Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-13
SPECULATION CONTINUES
AS TO WAR SECRETARY
President Expected to Make Selection
known Soon After Return
From Bay Cruise.
GoETHAIs NOW SEEMS IN LEAD
Not Believed That Any Present Mem
her of Cabinet Will BE Transferred
20 Vacant PoSt-GarriSon Willing
to Help Successor in Every Way.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch1

lSpeClai TO ne ll!neS- H..
WASHINGTON. February 1c.-Specu-
lation continued unabated to-day con-
cerning the choice President Wilson
will make from the score OF names
suggested as qualified successors to
l.indley NJ. Garrison as Secretary Of
War. In well-informed quarters be-
lief is expressed that the President
viii make known his selection soon
after his return from tho cruise down
the bay on the Maynower, either to-
morrow or Monday.
Reports that Secretary OF the In
terror Lane and Secretary OF Agricul-
ture Houston stand the best chances of
becoming the two men between whom
the President will make his final choice
were discreditcd In influential quarters
to-day on the ground that the Presi-
dent has deep seated disinclination to
permit Cabinet changes for any reason
other than actual reslgnatio
Neither Secretary Lane nor Secretary
Houston expects to be transferred from
their respective departments and those
who are in closest touch with the Presi-
dent consider such q step on his part
out of the question.
| Everywhere the suggestion that the
war sccretaryship would go to General
George w. Gocthals was hailed with
satisfaction.
GGETIIALS MAY NOT CONSENT
| TO LEAVE CANAL. ZONE
On the other hand, it is generally
understood that General C;oethals would
not consider accepting n transfer from
his post as Governor OF the Canal Zone
until the canal is in successful opera
| ton
Friends of Newton u. Baker declare
they have reason TO believe the Prcsi
dent is giving serious consideration to
his qualifications for the post. and that
} in the event OF General Cocktails de-
clininS it, Mr.. Baker Will undoubtedly
be the Presidents second choice.
If the report that the President is
! determined 10 choose IL man from ont
side his Cabinet, in order to avoid any
lnterdcpartment transfers, is correct
! IL is considered probable that either
General Goethals or Mr. Baker or some
individual who has thus far not been
named Will get the portfolio.
| The news that Mr.. Garrison intends
| to return soon to Washington was re-
ceivcd here with much anticipatorv in
terc"t. His statement that he is ready
To give his successor the benefit OF
everything lie knows about running the
War Department is taken to mean that
the former secretary may remain in
Washington for some time. acting in
an advisory capacity for the benefit Of
the new departmental chief
GARRISON WILL ASSIST
SUCCESSOR IN OFFICE
Although il is customary for n re-
firing secretary 10 assist in the iuduc-
;ntD
Garrison may do very much more than
this. if his intentions. as reported in
New York dispatches, may be taken
literally. There Is an unusually large
amount of important unfinished milf
tnry matters awaiting final action
Major-Gcneral Hugh l.. Scott. chief
or stan OF the army ana temporarily
administering the affairs OF the War
Department under an executive order
authorizing him to act as Secretary OF
War for II period not exceeding thirty
days. said this afternoon that he will
carefully refrain from acting on any
important matter of policy that en-
gagged the attention OF Mr.. Garrison at
the time Of his resignation.
Among these pending matters. which
must como before the next civilian sec
rotary for determination. are the court
81
Goodicr. of the Judge advocatc-generars
department. and tho case OF Major
George r. Langhorne, formerly United
States attacho at Berlin, who is said
To have brought important letters TO
tho German embassy In Washington
Mr. Garrison reviewed the Goodier case.
but did not submit il to the President
iio was about to investigate the case
of Major i.anGhornc to sec IL court
martial proceedings were warranted.
REPORT ABOUT TUMULTY
NOT GIVEN CREDENCE
Reports that tho President might
decide to appoint as Mr.. Garrison's sue
cessor his own secretary. Joseph T.
Tumulty received small credencc among
friends OF Mr.. Tumulty, who say he has
no particular fondncss for War De-
partmont work and no wish for that
PORTFOLIO.