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MARCH 14, 1913
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leadership of the senate did not pass into tho
keeping of a man liko Senator Kern. It re
mained with Arthur P. Gorman. Assisted by
eleven other senators elected as democrats, in
cluding James Smith,, jr., of Now Jersey and
Calvin S. Brice of Ohio, and in cordial co-operation
with a solid phalanx of stand-pat republi
cans, Gorman succeeded in transforming the
excellent tariff bill prepared by a promise-keeping
house of representatives into a measure
which President Cleveland properly denounced
as one of "perfidy and dishonor."
This experience may be repeated in theSixty
third congress, but the chances are against it.
Public opinion on this subject is stronger today
than it was two decades ago. The republican
party as well as the democratic party has" been
instructed. It is no longer possible for men of
any party to hide devotion to private interests
under a pretense of partisan loyalty or public
service. Our representatives now are truo or
they are false, and everybody knows it. They
can not dodge tho issue.
Senator Kern's democratic leadership must
be as influential for right as Senator 'Gorman's
democratic leadership was powerful for wrong.
Gorman was a tempter. Kern should be an
Inspiration. Gorman rallied to a wretched
democratic faction every timid or sordid repub
lican who was inclined for any reason to persist
in error. .Kern Bhould influence many honest
republicans to unite with honest democrats for
the correction of ancient wrongs in obedience
to tho people's will.
There may be democratic traitors in the
present senate, but if their places are not more
than filled by republicans honor and courage
the shame will be national and the infamy of
it will be world-wide. New York World.
THE SINGLE-TERM AMENDMENT ,
Speaking of the joint resolution providing for
a single presidential term of six years passed
by tho senate, tho New York Herald says:
"The very minute Mr. Bryan, who made the
Baltimore platform, gets to Cuba and comfort
ably started for the Isle of Pines, here comes
the disconcerting report that the Professor him
self is not in sympathy with the resolution
which passed the senate and Is now in com
mittee of the house. And quickly on the heels
of this comes the report that the committee
Itself has pigeonholed the resolution and noth
ing will be heard of it until the new congress
reassembles."
Another editorial printed upon the same page
reads as follows:
"The avidity with which judiciary committee
democrats shelved that '1921' single-term pro
posal seems to indicate that Mr. Bryan has some
friends in the house, tffter all."r
It would take a Philadelphia lawyer, to say
nothing of the famous old Philadelphia lady, to
reconcile these, two assertions. The plain in
ference from the first is that Mr. Wilson in
stigated the pigeonholing of the resolution, and
from the second thal Mr. Bryan's friends were
responsible. Both suspicions are unfounded. Mr. Wilson
gave no sign oneway or the other. Mr. Bryan
was consistent and steadfast throughout.
Here are the facts: The form of the resolu
tion as passed by the senate was such as to
give rise to grave doubt as to whether or not, it
would extend President Wilson's term to six
years. The necessity, of clarifying this point was
apparent. The inadvisability of seeking ratifi
cation of an amendment which might bar Mr.
Taft, Mr. Roosevelt, and Mrt Wilson in 1916
also was recognized. How to remove the doubt
and eliminate the personal aspect was the prob
lem. It was solved properly and rightfully by
proposal of a substitute which provided that the
new method should not take effect until 1921.
This not only left the field open to all in
5.916, but also Allowed the state legislatures
ample tjlme in which to act. There was no way
tfi which the amendment could affect the politi
cal fortunes of any one of the three mentioned
unless Mr. Taft or Mr. Wilson should seek a
jthlrd or Mt. Roosevelt a fourth term.
The only two- likely candidates whose in
terests might be affected adversely were Mr.
Bryan and Speaker ClaTk, each of whom had
been wrongfully suspected of a desire to bar
Mr. Wilson from a chance of renomination at
tiie end of four years.
The fact is that the substitute amendment
was suggested by Mr. Bryan, and was approved
forthwith by Speaker Clark. Each set aside any
thought of personal interest. Both stood
squarely by the democratic platform. Harper's
Weekly.
President Wilson's Cabinet
Brooklyn Citizen: President Wilson has suc
ceeded in getting together a cablnot which will
bo effective both for tho purposes of good gov
ernment and the unification of tho democratic
party.
Sioux Falls Argus-Loader: "Secretary"
Bryan sounds mighty good to a lot of peoplo
who have fought for William J. since 1896, and
it doesn't sound at all bad to a lot of folks
who have fought against him.
Boston Herald: Even though no Now
Englander appears in the list which the Associ
ated Press has seml-ofllcially announced, tho
Herald thinks the cabinet of Wilson looks de
cidedly promising. Geographically, it includes
Lane from the Pacific coast; Bryan and Hous
ton from the region of the Missouri; Mc
Roynolds, Daniels and Burleson from tho south;
McAdoo and Redfiold from New York; Garrison
and Wilson from tho adjoining states, respec
tively, of Now Jersey and Pennsylvania. This
is decent sectional distribution even for those
who regard that as of any large importance.
Milwaukee Daily News: Mr. Bryan is, of
course, the best known of them all, his reputa
tion being world-wide, and naturally ho will bo
a leader in both thought and action, and an in
fluence of much power in tho administration.
While they are, of course, untried in their new
positions, there is 6very reason to believe that
th gdvernment will be in good hands while
they are in charge.
Sioux City (Iff.) Journal: Tho new cabinet
stands Inspection pretty well. The presence of
Mr. Bryan is the more timely since ' his first
ambition is to win for President Wilson the
plaudits of a grateful country.
Buffalo (N. Y.) Times: A working cabinet,
a people's cabinet, are the dominant facts which
impress the public mind in regard to President
Wilson's official family. It is a representative
body of men representative in tho character
of its members, in tho adaptation of each to the
special functions of his department, in the fact
that every cabinet officer is a man of known
ability and record, in the fact that every man is
chosen for certain particular qualifications
which make his appointment a fitting one, thus
ensuring harmonious workings of the cabinet as
an entirety.
. That William J Bryan would be named for
secretary of state, had long been regarded as a
certainty. That these anticipations were
realized, is a matter of highest gratification.
Mr. Bryan's qualifications for this great post are
so well known, so manifest on the face of the
facts, that to dwell on them seems a superfluity.
Ho , has profoundly studied both tho domestic
and the foreign policies of this country. His
fame is world-wide. His immense influence
abroad is shown by the honors Europe paid to
him. He is a champion of peace. Ho is a foe
of jingoism. He Is a foe of dollar diplomacy.
He will restore the department of state to its
proper dignity. Americanism will be reinstated
In our foreign policy. The country halls with
acclaim the choice of the great commoner for
secretary of state.
The appointment of William G. McAdoo, of
New York, for secretary of the treasury, places
the helm of national finance in firm, safe, and
experienced hands. It is acceptable alike to
. the people and the business community. Mr.
McAdoo is a man of the most vigorous executive
abilities. All through his career ho has been
. identified with great enterprises. He knows
finance, he knows industry, he knows men. His
acquaintance is wide, and confidence in him Is
universal. No man is better fitted to grapple
with the difficult and complicated questions
which must bo dealt with by a secretary of tho
treasury. It Is a splendid appointment.
The new secretary of war is Lindley Murray
Garrison, vice chancellor of New jjersey. Edwin
M. Stanton, the greatest secretary of war in
American history, was a lawyer. The portfolio
now held by Mr. Garrison is one in which train
ing in the largo aspects of the law is Indispens
able. Critical questions of military rights and
civic policy aro all the while coming forward,
and tho experience of Mr. Garrison in an im
portant Judicial position, will be of the utmost
value to him and to the administration.
Attorney-General James Clark McReynolds,
of Tennessee, is a lawyer of nation-wide reputa
tion. Ho Is familiar with tho duties of the At
torney general's department. Tho groat mass of
litigation which the United States conducts
every year, Is by tho McReynolds appointment
committed to a man of signal ability, known
aliko to tho bar and bench. It lu an appoint
ment which, in tho highest degroo inspires con
fidence. Albert Sidnoy Burloson, of Texas, is tho now
postmaster general. Ho has had fourteen years'
experience In tho houso of roprcBontatlvos. Ho
has a thorough knowledge of governmental
business. No cabinet official comes in closer
touch with tho people than the postmaster gen
eral. Mr. Burleson will make an admirable
head of tho postoffico department.
Josophus Daniels, secretary of tho navy, Is
ono of tho foremost editors of tho country. Ills
extensive information, and sterling qualities of
intellect and character, will find a flold of activi
ties in tho important portfolio commlttod to bts
charge. His appointment constitutes a marked
accession of strongth to tho cablnot.
Franklin K. Lane, secretary of tho interior,
is a publicist of national colobrity. Ho has per
formed brilliant service as chairman of the
interstate commerce commission. His appoint
ment is a thoroughly well-considered act, and
meets with universal acceptation.
David Franklin Houston, of Missouri, tho new
head of tho department of agriculture, is a
trained specialist in agriculture He is the first
expert of tho kind who has over been made
secrotary of agriculture. Ho is precisely the
kind of man that department needs.
William Cox Rodflold, of Now York, Is a
splendid selection for secretary of commerce.
Ho Is intimately conversant with the great mer
cantile and industrial problems of tho time. He
is a man of signal breadth of mind and of great
acquirements in economic and sociological fields.
Tho head of tho newly created department
that of labor will be William B. Wilson of
Pennsylvania. Beginning as a coal miner and
ascending to high positions of influonco and
trust, he knows from practical experience the
nature of labor problems and the difficulties of
tho workingman.
It is a strong cabinet throughout. In Its
selection President Wilson has successfully ful
filled ono of the most important tasks of his
administration.
New York World: President Wilson's cabi
net as sont to and confirmed- by tho senate
agrees with the list previously published. Tho
inore it is studied tho more it will grow upon
the country as a strong tworkfng body.
Philadelphia Public Ledger: Mr. Wilson's
cabinet is likely to make a good Impression
upon the country; it improves on -"lualntanco.
Bryan, of course, is an error, but he appearB to
have been unavoidable. The new president fol
lowed tradition when ho made the presidential
candidate his secretary of state. Mr. Bryan, in
accepting tho office, made a greater mistake In
so far as Bryan's comfort and political power are
concerned than did Mr. Wilson.
Milwaukee Journal: In the selection of his
cabinet Mr. Wilson has given fresh proof of
his independence and his determined progres
siveness. The character of those new members
of the cabinet who aro well known to the public,
together with President Wilson's expressed de
termination to choose progressive assistants is
sufficient guarantee that tho whole cabinet is
in accord with the president's own ideas and
ideals.
New Orleans Times-Democrat: The new cabi
net will have to be judged by its works. Any
attempt at prejudgment will bo foolish. Presi
dent Wilson has undertaken to select, we
gather, a group of advisers who will "do team
work," and in doing that departed somewhat
from tho conventional methods of cabinet-making.
That some of his selections aro men com
paratively unknown to tho country at large In
not argument against their fitness by any
means. The fact that the best known among;
them are generally conceded fit and well
equipped argues, indeed, that the president has
exercised the same excellent judgment in select
ing the others. We trust that his nominees.
Without exception, will vindicate his confidence,
and that the Wilson cabinet will provo a thor
oughly harmonious and highly useful aid te
the new chief magistrate.
