The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-05-29
TAFT'S Tennis CABINET
By Jonathan Winfield.

Wv 7AsHINGToN. May 2s.-There is
w a battle on for the vacancy in
President Taft's golf ''cabi-
net" Secretary of the Navy Meyer.
the only real dyed-in- the wool aristo-
crat in Washington official life, Vice
President Sherman. Senator Bourne
and John Hays Hammond. the million
aire friend of the President, are the
most earnest candidates for the va
that President Taft. General Clarence
Edwards. chief of the insular bureau.
and who as such is commonly called
King of the Philippines, Porto Rico,
Hawaii and Alaska" and Captain A
W. Butts, who were the charter men,
bers of the golf cabinet" will not
cause any hard feelings by deciding
upon 4 fourth member. There is to be
a close corporation.
Now that the spring is well under
way and summer is upon US, the Presf-
dent is devoted all the time possible
to humping the elusive ball with
sticks at the Chevy Chase links John
Hays Hammond is in Mexico looking
after his mining interests, and Vice
President Sherman and Senator Bourne
are more or less tied down to arduous
duties in the Senate. AS q result, the
navy secretary has been gaining time
is promoting his own candidacy. Two
days in succession he made up presi-
Dental party at golf. and in view of
the fact that both times he played with
President Taft as an opponent and
came home defeated, whispers have
grown almost into shouts that he is to
be elected a regular.
Vacancy May BE Permanent.
President Taft and Captain Butts re-
main silent as to who is likely to land
fill the vacancy. General Edwards in
Inmates that the vacancy is to be per-
manent. Excepting John Hays Ham
mond, who has nothing but time and
money, the secretary Of the navy will
undoubtedly have a strong pull for
membership when President Taft takes
up his summer quarters at Beverley,
Mass. Secretary Meyer halls from
Massachusetts, and can grant himself
Indefinite leave OF absence from his
official duties to the navy department.
He can undoubtedly get a booking for
every day this summer. as President
Taft is to indulge in little travelling.
and may visit the links every pleasant
day. General Edwards will be tied
down to his duties In Washington, and
Vice President Sherman and Senator
Bourne will be busy generals in the
political game.
What the summer golf course will
develop in the way of additions to
the cabinet" remain to be seen. but
1t is understood that Secretary Meyer
is well pleased with the situation and
hopes to land winner over his distin-
guished competitors. Mr.. Hammond
as head of the League of Republics
clubs, will have some money to con-
tribute. even If he will not have to
perform laborious duties in the fight
for the Republican control of the House
OF Representatives, hence he, too, will
be candidate for golf party invita-
lions at all times.
The golf cabinet is as important
a factor in the Taft administration as
was the tennis cabinet in the Roose-
Welt days at the White house. Clifford
Pinchot and Jimmy Garfield were
the original charter members, with
President Roosevelt There was not
the CLOSE corporation" that now exists
IN the golf cabinet" for Assistant
Secretary of the Navy Winthrop,
French Ambassador Susserand and a
number of lesser lights had honorary.
If not active, membership in the Roose-
welt organization. The coming of Pres
ident Taft ended the tennis cabinets"
days. Where the courts that Colonel
Roosevelt used were laid, now stands
the addition to the White house offices.
Eliminate Tennis Game.
President Taft did not eliminate the
tennis game entirely from the White
house course Of physical training and