A reply was at once received from Page that he was on his way.
Meanwhile certain of Mr.Wilson's advisers had heard of the plan and were raising objections.

Page was a Southerner; the Interior Department has supervision over the pension bureau, with its hundreds of thousands of Civil War veterans as pensioners; moreover, Page was an outspoken enemy of the whole pension system and had led several "campaigns" against it.

The appointment would never do! Mr.Wilson himself was persuaded that it would be a mistake.
"But what are we going to do about Page ?" asked Colonel House.

"I have summoned him from North Carolina on important business.

What excuse shall I give for bringing him way up here ?" But the President-elect was equal to the emergency.
"Here's the cabinet list," he drily replied.