The Washington herald., 1911-02-19
BY JAMES b. MORROW.

Cabinets are formed by rule, as bridges
arc built from specifications. Each crisis
demands a peculiar combination Of tai
ents' and personalities.
Lincoln chose conspicuous anti-slavery
leaders to be his counselors. McKin-
ley. elected 10 the Presidency during
hard times, sought to impress the imagi-
nation of business with the names Of
financiers, merchants, bankers and man
ufacturers. Taft grouped about him a
company of great lawyers. The names
of some of them were strange to the
people, and carried no meaning or mes
sage outside of their profession.
But Taft expected an administration
of litigation and adjustment He over
looked the rudimentary fact that every
administration. no matter what may hap
pen, is also political. Not political in
the arts of management and strategy,
but in a sympathetic knowledge of hu-
man nature. The rumor, therefore, that
Thomas Henry Carter, of Helena in
Montana, is to come into some kind of
confidential relationship with the Presi-
dent perhaps as Secretary of the In
terror, throws beam of new light
whether the rumor be true or not-across
the threshold of the White House. It
is suggestive, at least, of what should
occur. considering Carter as type and
not as a person.
Helped Support Family.
Carter. a wholesome friendly, DID
fashioned and seasoned man, is a con-
servative. He admits the classification.
II is possible that he chews tobacco. Any
way, he knows the people. Broadly, his
life may be separated into three parts.
AS boy of sixteen he supported two sis
ters and a young brother and helped an
other brother who was reading medicine.
Chronologically. that part is first Aside
from time and everything else, it is first
on its merits. There is a burden-bearer
in every family. Sometimes the bearer
of the burden is a woman.
Secondhand now the division becomes
timely and intereSting-Carter was Ben
jamin Harrison's pre-convention manager
when Harrison was a candidate for Presi-
dent the last time. Also, Carter man
aged Harrison after the nomination. So,
Carter is politician and an able one, al
though Cleveland vas elected.
Finally, Carter has served in both
branches of Congress and has worked dill
igently and intellgently with great Ques-
tiOnS. incidentally. on one occasional
the request of William Mckinley, l
imagine-he talked in the Senate from
1880 o'clock at night until noon of the
day following. and defeated a river and
harbor bill appropriating $5O0Oo,OO0. At
that Thomas Henry Carter is not
wordy man. Both of his parents were
Irish. living twelve miles apart during
childhood. only to become acquainted in
Virginia, where they fell in love and were
married. Thus. he has a natural and
piquant flow of language, but he omits
flights and steadfastly keeps on the
ground among the facts.
Our Government Is Best.
NO government is absolutely perfect"
he said. in summing up his long expe-
rience in the House and Senate, but
our government is the best the world
has ever known.
L am one of those who believe that
our country is more honestly governed
than has any country been governed
since the beginning of civilization. Dis
honesty is impossible where there is an
alert, fearless. and outspoken daily press.
a direct democracy must have agents.
No direct democracy has ever existed
for long. Men in the past have thought