The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-03-06
4 western Republican, Paper Tells the
President What He Needs.
FFon TIRE CAicaro Trisrne.

me auminIstFa ton has fallen into din-
culties in many directions. It is evident
the administration is In urgent need OF
+ Judicious advisers. BY advisers We do
/ mol mean editors Of newspapers, but men
who have had experience in public life.
/ The President should consult more fire.
quently than he seems TO have done men
VINO know something about legislation
and know Il by experience in legislative
or executive Offices. They should be men
who have served in a city council or a
State legislature, if not In Congress; and
men, too, who are not so far removed
from the people as to be ignorant of their
/ sentiments and emotions. Much used 10
be said of the Presidents purpose to keep
his ear near the ground" IL his ear
has been near the ground" of late it has
not been IN close relations with American
soil
The Republican majority In the Senate
has appointed a steering committee, ="
made up of its most judiciOUS members.
That committee has assumed control of
legislation in the Senate, and TO a certain
extent in the lower branch. While Re
publican Senators have picked out as adj
viSerS the persons in whom they justly
have the most confidence. the President
has trusted too much 10 men who have
not had experience IN public life, and
whose immature opinions have led him
astray.
Instead of sticking resolutely and firmly
/ to his original and righteous views re-
garding some great questions, the Presi-
dent has been persuaded by incompetent
advisers to abandon those views. He was
right in the first instance as to Porto
Rico. Had he stood by his own sound in
buttons he would De now one of the most
popular men In the United States.
Unhappily, he was induced to abandon
his convictions and give up an impreg-
nable position at the instance Of a few
special interests or of possibly disinterest-
ed but altogether ill-informed advisers.
Nor is that all! He was induced to bring
his influence to bear upon Representatives
to get them into line" He sent for re-
calcitrant members and absolutely en-
treated them 10 vote, against their con-
victions and against the wishes of their
constituents. for a measure which he him
self at the outset strongly and properly
oppOsed-a hill which few in the face of
his own positive recommendations to Con-
gress. There are some Republicans who
cannot turn corners as sharply as the
President can, and they are not sorry for
The President, without needing to do II,
has assumed the whole responsibility for
the passage by the House of the manned,
mutilated, crippled, and inadequate Porto
Rico bill, a measure which eventually will
be repudiated by both Houses of Con-
gress. He might have kept his hands off
and let the House work out It's own sal
walton in fear and trembling" and have
looked to the Senate and a conference
committee for judicious legislation on the
subject
A storm is gathering. The House Porto
Rico measure will have TO be sacrificed
1t Is scarcely supported by anybody. The
three newspapers in Chicago which have
stood by the President are against him
in this matter So is the indianapolis
Journal while all Indiana is In a tumuit
and fermer1t over it. 1t is evident that
the feeling against the House bill is be-
coming more intense. The only mode of
allaying it is for laundering leaders to adj
nit they have led the party from its
true course and promise an immediate re-
turn to safer ways.
There is need Of a judicious steering
committee" in the House. There is still
greater need Of a pilot in the Cabinet.
There IS great need Of fresh material
thereof men who are rot amateurs in
politics, but who are experienced in pub
lie life, who are trained in the arts of
craftsmanship, and VINO know the temper
of Congress and of the people Men who
are destitute of these qualifications, who
are Influenced by social considerations in
Washington, and who deem It the acme of
human felicity to be asked to dine with
the British Ambassador are not fit con-
stitutional advisers for an American Pres
ident. He should have at his council
board men who look at American inter-
ests from an American point OF view.
That is what is needed. The sooner that
need is met the better. If President Nc
Kinley wishes to retain the confidence of
the public he will bring into his Cabinet
before long advisers more sagacious than
some of those he has there now. Other
wise the feeling will go abroad that the
administration is nerveless, spineless. and
without convictions, adopting good poll
cies only 70 abandon them at the dictatiOn
of incompetent advisers.