The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-13
Henry L. Stimson of New York Is Appointed to
 Vacancy
PRESSING PRIVATE
 AFFAIRS IS REASON
MT. Dickinson Will Return to His Tennessee Home as Soon as Sue cessor Is Sworn in--Retire-
 ment Causes Rumors

Washington, May Z.-oecreldfy oi wal Jacob McGavock Dickinson of Tennes- see, the democratic member of President Tafts cabinet, has resigned. Henry L- Stimson of New York, recently defeated republican candidate for governor of that state, has been given the war portfolio. The announcement was made from the White House tonight.
 In the letters exchanged between the President and MT. Dickinson no reason other than that of pressing private affairs is given for the secretarys retirement. The Pre.ident will confer with MT. Stim- son in New York tomorrow or Sunday, but the new Secretary of War will not be sworn In until the return of the Pres ident on Monday.
 MT. Dickinson will go to his Tennessee home immediately upon the qualification of his successor. He expects to de- not return to the tsactive of law in which he was engaged when President Taft ap- pointed him Secretary of War in March, 1909.
 He is the second member of MT. Tafts cabinet to retire to private life, Secretary of the Interior Ballinger having severed his connection with the Presidents of- flcial family only few months ago.
 Coincident with MT. Dickinsons re- tirement came the announcement of the appointment of c. & Millington of Herkimer N Y., to be assistant treas urer of the United States in New York. Mr. Stimson was the Roosevelt candi- date for governor, while MT. Milling ton was a former member of the House from the Twenty New York district and Is a close friend of Vice President sherman. In the two appoint ments official Washington found food for speculation and many politicians thought they saw therein the first step of the administration to straighten out the tangled skein of New York pol itics.
 Taft Satisfied
 No effort was made by the President to conceal the satisfaction with which he viewed the appointment of MT. Stimson Not only has he the highest personal regard for the incoming mem ber of his cabinet, but he is well aware. the appointment will be acceptable to large faction of the republican party in
 While the selection of MT. stihson was made after only a few days con sideration Senator Root and other leaders were consulted and gave 1t their unqualified approval Former President Roosevelt was not called into conference but there Is no question he must approve the naming to such an important post of man for whom he worked tooth and nall in the recent governorship campaign.
 The position of assistant secretary or the treasury in the state of New York, which has been given to the Barnes-S Sher- man. Woodruff faction while not so i'm portant as that given to the Roosevelt Parsons faction, is believed here to be move in the direction of peace that will count for much in the future to the re- puhlicans. Friends of the President were pleased over the political outlook.
 IJnofficially Washington discussed with relish the resignation of the Secretary of War JTnofficially also there were those who found other reasons than that given in his letter.
 Mir Dickinson is a democrat. His pres- ence in the cabinet of republican Pres ident has not been looked upon with fla vor by some of MT. Taft's political ad- visers, who were of the opinion that the office of the Secretary of War should be held by some one of the Presidents own party and who also pointed out tha. MT. Dickinson might prove serious em- barrassment when the 1912 presidential campaign begins Naturally MT. Dickin- son also found the discussion in the cab inet of party measures often personal embarrassment.
 There were others who thought Mir Dickinson had incurred some criticisms by his conduct of the war office. AS was pointed nut recently, there have been reports of friction over the Mexican sit uation between the state and war de- partments.
 Move Was Unexpected
 Tn some quarters it was assured Secre- tary of State Knox was being oyershad- r>;e xyar reports that the former contemplated ro. signing, but these met with official de- nials. There had been no hint that MT Dickinson contemplated retirement.
 The President moved swiftly when he found he had to select new Secretary of War sOn Wednesday night Secretary Hilles was dispatched to New York post haste He met MT. Stimson the next day, but the latter wished to consult with his father, who was then on the Atlantic bound for Europe
 MT. Hilles came back to Washington and Mir Stimson resorted to the wireless. His fathers answer advising him to ac- cept came today. and this afternoon he called up the White House by telephone and said he would be glad to become MT. Tafts second Secretary of War.
 The deal was closed right then. and the President, who was waiting togo to 6aiuci party Ioi 'hS ''''eN grounds. gave great sigh of relief
 The appointment of MT Stimson will give New York two members of the cab inet. Attorney General Wlckersham be- ing resident of that state.
 Mir Stimson has had no special military training, but in talking to friends the President expressed the belief that he was the sort of man who could come into the war department and easily and quick ly get the swing of affairs.
 There are few mei in public life out side of Washington for whom the Pres- dent has higher personal regard, and during the New York campaign the Pres ident frequently expre ssed his unqualified approval of MT. Stimson's cardhiacy