The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1906-07-14
ARE LITTLE KNOWN
NAMES OF CABINET OFFICERS
NOT HOUSEHOLD WORDS.
And Really to the Great Mass Of the
People of the Country It Matters
Little Who Occupy the
Positions.

How many people there are in the
country who do not know anything
about what in Washington is thought
is essential information. Not long
since delegation from New Jersey
was visiting the capital. They were
$Fell-to-do, intelligent looking people,
and seemed to be class that ought to
know considerable about our govern
ment end its institutions. The party
was gathered in the treasury depart
ment waiting to see the secretary.
One who seemed to be somewhat IA
m1liar with the city pointed to the
magnificent shaft that is prominent
from every point of view and said it
was an obelisk that had been brought
here at great expense. So much for
the Washington monument. Inquiry
was made as to whose statue was To-
Gated in front of the building, and
when told that it was Gen. Sherman's,
the identity of the great civil war gen.
eral had to be explained. Then, turn
Ing to gentleman standing near, this
p'lrveyor Of information asked who
was secretary OF the treasury, and was
Informed it was Leslie M. Shaw.
We'll, didn't know but what 1t was
Taft"
When Secretary Shaw was told
about this, he related an occurrence
that took place in Iowa. 1t was at a
gathering of educators, an association
of some kind where all were supposed
to be well informed. A question arose
as to something in current history,
and there was a wrong answer given.
One OF the gentlemen in referring to
the lack Of knowledge, said that It
was really deplorable, but not wholly
inexcusable, as he would venture to
say III the convention Of educators
there was mot a person that would un-
dertake to name correctly the presi-
dent and members of his cabinet, and
no one made the attempt.
In this connection 1t is said that
Postmaster General Cortelyou recently
received two letters on the same day.
one addressed to Wilson S. Bissell,
Postmaster General" and the other ad-
dressed to William L. Wilson, Post
master General" Both held the posi-
ton in CIeveland's last administra-
ion.
1t Is not SO strange, however, that
people should not know all these facts
or current history. Probably thew
ought to know the names of the cab
met, but thOusands-yes, milliOns-do
not care about the names of the pres
ident's cabinet. They say: why bur
den our minds with things that do not
concern us?" And there is a great
deal in that. 1t is not often that the
average man has anything whatever
to do with q cabinet officer. If he
wants to transact business with the
government he can do so by writing
TO the department rather than the
cabinet officer. But very few persons
have any such business relations with
the government. If they have a salts
factory postmaster in the smaller
towns, and a satisfactory mail carrier
system in the larger towns, they do
not care who is postmaster general,
You can't make people take vital in
teIcSI III luillSS CndC 90 not come uQ-
der their observation or are not q
part of their daily life. The business
man has something to think about be-
sides politics. We laugh at the man
who cannot tell who represents him in
congress, but many people have no
relations with their congressman
whatever. 1t is simply a case of en-
viron1nent. A good road overseer in
the country is of more Importance to
the average farmer than either cab
met officer or a congressman. 1t is
more to him to have fair and com
petent assessor than to have the best
man in the country for his senator in
congress. To the city man a good al
derman and intelligent school officials
are far more to him than the supreme
court and the methods of the United
States government. 1t is not at all
surprising, therefore, that there are
great many people in this great ma
ton OF ours that are not at all ia
miliar with the names Of officials OF
our government
Clark Wo,,1dp,& THO IL N1,,~,..