Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-11-24
when HOWELL
COBB'S PLACE
WAS Shifted
CABINETS CHANGE SUDDENLY
Can't Tell Final Complexion
Of Cabinet In Advance

"All this gossip about the probable
makeup of the Wilson cabinet is in
teresting, as indicating the drift of the
party mind as furnishing straws as to
the relative Importance of men in the
estimation of the general public, as
well, perhaps, as bringing more force
fully to the next presidents attention
the claims of some men whom he
might otherwise overlook But when
it comes to accepting such rumors as
verites it is far different matter.
Cabinets are never made in their fin
ality, / should say until the nomina-
tions go to the Senate"
This was the expression of Capt
John A. Cobb, whose father, Howell
Cobb, one of the most noted of Geor-
gians, served as Secretary of the
Treasury under President Buchanan.
Just for illustration as to the un-
certainties that attend the actual COM
plexion of cabinet" continued Capt.
Cobb, Il might cite the case of my
father. That is an instance showing
that almost to the very last hour there
are always possibilities of changes
necesitating almost a general rear
rangement of the cabinet slate.
MY father" continued Capt. Cobb,
was great admirer of James Buch
anan, president, by the way, to whom
great injustice has been done and of
whose career as a whole the present
generation knows all too little. When
Buchanan became the Democratic can
didate for the presidency my father
took the stump for him in the North
and West That was not quite as COM
mon a practice in those days as now,
many party leaders contenting them
selves with work in their own state or
immediate territory instead of endeav-
ing to exercise a broader influence for
the party success. These services
were appreciated by Mr.. Buchanan, as
well as the position my father held in
Georgia and the South, and with the
party as a national organization When
the election of Mr. Buchanan became
a fact 1t was understood generally that
the Georgian was to become the prem
ier of the incoming cabinet The posi-
tion of Secretary of State was assured
my father, conferences we're held be-
tween him and the president-elect, and
the party had accepted 1t as fixed
fact.
But, and this Is what base my
statement on that cabinet Is never
settled until the nominations are ac-
tually sent in, an event occurred that
brought about radical change, with
out any desire on the presidents part
to have it So Gen. Lewis Cass, the
great Democratic leader of the North
west, and figure of national import
ance for many eyars, was Unexpectedly
defeated in his home state, Michigan,
for the Senate. He was, to use the
parlance of to-day, left outside of the
breastworks and unprovided for His
claims on the party were great, he was
old in the service, as well as in years,
and there was a general feeling of
sympathy for him throughout the
party. Mutual friends came to my
father and practically asked him to
step aside in order that Gen Cass
might become the Secretary of State.
Others went to Buchanan on similar
mission 1t was a somewhat distress
ing situation for the president-elect.
He had promised the Secretaryship of
State to my father. He was not the
man to withdraw promise especially
as his relations with the Georgia lead
er were intimate and highly satisfac-
tory in their nature. My father APP
preciated the situation, realized the
that the president-elect
was subject to, and personally re-
quested that his name be dropped from
consideration or selection and that the
highest honor of the incoming Demo-
cratic administration be rendered the
great Western Democrat.
This was accordingly done, and then
the Secretaryship of the Treasury was
rendered my father and accepted by
him. This probably broke into the
slate arrangements still further. Per-
haps there was general recasting of
the cabinet as a result of this, after II
had been practically all made up. Such
a thing is likely to occur at any time.
So it may be with Mr.. Wilson in his
cabinet making. He may settle on
this man for Secretary of State and
that man for Secretary of War and
some other man for Secretary of the
Navy, and some unforeseen incident
may arise that will compel him to re-
cast the cabinet, So, while we may
as we will, derive lot OF
enjoyment from giving our favorites
the berths we deem them especially
fit for, 1t Is just as well TO bear In
mind that no cabinet Ia definitely set
tied until the last moment. that Is. 80
made that II may not be suddenly