The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-04
Criticism Cannot Be Per- mittCd to to Unanswered
 Without InjuTytO Party
REPUBLICANS GREATLY
 INTERESTED IN MATTER
Party Leaders Are Saying Little About Issue of "Cannonlsm--CannO Expected to Resign Speaker
 ship at End of Term

\
 ministration is about to defend itself.
 aggressively before the people of the
 United States. Convinced that the pub
 Oe mind has been impressed by attacks
 pof various kinds upon the administra-
 tion in many parts of the country, and
 that the criticisms cannot be permitted to pass unanswered without injury to republican prestige, the party leaders Il have decided to "carry the war into the
 enemy's country" President Taft is now declared to be ready and anxious l to assume the offensive.
 | The opening guns will be fired next l Friday in Wash ington by the President l in person and in Chicago by Attorney l General Wickersham. ~ I MT. Taft will speak in this city on the I subject of organization, and he will be I supported by other powerful orators I of the republican party. Attorney Gen | eral Wicekrsham's subject will be the | policies of the administration. The | speeches by the President in Washing l ton, Senator Lodge, Representative Me- | Kinley of Illinois, chairman of the re- publican congressional committee; Rep | resentative Duncan Mckinley of Cali I fornia, John Hays Hammond, president | of the National League of Republican clubs; John A. Stewart, president of the New York league, and John G. Capers, | national committeeman for South Car olina, at the same gathering, and that of MT. Wickersham at Chicago, are ex- pected to supply the themes for other | prominent republicans.
 Nothing has created so much interest i among the republican leaders in Wash ington since the inauguration of MT. Taft as the plans now formulating to defend the Gss3-.3l ef~t'on. Some facts are to be brought out about the opera tion of the Payne Aldrich tariff bill and the enemie sof that legislation will be called upon to answer the friends of the administration with some' concrete evidence ii this subject is to continue | to agitate the party. The party, it is said, expects to close Congress with Interstate commerce, stateh ood, postal banks, anti-injunction and conservation legislation to it's credit. In addition, it | Is hoped that a statement may be 1s- sued sh owing very great saving has been made in the expense of carrying on the governmental business. Issue of "Cannonism" Little is being said by the party lead CTS about the issue of "Cannonism'' be-
 
 will take care of itself at the right | time The only explanation vouchsafed for this comment is that Speaker Can non Is expected to resign the speak er- ship at the close of the present session of Congress.
 Should the speaker thus resign at the close of the session at a time when there would be no opportunity to choose his successor before next winter, 1t is argued that several members of the present house would benefit by imme diately announcing themselves as can didates. No official statement on this II subject is expected from the speaker. His friends believe it would be inadvis- able for him to weaken the organiZa- tion of the House at this time by dis closing his intentions. They argue that In view of the recent battle in the House all the force that was retained by the majority is needed if the admin istration programme as to legislation is to succeed.
 Changes i'm Cabinet There are rumors circulated with con siderable freedom about the capitol that before the congressional elections some changes may be expected in the Pres- dents cabinet, but none of these stories can be confirmed. In fact, no one pro- fesses to have any first-hand informa- ton on the subject At the same time the general impression seems to be that an effort will be made to strengthen the cabinet in a political way. Among the retirements oftenest mentioned as pos sible are those of Secretary Dickinson of the war department and Postmaster Hitchcock Also, it is stated that MT. Ballinger may resign from the interior de- | partment at the close of the present in- vestigation, if the change can be made without subjecting himself to the charge of retiring under fire.'
 Some of the party leaders are urging upon the President the desirability of ap- pointing to the treasury some man who has affiliated with the party. There is no dissatisfaction with the admnistra- tion of Secretary MacVeagh. but some politicians argue that the President
 should not hesitate to use every leverage to advance the administration politically. If two or more changes should be made in the cabinet it is stated with some show of authority, that one of the places should go to William J. Loeb, Jr., for mer secretary to MT. Roosevelt, and now collector of customs in New York. No one in the confidence of President Taft, 1t is said. would be surprised if the vacancy on the supreme court bench oc- casioned by the death of the late Justice Brewer, should be offered to Governor E Hughes of New York.
 Hughes for Supreme Bench M That the President would offer the place to the New York executive was stated last night at a gathering of republicans F several of whom are close to the Presi- dent. It Is stated that Governor Hughes had not been sounded on the subject, but the general opinion seems to be that he would not accept the place. It is gen. orally expected here that in such event the appointment would go to Solicitor General Lloyd w. Bowers.
 ''What will Roosevelt do when he re- turns to the United States?" is the ques- tion most often asked about the capitol nowadays. It Is question no one Is able to answer but 1t furnishes the ex- cuse for great deal of gossip and much interesting speculation.
 Those who nre inclined to the view that the former President will take issue with ktS the administration of President Taft are reminded by astute politicians that MT.