The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-12-26

Washington. d. c., Dec. 26.-Sec-
Rotary Dickinson has set at rest the
rumor that he is to retire from the
cabinet because of disagreement
with President Taft on the question
of military unpreparedness Of the
United States. He is not TO retire,
and he saws so with a degree of en-
phasis that leaves no room for
doubt Nor is Secretary Ballinger
10 retire, Notwithstanding differences
with the President regarding some
phases Of the public lands question
as shown by Mr.. Ballinger's annual
report AMI the Presidents message
to Congress.
Under the American system of
government there is no reason why
either of these two members of the
cabinet should retire. 1t has never
been held in this country that diff
ferences regarding questions of pub
lie policy were sufficient grounds for
retirement from the cabinet, and
both Secretary Dickinson and Secre-
tary Ballinger are well within the
precedents of more than "a hundred
years in saying they are to continue
as cabinet members. In Europe,
however, they do things differently.
In Great Britain cabinet officer
officer would not expect to hold
views differing from the administra-
tion and at the same time retain his
kportfolio.
p 1t is the judgment Of a good many
Fpublic men that the French and the
English systems are better than our
own. In these countries it is not
reflection on minister to be forced
cut of office; in the United States
Il IS When the differences arise in
the cabinets of those countries there
IS at once a cabinet reformation.
No other course would be thought
of The retiring minister retains his
self-respect and the respect of the
country, and it is everywhere eX-
rected that he will hold his conyic-
tionr to be of more value than his
portfolio.
1 Is pOSSlDle tHdI the Ss SlSuio III
France and in England have taken
their we'll known trend because men,
bers of the cabinet have places on
the floor of the popular branch OF
the national legislature, where they
represent in the debates the admin
istration standpoint. 1t is thus i'm
portant therefore that they should at
ali times be in full sympathy with
the entire administration program,
for otherwise their participation in
the debates would serve to weaken
the administration position.
IN the United States the cabinet
officers are not members of the leg
islative branch Of the government.
They serve merely the purpose of
executive agents for the President
in the several great executive de-
partments, and excepting the secre-
tary of the treasury they send moth
ing to Congress, but make their re-
ports to the President, who assumes
full responsibility for their conduct
IL office.
YIn case OF disagreements, as In
IL. Dickinson and Ballinger in
s.ahces, the President is the only
person directly concerned. He has
full charge of his cabinet, and in
case the differences should reach
point where they would threaten to
disturb his policies, resignation of
course would follow. In spite of the
disagreements above referred TO,
both Secretary Dickinson and Secre-
tary Ballinger will be expected to
support the views of Mr.. Taft, and
this of course they will do in every
particular. Their intention TO re-
main in the cabinet is proof of this.