The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-13
(American News Service)

american News Service)
Washington. May 13.-Henry l..
Stimson probably will assume his du-
ties as secretary of war on May %.
He will see the President in New
York tomorrow and the definite date
will be decided upon.
Jacob M. Dickinson of Chicago and
Tennessee has resigned the portfolio
of secretary of war in the cabinet of
President Taft.
Henry L. Stimson, of New York, de-
feated for the governorship of that
state in the last campaign, will be
Mr.. Dickinson's successor.
Formal announcement of this-the
second change in Mr.. Taft's officia.
family-was made last night by the
White House. Although it has been
frequently reported that Mr.. Dickin-
son had no intention to remain in Of
flee. the announcement of his resigna-
ton set afloat great many rumors
as to the immediate cause.
Family and financial reasons are as
serted to be the sole reason which
prompted Mr.. Dickinson's action.
While undoubtedly this was the NOV.
ing cause, the fact must not be lost
sight of that the retiring secretary
found the office less to his liking than
he expected.
Is Difficult Position.
His relations with President Taft
and with his colleagues in the cabinet
have been and remain most cordial
and pleasant; but there were many
things about the secretaryship of war
which have never appealed to Mr..
Dickinson and he experiences no re-
grets in severing his connection with
it.
While it is urged that political con.
siderations have not entered into the
question of the withdrawal of Mr..
Dickinson from Mr.. Taft's cabinet, it
is recognized he lent no political
weight to the administration. He is
a free trade Democrat, and Tonnes
see is certain to send solid delega-
ton to the next Republican conven-
ton pledged to vote for the renomi-
nation of the President. Furthermore
there was talk of friction over the ad-
ministration's Mexican policy. The
state and war departments were de-
clared to be at variance. In some
quarters it was asserted Secretary
Knox was overshadowed by Mr.. Dick
inson.
Mr.. Stimson, on the other hand, as
.s. D1~eo,oI<,e oud;dofo for tho pOy.
ernorship of New York and with his
large number of friends in the Repub-
lican state organization, can be OF i'm
mense assistance in getting Taft dele
,gates from New York state to the next
Republican convention.
Resignation Surprise.
Few persons in Washington knew
of the resignation of Mr.. Dickinson
until the formal announcement was
made on Friday. The utmost secrecy
had been thrown around it. Mr.. Dick
inson was SO careful to prevent pub
iicity that he wrote his resignation
by hand under date of April % last
and presented it personally to the
President.
At the time he did SO the Mexican
situation had entered upon what
seemed to be satisfactory stage
commissioners to arrange peace hav
ing been appointed by the Mexican
government and the insurgents. The
next few days witnessed the renewal
of hostilities and Mr.. Dickinson. in an
other letter, expressed willingness t.
sacrifice his own affairs rather thar
to embarrass the government by
change of secretaries of war in cri
sis.
Mr.. Taft did not answer formally
Mr.. Dickinscon's first communication
| nor did he reply to the second unit
last Monday. He then acknowledge
the resignation and said in response
to the second communication that de
velopments in the Mexican situation
| indicated mo crisis was likely to arise
making your withdrawal now any more
of an embarrassment than at iatel
date"