The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-27
CABINET MEMBERS
ARE SLATED TO GO.
Ballinger, MacN eagli, Knox and
Wilson May Leave Presi-
Dental Family.
BOOST FOR TAWNEY
Defeated Congressman May Be
Made Secretary of the
Interior.

Washington December 26.-while
there IS no official authority from the
i White House In the way of confrma-
ton, 1t can be said that President Taft
is to make three and perhaps four
changes in his Cabinet. Owing to
the short session of Congress these
changes will not be made until March
but Mr. Taft already is discussing
with some of his advisers the names
OF men he has in mind to ill the va
cancies that are to come.
1t seems settled that Secretaries Bal
Lnger and MacVeagh are TO go. the
latter largely on account of his health.
1t is understood that Secretary Knox
and Secretary Wilson are also on the
ragged edge. 1t remains with Knox
to decide whether he is TO remain, and
Wilson has personal reasons for his
desire to hang on little longer. y
Senator of distinction, who has talked
with the President, says that Knox
more than once has expressed hts de-
sire to lay down his work as Score
tary of State 1t is even intimated
that his friends suggested way out
to the President last month The sug-
gestion was to make knox Chief Jus
ttce of the Supreme Court, and both
Senator'S from Pennsylvania took
warmly to the proposition. Mr., Taft,
however, could not be brought to
view the suggestion seriously, and
Knox was passed by. Attorney Cen
eral Wickersham is blamed for this
blow to the ambition of Secretary
Knox.
Indeed, it is said that the controlling
influence of Wickersham in many
White House matters backed by Sen
ator Roots advice, has much to 90
with the desire of Knox to retire He
feels that he is not the ranking mem
Der of the Cabinet and that his plans
have been unduly interfered with. Mr..
Taft, however, is fond of Knox, and
regards him as splenofidly fitted for
certain work which must be finished
through diplomatic circles Several
Senators are confident that Knox will
not remain, and the fact that the
President has discussed probable
successor shows there is uncertainty.
Ballinger must get out. He finds
that the sentiment of many former
Senate friends is against him. and the
belief is that his resignation has been
filed, to take effect on March 4. This
seems so settled that powerful friends
gun to work in his behalf with the
President. They say there is no doubt
of his fitness and that the appointment
would be popular His defeat for Con-
Sress they do not regard as a factor
against him, but the President will
hesitate before putting into his Cabi-
net man who was rejected for the
House of Representatives last month
by strong Republican constituency.
fN- 20, ~, ~ 4.
Senator'S will get behind Tawney
II is generally conceded that Mac
Veagh is retiring partly because of
Ill health. II is agreed he has accom-
plished lot of work in reforming the
Treasury Department. Only two names
are mentioned in the gossip coming
from Senators who have been in the
White House. Mr.. Taft is said to look
with extreme favor on Charles d. Nor
ton, his secretary. The President has
come to rely more and more upon Nor
ton in very important questions and
has found him a broadly equipped man.
Norton's name has been mentioned in
conversation by the President, but
few of his callers have suggested Col
lector Loeb, of New York. These men
say that Loeo's grasp of governmental
affairs through his service in the
White House and his knowledge of the
Treasury Department would prove in
valuable TO the President Secretary
Norton, however, leads in all the Cos
sip relating TO MacVeagh's successor
1t is not improbable. however. that
when the proposed Cabinet changes get
down to final discussion that the Pres
1dent may take at least one of his
new men from the distinctly progress.
siye group of Republicans.
rms would do much to create the
harmonious situation which the Presi-
dent desires after March A. when the
lower branch of Congress will be hos
tile to his administration, 1t would
also stop much of the criticism heard
about Wickersham. In respect of the
last named man, his stoutest defender
Is the President. Mr. Taft is convinced
that within year the Department of
Justice will have proved itself effective
against the criminal trusts and Will
nave convicted some of the big fish
that nave always escaped the Attorney
Generals net. Wickersham, 1t is In
sisted is going about his business in
the right way and has accumulated a
tremendous amount of evidence that
the courts will admit in tile crmina1
prosecution of men who have been or
are TO be indicted. The President eX-
poets that this feat of the Department
of Justice will do much to prove that
the Republican party proposes to carry
out Its pledges. All efforts TO get
White House confirmation tonight of
the Cabinet changes failed, but SO
many Senator'S admit knowledge OF
the case that there can be little doubt
the President is preparing for a reor-
ganization.
There is also talk that Mr.. Taft is
using all his persuasion to unite the
Republicans in the Senate. He may
be successful when Aldrich goes out.
The Insurgents, so called, La Toilette
excepted, seem inclined to meet the
Presidents view, providing that GER
tain pledges Tor legislation are made
part of the program. Ii would not be
surprising TO find after March that
there Will be far more harmony than
was looked for when the November
election returns We're heard.