The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-05-26
SOUTH REGAINS SWAY
IN FEDERAL AFFAIRS
Influence in Government More
Pronounced Than Since
Civil War.
SHARES IN BIG OFFICES
Wilson Appointments and New
Committees Reflect
Activity.
SHARES IN BIG OFFICES

dent went through the South urging
Southerners To hasten the day when
they again would take an active and
important part in the conduct OF the
Federal Government. Mr.. Taft was sin
cere In his desire TO see the South at
tain the influential place II occupied
at the national capital before the civil
war but he probably did not anticipate
the fulfilment Of his wishes in just the
way Il has been brought about.
| The South and Southern influences
are more strongly represented In the
Government al Washington than at any
other time since the civil war. Political
observers are beginning 70 realize this
/ more and more as the lists Of appoint
m-nis to the Federal service come from
the White House and the new com
mittee assignments In Congress are
| studied
In the hrst place the Presidency Itself
Is in the hands OF n man Southern born
for the nrst time In nearly half a cen
tury. Woodrow Wilson was born In
Virginia. was graduated from the Uni-
versity OF Virginia, founded by Thoma
Jefferson. and han retained strong
Southern sentiments from his early
| ''"''''"N uhu
Wilson Liberal to south.
In choosing his Cabinet Mr.. Wilson
has been very liberal to tho South.
More Southerners are in charge OF the
big executive departments OF the Gov
| eminent than since back in the sos.
| Grover Cleveland gave only two Of
has Cabinet posts 20 the South IN his
! ret ,tatr l. -.t>
Gus Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar of
Mississippi for his Secretary Of the In
terror and Augustus r. Garland OF Ar
kansas for his Attorney General.
! When Cleveland was elected in 1892.
he gave only three OF tho eight cabinet
places to the South--selecting John q.
/ Carlisle OF Kentucky for Secretary OF
the Treasury. Hilary A. Herbert OF
Alabama for Secretary Of tho Navy
and Hoke Smith Of Georgia for Secre-
| tary OF the Interior.
Three OF the ten men in President
Wilson'S Cabinet are credited directly
to Southern States. two others were
born and have lived mos, Of their lives
in the South and one .s from a border
State
Josephus DAnislA Secretary Of the
Navy. comes from North Carolina:
James c. McReynoldA tho Attorney
General. Ia from Tennessee. and Albert
$. Burleson. the Postmaster General is
Texan.
McAdOo . southernep.
The Secretary Of the Treasury. Will
| lam G. McAdoo. is credited to New York
state, but It requires only Il slight
stretch Of memory TO recall tho time
when h" entered New York city fresh
from Georgia with nothing TO build on
save one big idea and plenty OF pluck
David r. Houston. Secretary OF Agri-
culture, not only comes from Missouri
"A border State. but is a Southerner by
birth and training He was born In
North Carolina was graduated from the
south Carolina College and was pres.-
dent of the University Of Texas before
he became chancellor OF Wsshlngt on
University IN ST. Louis.
A, cont0 sted with this impressive list
Of SouthWn Cabinet officers. Mr. Tafts
| off'cial fonily contained at the close OF
his Administration not IA single man
who was credited to a Southern State
The nearest approach tn II was Charles
Narel OF 81. Louis. who was Secretary
Of Commerce and Labor. He was
native OF Texas. At the beginning Of
his Administration. President Taft gave
the War portfolio to Jacob MEG. Dick
!nson, a Tennessee Democrat. but Dick.
inson resigned before the four years
were up
Also Get Minor Places.
The recent growth OF Southern in
iiuence in high places also is plainly
reflected IN the character OF minor ap-
puintments. 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 selections,
high or low. He has tried to base his
appointments solely on merit and has
passed out the nominations impart,ally
to North and South However, the
fact that there have been 70 few
Southerners in important OFFICES under
Republican administration has served
10 emphasize tho selections that Mr..
Wilson has made from this part OF the
country
In the Treasury Department, Gecrs-
tary McAdoo has drawn on the South
for assistance which In years gone al
most invariably has como from northern
States. usually from the big money
centres. like New York city. When Il
came to selecting his first assistant, tho
man who handles the finances Of the
Government, chiefly in It's relations
with tho banks. Mr.. McAdoo turned TO
Virginia and captured John Shelton
Williams, high class banker
From North Carolina.
The administration OF the Internal
Revenue Bureau Is in the hands Of a
Southerner also. William II. Osborn Of
North Carolina has been appointed by
President Wilson 10 succeed Royal Il.
Cabell.
In the Department Of Justice tho first
assistant Is James A. Fowler Of Ten
nessee. who was with the Wickersham
administration. Mr.. McReynolds has
retained him.
One Of the most important appoint-
ments in the South that the President
has yet made was that OF William J,
Harris OF Georgia 10 succeed II, Dana
Durant OF California as Director of the
Census. Mr.. Harris was chairman OF
tho Georgia State Democratic Conn
mittee and has been an active political
| factor IN that State for several years.
1t II Acknowledged that he In "a na hla