The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-28
.TAFT'S SECRETARY
RESIGNS POSITION
F. W. Carpenter Appointed
Minister to Morocco.
TWO STRONG FOR SUCCESSOR
Charles ID. HIIIes, of New York,
state, and c. ID. Norton, OF Chicago,
Both of Treasury Department,
Looked Upon as COmpetent-IlI
Health Cause for Change.

Fred w. Carpenter, Secretary to the
President. has resigned. and has been
appointed Minister TO Morocco.
His successor has not been named, but
at present the choice lies between Charles
d HIes. OF New York State, and c. d.
Norton, Of Chicago, who are both as
slstants IN the Treasury Department and
have made regulations in Washington as
competent executives.
I'll health is given as the reason for
Secretary Carpenters retirement. This
statement was given out at the White
House yesterday:
The appointment Of Mr. Carpenter 70
Morocco was made on his own applica-
ton to be relieved Of the duties OF Secre-
| tary TO the President, which have be-
come so heavy upon him as to threaten
his health. The President thought that
as Morocco has a delightful climate. the
change OF duty which this would AFFORD
was wise. and consented TO Mr.. Car
penter's resignation Of his present posi-
ton.
III Perclval Dodge. at present Minister
to Morocco. is to be transferred 10 an
other post No person has as yet been
selected TO succeed Mr.. Carpenter"
The only vacancy in diplomatic assign
ments at present is that at Nicaragua,
and Il is assumed that Mr.. Dodge will be
shifted to that post
Carpenter Urged Action.
While the matter OF Mr.. Carpenters
retirement has been under consideration
| for some time II Is said the President
himself would not have acted II Mr.
! Carpenter had not himself decided that
| the duties Of the Office we're too burden
some for him in his present condition.
! In fact. the President. in discussing Mr..
| Carpenters retirement w!.h friends,
| showed much feeling. and remarked that
he was sorry to lose the services OF his
| secretary.
Mr. Carpenter has been private secre-
tary 10 President Taft FOR ten or eleven
years, having started with him back in
| the Philippines in 1895. He started as a
/ stenographer. and on more than one oc-
casion President Taft has referred pub
1 licly TO the faithful service that he has
/ rendered. He IS not a robust man and
/ has shown the effects OF his trying work
in the White House executive Offices.
Mr. Carpenter has endeavored in admin
| istering the executive Offices TO save the
| President as much as possible. and in
/ this he may have lacked tact, FOR he has
| irritated a number OF Senators and Rep
resentatives
! LAWYER Memorandum Matter.
1t has been said that the President was
annoyed recently at the statement given
! out at the White Ffouse in reference TO
I the Lawler memorandum IN the Balm
! ger-Pinchot case.
! This was the statement that was made
after Stenographer Frederick NJ Kerby
! had charged that the Presidents letter
| generating Secretary Ballinger was pre-
I pared in substance for the Presidents
signature by Assistant Attorney General
LAWYER. OF the Department OF the IN
terror
President Taft was out on the golf links
I when the Kerby statement was made
( public. Secretary Carpenter teIephoned
to him. and the President sent word 10
/ him 20 deny that his letter was prepared
/ by Lawler. The statement issued az the
/ White House. however. went step far
| Their and said there was no foundation
/ for Kerbys statement
/ The result was that the President had
| to come out the next day with a state
ment that differed materially from the
one issued at the White House on the
previous day. The discrepancy between
! the statements brought almost as much
criticism on the administration as the
original LAWYER incident itself
| Representative Tawney said in the
/ House Of Representatives Thursday that
/ he had obtained from the Presidents sec
rotary the names Of Southern Democrats
who had ridden on the Presidents special
train and who are now opposing the
/ special appropriation OF $4,000 for the
! Presidents travelling expenses.
! Mr.. Tawney said the Democrats were
mean in this matter. and said other things
! that were construed as rejecting on
! Southern hospitality. The President was
/ greatly concerned over the incident. and
the first thing yesterday morning sent a
letter to Representative Tawney putting
himself on record in regard 10 Southern
/ hospitality.
Neither Case Has Eject.
Mr.. Tafts friends deny. however. that
| either the Lswler incident or the Tawney
| incident had anything TO do with Mr.
| Carpenters retirement. His nomination
as Minister TO Morocco was sent 10 the
| Senate yesterday, but he will continue
to serve as secretary until he Is con-
! frmed.
Mr.. Carpenter has made many friends
in Washington. and he was almost buried
with regrets as soon as the news Of his
retirement became known.
! Both Mr.. Norton and Mr.. HilIes, who
are being considered for the place. are
comparatively young men. Both were
| brought 10 Washington by Secretary Mac
! Veagh, and both have gained Mr. Tafts
! confidence and admiration Mr.. Taft has
consulted them frequently in regard &c
| political questions and questions Of gen
eral policy.
Mr.. Hilles was offered recently the place
OF surveyor OF the port OF New York. but
| declined Mr. Norton. when he accepted