The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-02
NORTON,
AND TIE DEPARTMENT oF AGRT-
CULTURE
what Practical Man u Dotsg 10 STOP
Frauds and Explode uuu,buGs.


, Morton. Secretary OF Agriculture. has been
more talked about during the past week than
any other public man In Washington. His
prominence began on Monday morning last,
and has since continued to grow with astonish-
ing rapidity. Mr.. Morton did not awake to
ind himself famous. as some great men be-
fore him have done. but he has been 90 much
talked about In the newspapers and among
politicians and the people generally. and has
received 40 many letters from everywhere,
that II he were not n hard-headod. sensible
Democrat he might begin to think that he Is
too big man to be stowv1 away In tho Office OF
Secretary OF Agriculture In anybody's Cabinet.
Mr.. Morton's recent prominence and popu-
tarity have been brought about by two causes.
\ Tho first 10 his Interview, published all over
the United States on Saturday morning last
In which he held the Popullst party SO strong
In his own State. up to public scorn and re-
pudihted all It's various heresies. The second
cause is tho little talk that he mnde on Sunday
down Mt Asbury Park for tho benefit OF the
frcsh air fund. There 10 no misund erstanding
about what Secretary Morton said with regard
70 tho Populists He denounced outright their
fiat money vagaries. aud expressed the opinion
that the farmers Of tho country are fast learn
ina that they have made q mistake In
allowing themsolv TO become tho tools
Of demsgogues. Tho interview. Mr. Nor.
- he had no idea OF saving anything
whatever for publication until n Gentlemanly
reporter strolled into his Office and asked him
TO say something. Thercupon he said It and
now no stands by it. The Secretary, however.
says that his remarks at Asbury Park were
misquoted. There was no stenographcr at tho
biz auditorium. where he gave his talk to sew
eral thousands OF enthusiastic listeners. and
tho Published reports Of his speech have made
H.. hal h. Las, toa tan n
lands now held by American no mesteaders.
The Secretary says he did not say this. What
no did say was that he thought perhaps 1t
would have been better. when the preemption
and homestead laws were bong passed. II 1t
had been enacted that no lands should BIO
patented to any one but bona fde settlers. and
thus kept out Of the hands OF alien owners.
syndicates and private spectators. The Sec
rotary does not advocate q law OF entail II fur
NO other reason than that he knows 1t would
be I'm practicable.
Tho Secretary's courageous denunciation OF
the Populist party. and especially their views
on the financial question. appears to be all the
moro praiseworthy In view OF the fact that he
IN himself farmer In State where the Popu-
lists are unusually numerous and strong. and
where they first gained q foothold that enabled
them to become power. temporarily, among
he political parties OF the country. Bushels
Of letters, some condemning but q vast major
tty commenting his attitude. have poured in
upon Mr.. Morton in the past few days. causing
him the greatest surprise and recalling to his
modest mind this ancient saying:
How far litu. candle saeis its rays;
. Thus SHINES good deed in naughty world.
But while the Secretary thus lightly dis.
misses the i'm portant result OF his undigested
views on the one great public question Of tho
lay. his friends. admirers. and constituents.
~ we'll as hosts OF Democrats generally. in.ist
-pon talking OF him as the big man OF the
Cleveland Cabinet. and perhaps they are in q
measure. at least. justified In doing 30. Sec
rotary Morton. II not the most learned. Is one
Of the brainiest. shrswdest most wide awake
and enterprising members OF the Administra-
-tian. and above all. he 10 . manly. genial. HON
est fellow. and Democrat OF the most radi-
cal and pronounced type. His popularity in
Washington is already as great as 1t was In the
boundingF West. whore he has boon SO we'll
known for the past quarter OF century; and II
the anecdotes that leak out from the Cabinet
room occasionally are true. there is no men,
ber OF the Cabinet who stands higher
in tho regard of the President than his Secre-
tary Of Agriculture. In his efforts. that have
been unremltting since tho 4th OF March. to
place upon q practical business footing the
somewhat useless and absurd department
WEI Wuioh ptcbluoss anu III puUIlC
utterances on the live questions OF tho day.
Mr. Morton has probably been guided only by
n desire to serve his country and his party. ex-
pecting no reward whatever but the satisfaction
OF knowing that he had done his duty. The
people and the politicians will talk. however.
and 90 It has been unavoidable that during the |
past few days the name Of ]. Storing Morton OF |
Nebraska has been upon the tongues Of no st |
Of Dem ocrats as being Just the kind OF q man
yAA I'LL De- 40. .la-
Dental timber 10 not az rule found in |
the Cabinet, but there Is no law that makes a |
Cabinet official Ineligible and so It 10 not alto
gether out OF the range Of possibilities that n |
few years hence the present distributor. OF !
seeds will find himself talked about as the |
probable nominee OF the Democratic party for |
the ONCE OF President OF tho United States.
There 10 one point. at least. In favor OF such
plan as this. Mr.. Morton is the only man in |
the Cabinet who is ut all likely to be struck by
Presidential lightning. There are various
reasons why this IL so. and II the list OF Mr.
Clsveland's official family Is examined 1t will
be seen that seven OF them are out OF the
range OF possibilities. being Ineligible" and |
otherwise handicapped. leaving the popular
Nebraska Democrat as the only ono Of the
eight who 10 apt to BIO promoted tn higher
political honors.
Z At presont Mr. Morton Is not paying any at
tentlon Whatever either to tho discussion cauS-
cd by his political uttsrances or to the eligibil-
ity OF Cabinet officials for political prom otion.
He ID giving his tina solely TO the task OF re-
ducing the wasteful and. IN many cases. alb
Burd expenses OF the Agriculture Department
to reasonable basis. and to discharglnC every
employee OF that great department who does
not render an equivalent for the money he re-
eeiyeA A few days ago friend said to the
Secretary that II no did not go q little slow. he
would work himself out Of job by looping of
30 many employees and cutting down the ex-
penditures in so1snany directions that there
would be nothing left for the department to do.
"Ail right" said the Secretary. 1T 10 not
necessary for me to have Government Job.
lnd when am OF no further service lam ready
TO step down and out"
It 10 not likely that the Secretary will push
his Investigations and reductions to point
where II will DO necessary to abolish his de-
n y 4 m mt wIlsh hu. lv han In avis |