The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-22
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

engaging lne altcTIlOn OF IIeSlQent-
elect Wilson. 1t is an important task
In naming his advisers Mr.. Wilson will
afford the country its first opportunity
to judge him as an executive. The
personnel will be a reflection of his
purposes and policies. A strong Cab
met will mean strong President.
Much of the political misfortune
which has overtaken President Taft has
been due to the weakness of his coun-
Gil. If, from the very beginning of his
administration, President Taft's Cabi-
net had been united, loyal, enthusiastic,
and deeply concerned in the Presidents
political future, the whole course OF
history would have been changed As
matter of fact, the Cabinet seemed to
regard President Tafts struggle for
denomination with indifference, and,
with one or two exceptions, contented
themselves with merely observing the
progress of his campaign for re-elec-
ton. There has been much comment
Throughout the country upon this fact.
1t was difficult for the rank and file
of the party to arouse itself into a
fighting spirit when the leaders close to
the President were evidently lukewarm.
If President Wilson is inclined to
learn wisdom by experience he will
surround himself with men of positive
force and, above all, with adherents of
his own political faith. President Taft
alienated a very large number of his
would-be supporters when, for reasons
best known to himself, he invited Dem
ocrats to his council board President
Wilson must certainly be aware of
this fact, and it is difficult to believe,
therefore, the published reports that his
Cabinet will be a personal and not
political organization. 1t is even init
mated that he will, like President Taft,
go outside of his party for Cabinet
material. If he does the mistake Will
be fatal He cannot plead a lack of
available and competent men. The
woods are full of themS The trouble
ought to be, in fact. to choose between
so many. Not only in public but
in private life, there are scores of
Democrats whose selection would add
strength to the administration They
are to be found in every State.
While Cabinet Office ought not to
be, perhaps. political reward, it is the
custom for President to give one or
two places to those who have rendered
him signal service. Nobody objects to
this practice. The men thus honored
have in the very nature of things dem
onstrated their efficiency and ability,
and are certain TO prove successful in
executive positions. 1t is not at Call
unlikely. therefore, that President Will
son will give a Cabinet place to Chair
man McCombs, who has fully earned
the highest recognition. and it seems
likely that Josephus Daniels, the North
Carolina editor who was literally an
original Wilson man, will also be at
the Cabinet table. Mr. Bryan will be
offered a portfolio, but the general i'm
preston that he will prefer to remain
independent is in line with the judg-
ment expressed long ago in The Wash
ington Herald, From Bryan, whose
name easily leads all the rest, the list
of possibilities dwindles down to men
whose likelihood of securing Cabinet
preferment is confined entirely to the
speculative columns of the daily press. |
There may or may not be foundation
for the report that Mr.. Bryan has
urged Representative Underwood for a |
place in the Cabinet. Apart from the
fact that Mr.. Bryan would be very
glad to see some one else in the po-
sition of chairman of the WAYS and !
Means Communication Underwood's |
ways are not Bryan's ways, and in more
than one political battle Mr.. Under
wood has been victorious-it is quite |
plain that Mr.. Underwood cannot af-
ford to go into the Cabinet. He can
remain in Congress as long as he de-
sires and upon the floor of the House,
as the leader OF the majority. he is a
commanding and attractive figure As
a member of the Cabinet he would lose
his individuality and sacrifice his posi-
ton of power. If he continues to de-
velop in the future as in the past, Mr..
Underwood may well look forward to
the day when his ambition to be Presi-
dent will be fully gratifed. The title of
Cabinet officer could not add to his
distinction. On the other hand, should
he leave the arena in which he now is
so dominant, he would find restriction
and comparative obscurity He would
become a mere appendage instead of
being leader. 1t is impossible to be-
lieve that Mr. Underwood would jeop-
ardize his brilliant future by resigning
from the House.
And the same is true, although per-
haps not in so large degree, of Rep
resentative Burleson of Texas, who is