Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-03-27
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washingt 0n.-There seems to be ev-
cry desire on the part of Republicans,
Progressiyes and Democrats to give
the new president the best OF it when
ever there is any seeming reason for
doubt as to the wisdom Of his inten-
tons. One thing members of congress
are admitting today without any reser-
walton and that is that Mr.. Wilson is
the chief man in his cabinet" and
that while he seeks and accepts ad-
vice, his own judgment when formed
is made to be final.
There are some things which occur
at the presidents council table which
are not kept IS solemn secrets. Mr..
Wilson seems 80 hit it off, with the
members of his official family. They
say that he is modest with his opin-
ions, that he listens readily and urges
speech IN order that he may listen,
and then then. weighing the fors and
the againstss he gives his own judg-
ment in a way which makes his table
companions know that IL is to stand.
Ordinarily cabinet officials do not
talk freely about the man who sits at
the head of the table. it may be that
some of the present members of the
advisory board have been moved to
speech by sheer force of surprise. 1t
would be uugrateful to say that the
cabinet members did not expect to find
IN Mr.. Wilson the qualities which they
have found In him. It is the truth that
most of them did not know him well
and naturally, they say, they had no
realization of the forces which lay
within him and which now they say
they have found.
1t has been rUmored about Washing
ton for tW0 or three days that Mr..
Bryan was going to take unto himself
authority In matters not within the
scope of the state department. Mr..
Bryan's friends say these rumors are
libels. that he intends to advise when
his advice is asked, ard otherwise to
stick strictly to the duties of state. Mr.
Wilson 10 counse.iing with Mr.. Bryan
oftener than he is counselling individ-
ually with other members Of his cab
met, but this everybody accepts as the
most natural thing possible, for the
president and the secretary have many
policies ia common and it is these
policies which the administration must
work cut TO their logical legislative
conclusion.
Houston Fits His Position.
It is not hard now for officials in
Washington to understand why it was
that Mr.. Wilson chose such a man as
Or. Houston for his secretary of agri-
culture. overlooking other men in pub
Tic life, and who had the farmer
claim" to the position. Most things
today in the department of agriculture
are specialized. A man may have
been a farmer all his life, know all
about crops, stock and other things
rural. and yet find himself utterly lost
in the lanes OF governmental activi-
ties in the department of agriculture
There wsre two or three men men,
toned for the position and all of
them were better known to the coun-
try generally than was the man who
finally was called. Every one of those
suggested as likely of choice was
known as farmer. 1t is not likely,
the Democrats say, that any one Of
them could have taken up with thor
ough understanding the reports of the
bureau of plant industry, of the bio
logical survey, OF the forestry bureau.
the bureau of soils. or the bureau of
chemistry and have read them under
standingly, and with knowledge
enough to make judicious comment
thereon and suggestions for improve
ment, The secretary OF agriculture
today has to be a specialist as we'll
as a farmer.
Lane inspires Confidence.
The department of the interior is
today place of specialization Frank
lin X. Lane, like some of the other
members of Mr.. Wilson's cabinet is
an idealist, but he has done enough
work, it is said to show that he
spends little time in dreaming. The
federal cOnseryationists, including
even Clifford Pinchot, say that thew
have every confidence in Secretary
school have looked into Mr.. Lanes
work record and speech record. They
know that he is a believer in the
states rights theory, but that he
knows when a condition rather than
a theory confronts him. Not long
ago | heard Mr.. Lane make a speech.
That speech never was reported and
never will be, but IL was the most
sanely and yet actively progressive
speech that I have ever heard any
man save one make.
VIII Delay Currency Reform.
There is some doubt yet as to
whether currency reform legislation
will be attempted at the extra session
in addition to tariff enactments. II
currency Is taken up it may be it
viii not be finished this summer. but
viii so over until next winter.
The Democratic leaders are telling
the president they are afraid of the
currency. The odds seem to be about
sixteen to one that 1t will not be TAX
en- up before next December, but it is
OF course possible 1t may secure a
place Representative Carter Glass of
virginia, who will succeed Mr.. Pujo
as chairman OF the banking and chr