The Detroit times., 1909-01-28
FARMERS ASK TAFT
To KEEP WILSON
IN CABINET
PRESlDENT-ELEcT WILL AccEDE
TO RURAL DEMAND, SAYS Al
FRED HENRY LEWIs-VENER.
ABLE SECRETARY Is IL.
BY ALFRED HENRY LEWIS.


has not languished Tor ADVISERS.
Among the latter the most majestic
figures have been Mr. Lodge. Mr..
Knox. Mr.. Hitchcock and Mr. liam
mond. This deep quartet or counsel
are now TO be augmented by the add
ton OF the farmers OF the land, OF
whom. putting 1t modestly, there are
u round 100000
The farmers are beginning TO stir
I'm the cause OF Secretary Wilson They
want him retained as secretary Of
agriculture. They are declaring that
cabinet preference In cataract OF
letters. All of which are addressed to
Mr.. Taft. About two tons OF these
rnissives from the cornfieds will be
waiting for him when he returns from
Panama,
My own thought is that Mr.. TAFT
will accede to the ruror demand. True.
he has planned otherwise; but Mr..
Taft is no one 10 stick 10 a plan in
the stark face OF peril.
The farmer Is patient. but revenge
full. He doesn't want many things,
but what few he wants he wants bad
ly. Also he has plenty of time to think
about his wrongs.
II he be refused, II that cabinet pref
erence be put aside. rest secure that
the farmer, thus politically denied,
will get enough OF somebody's hide TO
make most commodious saddle COW
er.
Why, so far as the agricultural de-
partment is concerned, should not the
farmer have his cabinet way? The
department is his: he should be given
voice In its direction. Besides, Mr..
Wilson has made best cabineteer
He is "A years old. but the rings on
his venerable horns have In nowise
prevented him from sending out az
many garden seeds as the most ac
lively youthful OF his predecessors.
With Mr.. Taft, as with all new pres
idents. the great thought Is to upbuild
unto himself machine Being elect
ed once, he desires 10 be elected
twice, and this latter must be seen
to.
Mr.. Wilson wss never much OF
managing politician. His seventy-four
years have rendered him less so than
ever AS a machine element he could
not be looked TO for much. Wher-
fore. the Lodges, the Knoxes. the
Hitchcocks, the Hammonds. saw no
That portfolio might better go into
younger, more hustling, hands, from
which convention returns would be
sure TO flow In the guise Of state dele
cations. And so 1t was settled; Mr.
Wilson must 60
Mr.. Wilson Panteth for Place.
| Mr.. Wilson was all the time yearn-
ing to stay Why should he not? He
might as properly wish to remain in
the cabinet as might Mr.. Taft to go
into the White House. Also you wound
slump into error were you to fancy
that Mr. Taft Is being thrust into the
presidency against his desire-drag-
ged in, as it were, by the unwilling
and protesting horns.
No, Mr.. Wilson's right to banker for
portfolio is as perfect as is Mr.
Talt's 10 banker for presidency. Hav-
ing settled which, 1t only remains to
say that Mr. Wilson does banker for
1t. even as the worn hart panteth for
the water brook
Moreover. now the farmers-via the
mails-are f1ocking to his back, there
is little or less doubt but Mr. Wilson
Will get II.
While no farmer myself was, and
once is enough for mel hope that
Mr. Wilson will have his ambition full
filled Back a quarter of century ago,
when Gen. Grant lay dying at Mount
McGregor, a bill was pending before
congress TO restore him to his old
rank at the head OF the army. The
great soldier lay on his bed OF death;
speed was necessary or IL would be
forever too late.
The Democratic minority in the
| house where the bill was being con-
sidered. with that good sense and
good taste which have SO frequently
distinguished II, was resolved by fili-
buster and every mean method OF par
| lianentary flimflam to fritter away
the days until the generals death
should OF itself Kill the bill 1t was a
most noble program, and the Demo-
Gratis cast about for ways and means
10 carry II out.
Democrats Hunted for Blockade.
What the Democrats needed was an
election contest case. Under what
house rules then prevailed a seat con
test had precedence over measures
such as that restoring Gen. Grant To
the army
There was but one contest case on
! the calendar. Secretary Wilson was u
member OF the house, and the Demo.
crat whom he defeated had contested
/ his seat There was no question but
what Mr. Wilson had been squarely
elected. He had ballot beaten that
| Democrat as fiat as a field OF turnips
Wherefore. there was no more chance
of unseating him than of unseating
the pyramids.
The Democrats called up the case
| OF Mr.. Wilson's contested seat
Their purpose was apparent II stood
/ patent TO everybody from speaker to
page
I And vet the scheme promised sue
/ cess There were the house rules
4 There was 40 way TO head those high
minded Democrats OF Likewise the
disposal OF a contest case was never
( the task OF woment.
/ MIR Wilson, like the others, saw
through the mean strategy He took
! the one way TO foil IL, took Il without
hesitation. He claimed recognition
from the chair. Having obtained IT,
hp Instantly resigned his seat In the
house
Nj Wilson gave up his place as rep.
( resentative that the Grant bill might
pass And il did pass. For with that
contest case wiped on the books by
I the Wilson resignation the Democrats
were left no raw material whcrefrum
To weave delay.
"
The Bank OF England Is experiment.
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