Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-30
ADVISERS OF PRESIDENTS.
NOBLE l.. PRENTIS LECTURES on
CABINET OFFICERS.
Reviews the Personnel Of the Oflcial
Family of Fac of the Chief
Observation-Disclosures Attach
ing to Each ONCE.

| Mr.. Noble l.. Prentis delivered n lecture
on the subject. The President and His
Cabinet" in the Y. NJ. c.. A. Civil Govern
nent series last night. An unusually large
audience was present. and was entertained
by an interesting review of the cabinets of
each of the presidents.
1T may be supposed" said Mr.. Prentis in
the course of his address. that the fa-
theirs of the republic got their ideas of n
cabinet from the British ministry. but In
reality the British pattern was not very
closely followed. The political existence
of the cabinet does not depend upon the
opinion of congress. President Washing
ton, the first and last ~non-partisan presi-
dent. chose a cabinet of four members.
who were not-though they lived in what
many now believe were the better lays of
the republic-were not a happy family.
Jefferson and Hamilton seem to have sworn
cabinet resigned. Two members of the
cabinet came from Virginia. but Adams
changed the scepter to Massachusetts. He
was the first political president. and he
chose his cabinet to suit his own views.
The office of postmaster general was added
navy in 17sS. From early times the secre-
tary of state was styled premier, and held
n certain leadership and primary.
with Jefferson there came n general
~oyerhauling of the federal o%fficeholders.
His secretary of the treasury. Albert Gala
tin, was called by John b. McMasters, the
Hamilton. With Jackson's first administra-
ton came several cabinet members. who
did not belong to the Revolutionary schoo s.
His cabinet resigned in Il body. but was
replaced with a much stronger cabinet.
William Harrison signalized his cabinet by
appointing Daniel Webster as secretary of
With the Ht exception of Mr.. Webster. Here
first appeared the Ohio man. since so for
midabie. In the person of Thomas Ewing.
President Polk introduced the first liter
airy secretary. in the person of George
dent Fillmore in isls added the office Of
Stewart. of Virginia. as the first secretary:
President Pierce had a very distinguished
secretary in the person OF Jefferson Davis.
tanned men who will live through their as
ISOLATION with a great man in a great day.
He chose in the person of =. H.; Bates me
first cabinet officer ever selected from Mis-
souri, A strange fate was that of Edwin
NJ. Stanton. secretary of war. who WORKED
SO hard and was cursed so much. ms Re-
mOval brought OIL the memorable impeach-
ment proceedings against President J0nh,
son. which seem to have at least resulteo
in the settlement OF the principle tnaI tue
president has the light to remove MS capi-
Probably because Thomas Jefferson. the
first secretary of state. was inc srea.est
who ever held the office. the secretary OF
state has always held the leadership ana
precedence.
Quarters ever since the government was es-
tablished. that the government would drift
toward a monarchy in letter or spirit. noth-
ing of the kind has happened in 100 years.
'rhe presidents power has not been in
creased and the cabinet officers are still
American gentlemen and not dukes or mar
erahJe nv the thought of "a reigning aris-
tocracy will be treasured by scanning the
long list of able men who have hiied each
office i'm the cabinet
NJ Prentis closed with a brief recital of
the duties of the various cabinet officers.