The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-23
Chief of Weather Bu-
reau Dislikes Attitude
of President.
HIS SUCCESSOR
AS YET UNKNOWN
Famous Forecaster Had Been
Urged on Wilson as Secretary
of Agriculture, and This Is
Said to Have Led to Bad
Feeling and. Final
Break.

Warrington, March 22-Wilhs l..
Moore, Chief of the Weather Bureau.
resigned to-day Secretary Houston
accepted the resignation. after a talk
with President Wilson. to become ef-
fective July 81. Prof. Moore-a Demo-
crat--was a andidate for appointment
as Secretary of Agriculture.
Secretary Houston explained that the
Office of Chief of the wea Their Bureau
was a presidential appointments
I'VE have no one in mind now said
the secretary, but will try to get the
best man we can OF scientific ability
and administrative talent"
When President Wilson came into
Office and officials OF the Department
| OF Agriculture holding presidential APP
| pointmentS handed In their resigna-
tions, Prof Moore was not among
them Previously. however, petitions
had been circulated urging upon Pres
ident Wilson the selection of Prof.
Moore to be Secretary OF Agriculture
Since Secretary Houston was appoint
ed. the White House has received large
quantities of letters and kilograms
urging that Prof. Moore be retained
in office as Chief OF the Weather Bu-
reau.
| First intimation that Prof. Moore
| II was said at the White House that
he would resign" Moore declined to
discuss 1t. and later hurried to the De-
partment Of Agriculture for confer
ence with Secretary Houston. Prof
Moore emerged from the secretary's
office somewhat disturbed. callers in
the outside Office thought. ard later
his resignation was announced. Prof
Moore himself later declined TO make
a statement.
/ h M tn oil fr;a y;
comment. After July 81 I shall retire
/ TO my farm"
| Eeave-TaHinx Sudden.
! II is said that the reason behind
/ this sudden leave-taking by one of
/ the best known and most efficient men
/ in the employ of the government was
/ Prof. Moore's resentment at the atti-
tude OF the President toward his can
didacy for the secretaryship of Agri-
culture, candidacy that was promoted
/ by his friends and not by himself
! IL was stated definitely at the White
/ House this afternoon that Prof Moore
| had not been asked to resign. 1t was
! pretty we'll understood, however. that
/ a hunt had been made for man to
I fill his place, and that tho President
believes that he can find another man
/ of adequate scientific attainments for
/ tho job, which is a big and important
/ one.
| Prof Moore was savagely attacked
| in the last House of Representatives
| by Representative Aiken. and a threat
was made that the department would
be investigated Mr.. Aiken based his
attack on the fact that forecasts of
the weather are often Inaccurate
Action Surprise.
! The great surprise of the acceptance
! of the resignation is that il should
come. and the facts leak out. before
the President and MIR. Houston were
| ready TO announce successor even
before they had agreed upon or con-
| sidered one in serious manner For
! II Is positively known that no partic-
I ular man is in mind, and that the
I President expects to seek information
/ in many quarters before selecting a
successor. Politics will not, IL is said
enter into the choosing of n new man
as head Of the Weather bureau
! The President is convinced that the
weather Bureau, in the hands of a dis
ttnSuished scientist, can become a fac
Tor OF immense advantage TO business
and industry generally i'll the country
and in accepting the resignation of Mr.
Moore he had in mind such man to
head tho establishment
Three reasons are known to have
actuated President Wilson in the ac-
ceptance of the resignation of Mr.
Moore The first of these was that he
ana not iike the idea Of Mr.. Moore be-
coming candidate for Secretary Of
Agriculture in this administration
The second is that he did not like
the idea Of employees and officials un
der Mr.. Moore being active in pushing
and promoting the candidacy of Mr..
Moore for head of the Agricultural De-
partment. And the third was that he
believed a man OF great scientific skill
and knowledge could be had to fill the
place.
II is understood that Mr.. Wilson re-
Sarded ii is imDolitic that any Fed
eral officer should seek a cabinet office
, or permit employees under him TO work
toward that end. Mr.. Wilson took the
ground that Cabinet office should seek
the man, and not the man the office.
For that reason he was displeased 1t
is said, with the campaign for Mr..
/ Moore's nomination.
Friends of Mr.. Moore declare that the
Cabinet campaign in his behalf was
made without his knowledge or con
nivance, and was merely IA tribute to
the great work he has done in the
Weather Bureau. Whatever the facts
President Wilson did not hold Mr.
Moore blarneless for the campaign, and
the impression made upon him was so
unfavOrable to Mr.. Moore that he did
not hesitate to accept formal resig-
nation when it was presented
TIMSI EY IS ARRESTED