The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-27

Presidency. Very rarely has member OF
the Cabinet found his way into either
branch of Congress afterward. Senator
Elkins is one of the exceptions. He was
Secretary of War under Harrison and is
now Senator. He says that the post OF
a Cabinet officer is sufficient to crafty any
reasonable political ambition, and that
the desirability of the place is the prestige
which it gives to the holder in subsequent
business or professional pursuits.
Senator Sherman thinks that the later
Presidents have misconceived the true
character of the Cabinet position. Cabi-
net Ministers. he says, should relieve the
President of all drudgery. They should
be his assistants III the carrying out of
his policy. He should rely upon them to
do their work and he should not devote
his time and brain to examining the pa
pers of petty postmasteIs. He has no
right 10 fritter away his vital force on
clerical details.
Interesting in connection with this criti-
cism of Senator Shermans is a reminis-
cence of Postmaster General Tyner of
the course General Grant pursued toward
his Cabinet One day General Tyner car
ried to the President the papers relating
TO mum Der OF Presidential postofflces.
Have you read them?" asked the
President.
Certainly have" replied the Postmas-
ter-GeneraI.
about them ?''
eyes. Here are my recommendations"
"Well, that is all want to know. I'll
sign the appointments"
But don't you want to look into the
records of the men and see the reasons
given for the recommendations?
mo. That is what l have you for. If
your judgment Is not sufficiently strong
to pass upon such things l will have to
look around for some man to take your
place"
Without further comment President
Grant signed the appointments.
Senator Sherman says that Lincoln had
the right idea about the province of the
Cabinet Minister. He left to his Secreta-
ries their work and respon sibilities and
often laughed at them in their troubles
with office seekers.
There is one thing that politicians find
it very difficult 10 learn. 1t is that push
ing seldom carries man into a Cabinet
position. Presidents almost always ig-
more petitions for Cabinet appointments.
They repudiate as far as possible bargains
or understandings made for them by zeal
Gus friends during the campaign. Many
a man has lost bis chance for getting into
the Cabinet by the mistaken efforts of mis-
friends. Lincoln recognized some ante
election pledges made by those working
in his interests. In the convention which
nom mated him promises were given that
Indiana, Kentucky and Pennsylvania
should have Cabinet places. These pledges
were given by David Davis and Leonard
SWEET. 1t took long time TO bring Mr..
Lincoln around to the fulfillment of them,
but before he got through Simon Cameron
of Pennsylvania was made Secretary of
War, Caleb Smith of Indiana Secretary of
the Interior, and James Speed of Ken
lucky Attorney General, as had been
agreed when the votes were given to Lin
coin in the National Convention.
The lesson of one Cabinet campaign is
lost on the politicians before the next
comes around. In the list of Mr.. Cieve-
lands advisers it is impossible to point to
one who owes his place there to the i'm
portunlties of friends. When President
Harrison's Cabinet was made up it was
found that he had not been influenced by
a number of noisy and uch-advertised
booms. So it will be, robably, with Mr..
McKinley's selections, if precedent can be
relied upon. The names pushed with
pertinacity will not be found in the nomi-
nations for the Cabinet next March.
There is one thing which the politicians
can do-they can exercise good deal Of
influence in the way of veto. Presidents
like to choose their advisers without posi-
tive assistance but as rule they do not
overlook the negative influence. Few men
have been boosted into Cabinet place by
active influences, but many men have had
good chances for appointment killed by
the opposition OF politicians. Presiden
so independent as Mr. Cleveland showed
that he was susceptible to that kind of
negative pressure. He had made ND his
mind to appoint as Secretary OF the In
terror at the beginning of his administra-
ton the gentleman who now holds the
position, David K. Francis of Missouri.
A telegraphed protest from three prom
inent Democratic politicians of Missouri
caused Mr.. Cleveland to rub Mr.. Francis
name off the slate. The objection was
purely personal. The time came when
the President found among those most
hostile 70 him in his party the three poll
tlcians who had caused the rejection of
Mr.. Francis.
No President wants to name for his
Cabinet men who are opposed by party
leaders in their respective States. There
is going on at Canton a process of exclu-
slon. according to the reports which reach
Washington. Some men whom Mr.. Nc
Kinley considers as otherwise available
for his Cabinet have been removed from
further consideration because of the dis
covery that selection would give offense
to factions in their respective States.
Mr.. Cleveland was once quoted as say
ing tnat sectional reasons ought not to
enter into the work of making up a Cabi-
net. In his two terms Mr.. Cleveland has
given New York five Cabinet places. He
has now got Two members from west Of
the Mississippi. That is the most recog-