumber and mineral business of
the west and northwest, the admins
tration of which is the chief work of
the Interior department.
No change is made in the Depart
ment Of Agriculture. MIR. Taft having
retained James Wilson of Iowa, whose
twelve years service al secretary of
that department has been marked by
increasing development and enlarged
usefulness.
Frank H. Hitchcock, the postmaster
general, is trained in the government
service. He played a large part in the
organization of the Department Of
Commerce and Labor and deserves
more credit than any other person for
the reorganization a few years ago Of
the Postoffice department, in which he
served as first assistant postmaster
general. With the larger authority Of
his new position he may be expected
to accomplish still greater reforms in
this one strictly business and popular
branch of the government service.
All the members of the new cabinet
have apparently been selected by Mr..
Taft without undue pressure from out
side sources and can accordingly be
expected to act with him with harmony
and intelligence in prosecuting to con
clusion the policies of what promises
to be one of the most important adj
ministrations in years.