Evening star., 1915-06-09
Former Premiers, Root and
Knox, Among Those Listed
as Possibilities.
PRESIDENT HAS 80 DAYS
TO MAKE HIS SELECTION
Chances Considered About Even That
Robert Lansing Will Receive Per-
manent Appointment.

Gossip as to the successor of Mr.. Bryan
took a wide range today. and even in
cluded mention of republicans as possi
bilities Under the law the President has
thirty days within which to make an
appointment.
Representative Flood of Virginia, who
is to be chairman of the House commit
tee on foreign affairs, is in town, and ran
over the names of several men whom he
thought would be under consideration by
the President. Naturally, he expected
the President would find sufficient avail
able timber in the democratic party from
-Thich to choose a Secretary of State. but
in case of demand for bipartisan
cabinet his nn.nd went first to former
Secretary Of State Root, and Philander
c. Knox, former Secretary Of State and
former Attorney General. Both also
served in the United States Senate.
Mr.. Moore May Not Be Chosen.
, Mr. Bryans friends say that they do
not expect the President will consider
John Rassett Moore. formerly coun-
selor of the department and recig-
2 mixed authority on International law, a
. republican as well. because of the per-
sonal feud between Mr.. Moore and Mr.
Bryan. They say Mr.. Bryan would
regard his appointment as a personal
affront.
The chances are about even that
Robert Lansing. counselor for the
State Department. will be the sue
cessor of Secretary Bryan The selec-
tion is not by any means a certainty.
and President Wilson will do nothing
for a month about choosing the man
who will sit to his right at the cabinet
r1A f.
Lansing is probably the choice against
the field, but there are reasons why
he may not be named
Sosslp as to the next Secretary of
state extends into wide field. Rich
ard Olney is prominently brought for
ward. but il is pointed out that Mr
Olney is too we'll advanced in years
TO again undertake the duties of the
turn to Washington. Mr. Olney made
these facts known to the President
when he was offered the ambassador
ship to England and the chairmanshp
Of the federal reserve board.
Readjustment Suggested.
A readjustnent of the cabinet so as
TO bring a Mitchell Palmer of Penn
sylvania into the list of the Plesi-
dents advisers is also suggested.
These suggestions are based upon the
idea that present members of the cab
met will not take kindly to an out
slider being placed over them as pre-
mier Of the cabinet ana will prefer
that one of their owr number be ad-
svanced to the state Department let
ting an outsider into one OF the posi-
tions made vacant by the promotion.
The men talked of for this promotion
are Secretaries Lane, McAdoo, Garrison
and Houston. Mr.. Lane is regarded az
ineligible. He was born in Canada and
could not become President by reason
of his foreign birth Under the law the
Secretary Of State would become Presi
dent in event Of the death of the Presi
dent and Vice President. This ineligi
bility extends only to the preside ency
though. and II Mr. Lane were Secretar,
Of State he could not become President
the next in line to that honor being th'
Secretary of the Treasury.
Has No Love for Frills.
A. TO Mr. McAdoo It is pointed ou
that ne is essentially a business man
direct and forceful and that he has NJ
love for the friIls and trimmings tina
go with the position of premier of tn
cabinet
Secretaries Garrison and Houston
are, IN the order named, discussed. bu
both are poor men financially and th'
honor OF being Secretary of State cost!
about $4,000 year at minimum
reckoning This is double the salary
OF the ONCE.
Mr. Lansing would be Objectionable
as an outsider il the presumed feelings
Of present cabinet members are con
sidered. but If abinet members hav'
no sensitive feelings on that point IN
is the man the President may turn to
The President has found Mr.. LANSING
able and tactful. with a broad under
standing of international law ant
American public feeling. If Mr. Lans
ing has developed no hobbies that ar
obnoxious TO the President he stands
still better chance.
May Have Difficult Task.
II was asserted today that the Presi
dent will have a most difficult time Sc
curing a man of national standing TO
Secretary of State II the President 1
TO follow the policy he pursued in MI
Bryan's case-that Of running the Stat
Department himself. Few big men viii
care TO drop out of sight that way,
was Indicated. The arduous duties tha
would confront Secretary of Stat
should there be with German
would likewise operate against a ma
Of national prominence accepting tn
place.
Ambassador Page, at London. is sus
gested as possibility. his duties ther
having made him familiar with tn
work that would be required in tn
state Department. but this susgestio
was not thought TO be one that woul
turn osst q reality.