The Washington herald., 1910-08-14

Beverly, Aug. 13.-No move in
the political game in many months
has caused more comment among
politicians who come to Beverly
than was forthcoming to-day over
the apparently authentic prognosti-
cations that the administration has
begun to clear ship for action in the
fall elections.
The news that Secretary Of the
Interior r. A. Ballinger will retire
from the Cabinet probably about
September 10; that Senator Nelson
w. Aldrich, of Rhode Island, has
assured the President that he will
keep his word and not seek the toga
again, and the prediction that I'm
Gle Joe Cannon will not again be
a candidate for Speaker Of the
House of Representatives. were
topics so absorbing that politicians
here talked to-day of little else.
To the Executive offices, too,
came inquiries as to the reliability
of the dispatches sent from Beverly
concerning the retirement of Mr..
Ballinger, the withdrawal from pub
lie life of Mr.. Aldrich. and the
elimination of Speaker Cannon. The
President himself, so far as could
be learned, said nothing at all about
these reports. The Executive of
fees said nothing. Both the Presi-
dent and Secretary Norton are
waiting TO see how the news will
be received.
CINE POLITICAL PLAY"
According to several friends Of the ad-
minlstration who happened to I've in Bev-
erly to-day the Presidents political ad-
visers. who are said to be Senator w
Murray Crane. Of Massachusetts,. and Sec
rotary Norton have never conceived a
holder play nor one that meant more for
Republican success next fall If It turns
out right IT'S fine politics" said one
man to-day. III II only wins out"
The determination Of the new leaders,
Senator Crane and Mr. Norton. with pos
sibly Postmaster General Frank II. Hitch
cock a good third to clear the skirts Of
the administration for the final struggle
was made weeks ago 1t came because
they felt that Mr. Taft himself would
never make move 10 rid his administra-
tion OF these so-caled burdens"
They know his dislike OF politics. and
assumed the responsibility themselves for
outlining a programme that might win
I'm the coming campaign. Mr.. Crane has
been closer to Mr.. Taft than perhaps any
member Of the Senate, and has his abso-
lutte confidence. He has been frequently
termed a disinterested politician who
works for party success and without
much thought of his own. Since Mr.
Norton became Secretary to the Presi-
dent ne has grown into the regard and
affection Of the President until the lat
tel has said that he would not know
what to do without Mr.. Norton
Planned mt Beverly.
The effort to get Ballinger 10 retire
was planned in Beverly. and Senator
Crane and Mr.. Norton are said to have
much 20 do with II. Mr. Crane went
West to suggest the retirement OF Mr.
Ballinger. and there is no reason TO be-
lieve that he was unsuccessful. In fact
f. is generally understood here that the
leaders are confident that Ballinger Will
quit the Cabinet shortly after the Con-
gressional Investigating committee re-
ports, early in September.
II was pointed out to Mr. BaIlinger that
he had spent more than $4,000 In the con-
duct OF his defense: that he could not
hope to regain popular favor in a Cabinet
position, and that he was hurting the
party by remaining in Office longer. He
was not 80 obdurate as reports would in
dictate.
With Mr.. Baliinger's retirement practi-
cally assured. attention was turned TO
Senator Aldrich and TO Speaker Cannon.
whose names are anathema throughout
the Middle West. Aldrich announced from
Washington ten months ago that he
would lay down his work as Senator
when his present term expired on March
4, 1911 The West apparently did not be-
lieve that announcement. Insurgent lead
Continued on Page 2, Column 1.
si1.oo niagara FAILS Excursion.