Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-26
Sensible Men Who Are Learn
ing Well "Hang Of SchoO|hause. !"
All in accord with President Wilson
Who Is Showing His Hand.

uctaltS as 10 the new administrations,
Consequently just now it is somewhat
the turn Of the cabinet 10 undergo
scrutiny
Members of the official family have
been industrious at their desks. The
saving now goes around Washington
that Mr.. Wilson is one of the hardesl
working of Presidents. With all that,
he puts plenty of work upon the mem-
bets Of his cabinet and they have been
bending To it ever since March j.
Some Of them wanted to get away to
arrange their private affairs, because
of the brief notice they had Of noni-
nation to high office. Secretary IF
State Bryan is in the West ON one Of
these winding -up-my- affairs trips. al
though ostensbly his main object was
to attend & birthday dinner at Lincoln.
SECRETARY Of the Treasury McAdpo
flies II NJ York every week end
wear;ed With the opportunities of Of
fee seekers. Secretary of the Navy
Daniels has gone TO his North caro-
lima home 10 attend to private business
and 10 he present at dinner given b.
his fellow citizens. Secretary Of Wat
Garrison has had to make q little in
cursioa 10 his New Jersey home, and
Secretary Of Agriculture Houston has
been going away to St Louis.
The good opinion of the cabinc.
grows. There may not be many great
men in the list, as that term of great
ness is understood. But all Of them
seem 10 be sensible men, thoroughly
in accord with President Wilson's
4 r,arsftYIIn+ tai
their respective tasks, inquirins and
ascertaining. making haste slowly but
surely. There have been no freak
performances. such as might have
been expected in bringing ten men 10
new duties Washington has no laugh
on any of them. No ridiculous incl
dents about the manner in which these
men carry themselves or take 10 their
duties are privately circulating around
the town.
Every man of the cabinet seems 10
he gaining and holding the respect Of
the big official force in his own de.
partment. That is important. In
every department there are scores of
seasoned officials. who know its bust
ness from top . bottom and who have
seen cabinet officials come and ge.
They have seen inefficient men and ef-
ficient men in that category and are
wont to size up new corners rigidly
Views are not publicly expressed, of
course, but the impression made by
new cabinet official upon his own de-
Uartment during the first few weeks OF
his encumhency is duly recorded by
the subordinates. big and little y
affects the morale of the force. Tie
amount and character of the work to
be done is determined thereby to a de-
gree. Just now in every one of the
nine departments (the Department OF
Labor is not organized yeD the chiefs
and the subchiefs and the clerks talk
in the most friendly manner of their
cabinet member. The terrors OF
Democratic administration have been
minimized To many Of these employees,
who all told are over $4,000 in the Dis
trict of Columbia. Stories have cir
culated locally for years that Demo-
cratic administration meant dlre econ
omy and devastation at the seat Oh
government, These have been told
and retold SO much that very many
clerks have come to believe them, par
ticularIy the younger generation. Inc
foundation. of course, is the cuIl1H-
ments in appropriations which Demo
Gratis have generally enforced ana
which, do affect the amount OF money
expended in the city Of Washington.
Three on four members of the capl-
net were very well known here Bryan
had been in Washington so frequently
that there was little strange about ms
reappearance in town as permanent
resident. II did take some ulne'
however. to become accustomed TO Tue
idea OF Bryan as Secretary u
Mr. Bryan seems to have peeolitt
customed to the office more puieN'S
than Washington has become acSua
toned to its new Secretary Oh SUIT
But Postmaster General Buriesoh %
Texas. made the transfer from Setet
in Congress without affecting loe't'
folk materially and there was fraiA-
lin x Lane. who quit his Office III the
Interstate Commerce building on
street and moved down couple =.
blocks to the Interior Depai eiiieis
building. go, ,o+
None of the cabinet officials has 9,s'
turned anything upside down al."ous.'
during this first month oi March 'ie
has been considerable action III cue
Departments as whole. the st'ee
Department has done lot Oh 'liinse,
hut If is, worth while noticlhs .nt's
most of these have eventuateo liol'
the Presidents office. For instance
the statement about our pun
South and Central America pertalhe.'
to the work of the State Department 'il3
but il was announced from President
Wilson'S office. Likewise the S'a.
ment of policy about China II WA, maS
entirely proper that President " .isoi
should handle those matters IN pe's '.','
as he did but after consultation WIN
Secretary Bryan. And the othef Gay
when Assistant Secretary OF s'a..
Huntington Wilson got the mot ioot
for writing an offensive letter TO freSi-
dent wilson. the hot foot came from
the president rather than from 0ecre-
tarv Rrvan who was out of town .
The inside talk about the capines -
esneciallv friendly to Secretary oil war
T, NJ Garrison. This is all the more
I