Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-05-30
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THE SOUTH REeAINs SWAY
Influence in Federal Government
Greater Than Since Civil War.

L
Mr.. Taft as president went through
the south urging southerners to mas
item the day when they again wouie
take an active and important part IL
the conduct of the Federal govern
ment. Mr.. Taft was sincere in his De
sire TO see the south attain the IN
| fiuential place it occupied at tn
national capital before the Civil war
but he probably did not anticipate
the fulfilling of his wishes In just tne
way II has been brought about.
The south and southern influences
are more strongly represented in the
government at washington than a.
any other time since the Civil war
Political observers are beginning te
realize this more and more as the lists
of appointments to the Federal ser.
vice come from the White House ano
the new committee assignments III
congress are studied.
In the first place the presidency
itself is in the hands Of a man SOUTH
ern born for the first time in nearly
half a century. Woodrow Wilson was
born in Virginia, was graduated from,
the University of Virginia, founded by
Thomas Jefferson, and has retained
strong southern sentiments from his
early training and surroundings.
In choosing his cabinet, Mr.. Wilson
has been very liberal to the south
More southerners are in charge OF the
big executive departments of the gov
ernment than since back In the '6os.
The recent growth Of southern IN
huence in high places also is plainly
reflected in the character Of minor apT
pointments. Southerners have been
coming in for a large share Of these
although northern Democrats have no
ground for grumbling on this score.
Sectionalism has played no part
with the president in making his Sc
lections, high or low. He has tried 10
base his appointments solely on
merit and has passed out the nomi-
nations impartially to north and
south. However, the fact that there
have been 80 few southerners In I'M
portant offices under Republican ad-
ministration has served to emphasize
the sectionalism that Mr.. Wilson has
made from this part Of the country. =
In the treasury department, Secre-
tary McAdoo has drawn on the south
for assistance which in years gone al
most invariably has come from north
ern states usually from the big money
centres, like New York city. When II
came to selecting his first assistant
the man who handles the finances OF
the government, chiefly in its relations
with the banks, Mr.. McAdoo turned to
Virginia and captured John Shelton
williams, a high-class banker.
The administration Of the internal
revenue bureau is in the hands OF q
southerner also. William a.. Osborn
of North Carolina, has been appointed
by President Wilson to succeed Roy
al E. Cabell. "
In the department Of justice the
first assistant Is James A. Fowler OF
Tennessee, who was with the Wicker
sham administration. Mr.. McRey-
nolds has retained him. 'l.r..
OF the most important. appoint
ments in the south that the president
has vet made was that Of William j.
Harris of Georgia, to succeed =. Dana
Durand of California, as director OF
the census. Mr.. Harris was chairman
of the Georgia state Democratic COM
mittee and has been an active political
factor in that state for several years.
1t is acknowledged that he is capable
and efficient, but his nomination has
been attacked by the Republicans
more bitterly than any other.
The Republicans say Mr.. Durand
was a college professor before he en-
tered the government service and was
thoroughly equipped as an expert to
give the best possible service. MT.
Wilson, however, believed that an Of
flee of this character, which takes the
census Of American industries, should
be in charge Of a man who is thor
oughly in sympathy with the admin
istration's tariff and other policies.
Mr.. Wilson's most important diplo-
matte appointment also has gone to q
southerner by birth. Walter H. Page,
the newly appointed ambassador to
the court Of st. James, is credited to
New York, but was born in North
Carolina.
Among the other important ap-
pointments that have gone to the
south are Robert w. Wooley Of Vir-
ginia, to be auditor of the interior de-
partment; James L. Betty Of Mis-
souri,, to be auditor of the war de-
partment; Ernest Lester Jones OF
Virginia, to be deputy commissioner
Of the bureau of fisheries; Alexander
R. Magruder Of Maryland, to be secre-
tary of the legation at Copenhagen;
Charles A. Wood Of South Carolina,
TO be United States circuit judge Of
the Federal circuit; Edward K. Camp
bell of Alabama, to be chief justice
Of the court Of claims; Lucius @. c..
Lamar of Mississippi, to be recorder
of the general land office, and Henry
S. Breckenridge Of Kentucky, to be
assistant secretary Of war.
In addition to this, Cato Sells, the
Democratic national committeeman
from Texas, is about to be named In
dian commissioner.
In the United States senate the
chairmanships of all the important
committees except three are in the
hands of southern senator's. The
three exceptions are the committee on
interoceanic canals, Senator O'Gor-
man of New York, chairman; the
committee on interstate commerce,
Senator Newlands Of Nevada. chair
man, and the committee on rules,
Senator Kern Of Indiana, chairman.
The chairmanships Of the three big
IAA M