The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-16
M'KINLEY'S CABINET.

The announcement by Senator Sherman
that he had been offered ana has accepted
the Office of Secretary OF State in the Cab
met of President Mckinley settles the
point of greatest difficulty which has been
experienced in making up the new admin
istration. With this Office arranged for
the rest of the work of forming the Cabi-
net will 60 forward rapidly and within a
few days we may know who are TO be the
heads of all the great departments OF the
Government under the new President.
1t cannot be denied that the elevation
OF Senator Sherman to the Office OF Secre-
tary OF State is something of an expert
ment. The Senator has long been eminent
in finance, but has no established repute
in foreign affairs. Though he has been
long in the Senate and has taken part IN
debating all great questions of interna-
tionaI policy which have come before that
body in the last thirty years, he has not
identified himself with any important
measure affecting our foreign relations.
The inclination OF his mind has been
toward monetary questions. and it is these
he has chiefly studied. In the prime of
his life as Secretary of the Treasury he
proved himself one of the ablest and most
successful financiers the country has ever
known. 1t Is, to say the least, doubtful
whether in his old age he can achieve an
equal service for the Nation in the alto
gether different office for which he has
been chosen.
1t is certain that as Secretary of State
Mr.. Sherman cannot measure up to the
standard of James G. Blaine, who cast
such a brilliant luster over the last Re
publican administration. 1t is equally
certain, however, that he will give far
more satisfaction 10 the people than the
Democratic Secretaries who preceded and
followed Mr.. Blaine. He will have more
force and more Americanism than Bayard
and Gresham and more experience and
tact than Olney. He will enter upon his
office familiar with all foreign issues now
under negotiation, and, notwiths tauding
his advanced age and prediction for
financial subjects, can be counted on to
direct our foreign affairs, if not brilliantly
at least safely, soundly and periodically.
1t must be borne in mind that while
the Secretary of State is conventionally
regarded as the head of the Cabinet, and is
sometimes spoken of as the American
Premier" he is officially no higher than
other Cabinet officers, and the importance
of his position is determined by the i'm
portance Of the issues which arise for him
TO deal with. a: the present juncture
there seems no grave crisis to confront
Secretary of State unless perhaps one
should arise out of the war IN Cuba, and
the recent course of Mr.. Sherman in the
Sanate gives assurance that he iS fullV
equal to the task OF dealing with that In
way TO maintain the dignity and the well
fare OF the Republic.
The most important place in the new
Cabinet vii! be that of Secretary of the
Treasury. With so many and such i'm
portant economic and monetary questions
TO be solved during the next four years,
the head OF the Treasury Department will
be in the storm center of Amer can poll
tics and the most conspicuous figure in
the Cabinet There is need for a man of
exceptional strength and intellect in that
office. 1t entails even in ordinary times
more exhausting duties than any other in
the Cabinet and at this time will require
vigorous body and rugged health, as well
as a clear head to perform the work 1t is
not surprising that in his old age Mr..
Sherman should have preferred quleter
duties. The country will wait with eager
ness to hear who is to have that response
Bile and arduous office. 1t is the Secretary
of the Treasury who is to deal with the
great issues before the people, and for this
administration at any rate be the head of
the Cabinet, the Premier OF the Govern
ment.