The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1913-03-27
our WASHINGTON LETTER.

President wilson mas Deen IN Oi-
flee hardly long enough as yet to
enable him to give any definite line
upon the course his administration
will follow. There is no doubt
that the general sentiment towards
his administration is one of good
will and hopeful expectancy. There
is widespread recognition Of the
fact that the task before him is OF
colossal proportions. He knows
that he comes into his high office
as the choice of a decided minority
of the voters of the country. More
over, he comes into office proclaim
ing himself a progressive. uttering
progressive sentiments and declar-
ing his intention TO surround him
self with progressives only. but
with a consistent and nearly life
long record of action and utterance
diametrically opposite to his more
recent profession.
The first question. therefore, to
which the expectant country de-
mands response Is as to the gen.
uineness of his conversion to pro-
gressivism. Answer in part to
that question Is naturally sought In
the character of the men he has
chosen as his cabinet advisors. As
far as this selection affords answer
to the question, it is favorable. He
has placed Mr. Bryan at the head
of his cabinet. If Mr.. Bryan's
activities in the administration are
to be limited to the State Depart
ment only, his selection will have
no special force in determining the
progressive or non-progressive char
acter of the administration, for the
work of the State Department bears
but slightly upon domestic affairs.
1t is the general impression. how
ever, that Mr.. Bryan's influence will
be felt outside the restricted limits
of his own Department.
The Departments whose conduct
will furnish the best line upon the
true purpose of the administration
are those of Justice. the Treasury
and the Interior. with the last nam
ed probably most important in this
respect. For it ia in the Interior
Department that the great conser-
vation questions come up constant
ly on which there is no possibility
of avoiding the issue. The line
between progressivism and reaction
is more sharply drawn on these con-
servation questions than on any
other. There is no middle ground.
Decisions there must be either pro-
gressive or reactionary.
Mr.. Wilson is fortunate in hav-
ing the support and srevice Of
Department. Mr.. Lane, as men,
Der of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, accomplished more
than all others to bring that Com
mission to the high state of effic-
iency 1t has attained and to make
it fulfill so largely as it does the
popular idea of what it should be.
Mr.. Lane has already evidenced
strong sympathy with progressive
principles and there is substantial
reason for expecting him to hew
sharply to the line in his work In
the Interior Department.
The Pesident is also fortunate in
his selection of Mr.. McReynolds as
and of Mr.. Nc
Adoo for the Treasury Department
The Department of Justice. like
that of the Interior. meets prob
lens the solution of which impera-
lively demands a practical applica-
tion of progressive principles. The
genuine progressives of the country
will watch this Department eagerly
for developments, especially in re-
gard to dealing with trusts and cor
porations-that will show conclus-
lively whether the administration
purposes to take a genuinely pro-
gressive National attitude toward
the trust problem or to be content
with a pseudo-progressive but real
ly reactionary States right course.
The course Of the Treasury De-
partment, and that of the Depart
ment of Commerce as well. also will
be watched eagerly for develop
ments that may furnish in part an
answer to this same question.
These are questions the answers
to which can be found only in the
acts Of the administration. Such
preliminary indications as there are
tend to justify the hope that the
answer when given will be favor
able.
Upon the recommendation of J.
A. Falconer, WashingtOns new Pro-
gressive Congressman, John Hayes
Jenkins, of Bellingham. has been
appointed to a cadetship at the An
napolis naval academy.