The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-12
President Gees Out on May
flower TO Consider Appoint
ment in Seclusion
CHOICE SAID TO BE
BETWEEN TWO MEN
Franklin Roosevelt and Cen
eral Coethals Said to Be Ia
vorites for Position-Genefal
Scott Acting Secretary

Washington. Feb 11--After a day
In which rumor ran riot. opinion ih
administration circles tonight crystal
izad into a firm conviction that Presi-
dent Wilson's choice of a successor 10
fiji the post made vacant BY the res
icnation OF Secretary of war 6attl-
son lies between two men. iheSe
men are; -.
General George w Goethals, gov
ernor of the Canal Zone. and FRANK
lin d. Roosevelt, assistant Secretary
of the Navy
Several other names were suggested
IN the President by administration
senators who called at the White
House during the day. It was early
established that the President is
strongly opposed T. appointing any
an. however wei equipped other
wise for the post who has not had
previous experience in running gov
ernment department. The fact 'hat
the new Secretary Of War VIII bo
deprived OF the services of an expert
rnccd assistant secretary serves to ON
pAaa{ae the need or Departmental eA-
uerience on the part Of the newcomer.
whether General Goethals viii ar-
cept the position In the event OF lts
beins offered him Is considered open
Ia doubt. in view Of his repeated
statements that he would aever VViHn-
farilY leave the canal job anth IL
is in successful operation.
Roosc,eit's Friends Active,
Assistan, Secretary kooseveltis re-
cord in the Navy Department II urged
BY his friends a. the best proof OF
his ability To d4 MIR. Garrisou's shoes
in the War Department. 1t may be
stated positively that no appointment
would he welcomed with greater Joy
on the part of War Department offi-
Gals
if the President deeS not confine his
choice to these two men II IL believe
that he MAY make inter- abinet
changes that will result IA placing the
War Department In the hands OF
either Secretary Of the Interior Lane,
or Secretary Of Agriculture tlous-
ton,
OTHERS who rumor favored are
Henry NJ Ptnden. OF Peoria HI.
terminated ia be ambassador 10 RUS
SD: Who 81: har&w :.
Representative Swagcr SherIev, Of
Kentucky. chairman of House Forti-
fication subcommittee on Appropria-
tton,
Former representative \. Mitchell
Palmer.
Fersner Attorney General 1uason
Harmon. of t'fttu,
Former Solicitor General Fred Leh-
mann. OF NJ. Louis
Former Governor Walsh, OF Massa -
chusetts.
Former Mayor Baker, OF Cleveland.
Ohio.
on On Cruise.
This list of names is said TO in
clue virtually ALI those which the Pres
iGent Is considering With Mrs. Will
son. the President left Washington to-
night for cruise down the bay on
the Mayflower. Their return is set
for Sunday night or Monday morn
ing
Announcement was made at the
White House that the President wishes
seciusion in which to consider the
choosing of a successor to- Mr.. Car
rison 1t was intimated that his de-
oision might be announced imme-
diately on his return,
The War Department was without
a head for exactly twenty-five hours
In November. 1915. the President
Issued an executive order designating
General Hugh Scott. chief OF stan, as
acting Secretary of War IN the event
Of the temporary absence or Illness of
the secretary and the assistant secre-
tary,
When General Scott arrived at the
war office this morning II was 10 find
q decision by General Crowder judge
advocate general of the army, that
the executive order did not apply as
the absence OF the secretary and the
assistant secretary was neither tenn
porary nor due 10 Illness.
While every incoming mail added
to the mountain high stack of let
& tiers addressed to secretary and as
sistant secretary. General Scott was
Obliged to sit Idle at his desk, await
ing the issuance of new executive
order that would authorize him to
use the functions of his position. II
was not until $40 O'Clock this after
noon that this executive order was
nnaliy issued, the delay being due TO
the PRESIDENTS presence at n lengthy
cabinet meeting and the pressure OF
even more vital business
Used Emphas.s--But Not For Print
General Scott talked emphatically
and freely with the newspaper men
but not for publication.
II is generally known, however. thar
General Scott holds views identical
with MIR. Garrisons as to the need of
national forces for national defense
and Is unalterably opposed to any plan
that contemplates attempting nationai
defense with State militia
Army officers of all ranks admit
that there may be a shake-ut,Nin the
War Department inasmuch as their
staunch support of the program pre-
scented by Mr.. Garrison and end orsed
by he President is well known at the
White House.
AS General Scott is the highest Of
ficer on whom any displeasure on the
part of the administration would fall,
an officer in the War Department
pa intcd out tonight that with the ap-
/. pointment of permanent Secretary
OF War there might go an enforced re-
tircment for General Scott. The result