The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-15
WOODROW WILSON, PROGRESSIVE

The name of Simmons of North Carolina appears at the
head of the senate committee on finance, as it is published
in the press dispatches. Simmons is a reactionary Of
reactionsries; he is at the head of this important commit
tee by virtue of the old doctrine of seniority which has
governed the senate SO long; for months the progressive
element of his party has sought to upset this doctrine;
the news this morning indicates that they have been sue
lcessful in other lines, even if Simmons stays at the head
Iof this committee.
If the Simmons crowd is as firmly in the saddle as this
situation would indicate, there are hard and troublesome
times ahead for the avoWedly progressive purposes OF
President Wilson. There is no doubt that the general
public sentiment toward Mr.. Wilson's administration is one
of good will and hopeful expectancy. Also, there is a
recognition of the fact that the president has
before him a task of colossal proportions. And the diff
culhes of this task are increased by the presence of Sim
mons at the head of the finance committee.
President Wilson came into office, the choice OF a mi
nority of the voters of the country. Moreover, he came
into office, uttering progressive sentiments and declaring
his purpose to surround himself with progressives only.
RE had behind him a CONSTANT and nearly lifelong record
of action exactly opposite to this declaration, but the pub
lie accepted his assertion and is now waiting for its
fulfillment.
So the country is watching for developments. The ex-
pectant public looks for direct evidence of the sincerity Of
his conversion to progressiveness. Answer in part has
been given by his selection of cabinet officers. In this
respect, certainly, the choice was favorable. 1t has
placed Mr.. Bryan at the head of the cabinet and it is gen.
orally accepted as a fact that the Nebraskan's influence
will extend beyond the state department.
But the departments which furnish the most direct indi-
cation are the interior, the treasury and the justice port
folios. And of these, the interior department is the most
important, tor it deals with the great conservation work so
directly that there is no chance for evasion. There is no
middle course there. Decisions must be either progressive
or reactionary.
In his choice of a secretary of the interior, Mr.. Wilson
was-from the progressive point of view-most fortu-
nate. Mr.. Lane, as a member of the interstate commerce
commission, accomplished more than all others to bring
that commission to a state of high efficiency and to make
it fulfill, as closely as it does, the ideals of the people. He
has already evidenced strong sympathy with progressive
ideas and principles and there is every reason to believe
that he will give the stamp Of progressiveness to his de-
partment. And the same may be said of the new attorney
general and the new secretary of the treasury. Messrs.
McReynolds and McAdoo are expected by those who know
them best, to leave no room for doubt as to the sincerity
of the progressive declarations which the president has
made.
But, again, there is Simmons. Will he be able to block
the plans of the president? He will if he can. He is as
reactionary as Aldrich ever was-but he is not possessed,
they say Of the Aldrich ahilitv