The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-07-12
Strange Advisors.

CommOner writes; | write you to
request that You print in The Com
moner brief summary of Presi.
dent Roosevelt's cabinet appoint
ments, commenting on each as to
his former business affiliations and
environment. My memory is not
very good, but my recollection is
that practically all his cabinet
appolntees, including the present
cabinet. especially those who have
directly to do with the enforcement
of law against trusts, railroads, etc.
are men who have been for years
previous to their appointment en-
gagged in and upon the pay roll of
trusts, railroads, etc, aud thar the
same is very largely trne of his
appointees for district attorneys
aud judges. If he is sincere in his
desires to compel trusts, railroads,
ETC., to treat people fairly as he
seems to be upon the surface, and
as many people believe him to be,
he should cease appointing that
class of men to office. ! have read
in The Commoner, from time to
time, comments upon individual
appointees along this line, but il
occurs to me that if a column or
two in the Commoner were devoted
to the subject as a whole it would
serve good purpose for the en-
lightment Of thepeople."
MIR. Roosevelt has not been par.
ticularly fortunate, so far as an
anti monopoly program is concern
ed, in the selection Of his official
advisors. 1t will be remembered
that Senator Culberson of Texas
objected to Mr. BOnpurte's conflr-
nation us attorney general because
of n speech delivered several years
ago ut Chicago, wherein he plainly
showed that he had no prcjudices
against the trust system. Ellhu
Root, secretary of state, was for
years one Of the most successful of
the great corporation lawyers, and
is believed to stand very close to
some of the representatives of spe-
cial interests. Mr. Straus, the see
rotary OF commerce and labor, is
identified with New York business
interests, having been connected
with mercantile firm there. 10
recent years most of his time has
peen spent in public office Mr..
Metcalf, secretary of navy, was
California lawyer aud member Of
Congress. lie was not particularly
noted for any strong anti monopoly
tendency. Mr.. Meyer, the post
master general, has since 1900 held
office in the diplomatic service.
He is Unidentified with the business
interests of Boston, being director
IN Il large number of local corpora
tons and banks. Mr.. Garfield,
the secretary of interior, practisrd
law ut Cleveland, Ohio. He 1t.
was who gave the beet trust the IA
mons immunity bath. Mr.. Taft,
secretary of war, has held appoint.
i've Office nearly all his life. Tn.
til he entered the cabinet he owed
his political prelerment TO the For
akcr influence III Ohio. He has
never been particularly demonstra
tive against the special interests. |
Mr.. Cortelyu began his public life
as a stenographer under the Cleve.
land administration and with the
details of his rapid rise everyone is
familiar.
Mr.. Roosevelt certainly is not |
greatly aided in his fight against
monopoly by the fact that there i,
not a member of his cabinet from
whom, judged by his record aud |
early environment. the president
could expect cordial sympathy and |
enthusiastic aid in real fight |
apniust monopoly The Commouer