Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-06-22

unlmpOrt0nce OF the cabinet has been
emphasized. The theory that a cabinet
officer must be, first Of all, an efficient
administrator Of his department. has
developed with the, increase and multi
plcation of the duties Of the depart
ment itself. Experience, however, has
SHOWN that this departure from the |
original intention has been attended by
a distinct loss in the character of the
cabinet Men have been introduced IN
to it. not under Mr.. Roosevelt alone, |
who a generation ago would not have
been dreamed of for the high and i'm |
portant place Of adviser to the presi- |
dent. Under him, however, the descent
has been increasingly swift.
The cabinet Of the president of the
United States, like the British cabinet. |
is unknown to the law. No provision
OF the constitution requires the presi-
dent to have a cabinet. He must ap-
point heads of the departments, and he
may call upon them whenever he de-
stres for their opinions in writing. He
takes advantage Of his opportunity
when he combines the heads Of the de-
partments into a political family with
whom he can consult on questions Of
Importance. There is nothing illegal tn
the presidents going on In his own
way or without the advice of his min
listers or any one else. There is no
legal or constitutional reason why he
should not advise directly with the
subordinates of the various cabinet
officers. In this respect the American
is wholly unlike the British cabinet
for the latter governs and the crown
must accept the decisions Of It's minis
tiers. y = =
Thoroughly good government in a
democracy cannot be had without
close and friendly and proper relations
between the executive and the legfs-
lative departments. Such relations are
sought in II way on the other side Of
the water. Under our own system
they must be obtained through the IN
fuence exercised by the men who are
at the head of the departments, influ-
| ence due both to their character and
to their party standing. Nothing can
| so injure or a so readily prevent the
| establishment Of such influence as to
belittle the Importance Of cabinet Off
| GERS as advisers by making them the
mere administrative heads Of their va
| rious offices. The result Of this sort Of
treatment of the members Of the cabi-
net is seen in the attitude Of congress
to them. The cabinet has no longer
any impressiveness. Mr.. Roosevetts
own cabinet is not a political entity.
Its members cannot be said to consti-
tute his political family. Their advice
is not sought, and their opinions,
whether they agree or disagree with
the president, are treated as If they
were of no importance.
The advisers Of the president used
to be considered to be of large Inn
portance in that capacity, but now
they are advisers merely in name and
form. not in reality. They differ from
one another and still remain in the
cabinet. = Il "
Mr.. Hays advice is usually taken in
foreign affairs, sometimes it is not. 1t
ia unlikely that he was consulted in
regard to Panama. 1t is known that
he was ignorant at the time Of its ex-
ecution of the Santo Domingo so cali
ed protocol of Jan. 20. Most of the
members of the cabinet are rarely II
ever asked to give their opinions on the
political policy Of the administration
Among this majority are Secretary
Hitchcock, Secretary Wilson, Secreta'
ry Shaw, Secretary Metcaff and Sec
retary Morton. Secretary Hay is not a
close adviser of the president Oh gen
eral matters, but Secretaries Taft and
C%ortelyou and Attorney General Moo
DIV are echoes of the president. These
come as heal as any to being advisers
They are like the cabal OF Charles IL
mr. like the 'king's friends Of George
III.
We have a little interior cabinet
which is at least talked to-, but the
cabinet meeting is no longer heh Iol
the purpose of discussing the large al
fairs or SCuUG. SdiD11fCt ~
longer chosen in order that the pFesi
dent may have at his service the h1gn
est ability and the richest experience
of the leaders Of his party. The cap
met meeting itself has become almost
an idle form, at which small details o.
the current business Of administrator
are considered. Then the president, !
ia said. asks his four friends or one o.
two or three Of them to remain after
ward and to listen to his views OF
some phase Of his policy. This IS no
J. the kind Of government which we uset
to have, and it is doubtful If we s1al
always like the rule of Il man WIN
out real and influential advisers. II Il
indeed doubtful if the o
the cabinet, its loss of influence ah'
NJ nosition. is consistent with our svs
rom of government. Executive action
after advice is pretty nearly as 1h'pol
: tant as legislation after delfberatioh"-
Boston Herald.
TRUSTS and the Tariff.
, II the tariff Is let alone the TRUST
. don't much care about the mVestls'