The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-04-04
HIS JUDGMENT FINAL AFTER
HEARING THE OPINIONS OF
THE CABINET.
C0UNSELS OFTEN WITH BRYAN
Dr.. Houston and Franklin X. Lane
inspire Confidence in Their Ability
to Conduct Their Departments
SaneIy and Successfully.
Ry GEORGE CLINTON.

PrOSfeSSlVcS ana DeHlOCldlS " SA'S
the new president the best of it When-
ever there is any seeming reason LOT
doubt as to the wisdom CT his lnten'
tons. One thing members Of congress
are admitting today without any reser-
walton and that is that Mr.. Wilson Is
the chief man in his cabinet and
that while he seeks and accepts ad-
vice, his own judgment when formed
is made to be final.
There are some things which occur
at the presidents council table which
are not kept as solemn secrets. Mr.
Wilson seems to hit it off, with the
| members Of his official family. They
say that he Is modest with his opln'
ions. that he listens readily and urges
speech in order that he may listen
and then then, weighing the fors and
the againsts, he gives his own judg-
mept in way which makes his table
companions know that it is to stand.
Ordinarily cabinet officials do not
|. talk freely about the man who sits a!
the head Of the table. 1t may be that
some of the present members Of the
advisory beard have been moved to
speech by sheer force of surprise. 1t
would be ungratefuI to say that the
cabinet members did not expect to find
in Mr. Wilson the qualities which they
have found in him. It is the truth that
most Of them did not know him we'll
and naturally, they say. they had no
realization Of the forces which lay
within him and which now they say
they have found.
1t has been rumored about Washing
ton for two or three days that Mr..
Bryan was going to take unto himself
authority in matters not within the
scope of the state department. Mr..
Bryan's friends say these rumOrs are
llbels. that he intends to advise when
his advice is asked, and otherwise to
stick strictly to the duties of state. Mr..
Wilson is counselling with Mr.. Bryan
oftener than he is counselling individ-
ually with other members of his cab.
met. but this everybody accepts as the
most natural thing possible. for the
president and the secretary have many
policies in common and 1t is these
policies which the administration must
work out to their logical Legislative
conclusion. " 'aass'
Houston Fits His Position.
1t is not hard now for officials in
Washington to understand why it was
that Mr. Wilson chose such a man as
DE- Houston for his secretary of agri-
culture, overlooking other men in pub
lie life, and who had the farmer
claim" to the position. Most things
today in the department of agriculture
are specialized. A man may have
been farmer al his life, know all
about crops, stock and other things
rural, and yet find himself utterly lost
in the lanes of governmental activi-
ties in the department of agriculture.
There were two or three men men
toned for the position and all of
them were better known to the coun-
try generally than was the man who
finally was called. Every one of those
suggested as likely Of choice was
known as farmer. 1t is not likely
the Democrats say, that any one of
| them could have taken up with thor.
| ough understanding the reports of the
bureau of plant industry, Of the bio
logical survey, Of the forestry bureau
the bureau of soils, or the bureau OF
chemistry and have read them under
standingly, and with knowledge
enough to make judicious comment
thereon and suggestions for improve
ment. The secretary of agriculture
today has to be a specialist as We!
as farmer.
Lane Inspires Confidence.
The department of the interior /.
today place Of specialization. Frank
lin K. Lane. like some of the othe
members of Mr.. Wilson's cabinet il
an idealist. but he has done enough
work. 1t is said. to show that h,
spends little time in dreaming. TIL
federal conservationists, includin
even Clifford Pinchot, say that the,
have every confidence in Secretar
Lane" The conservationists of thi
school have locked into Mr.. Lane
work record and speech record. The
know that he Is a believer in tn
states rights theory, but that h
knows when condition rather tina,
a theory confronts him. Not lon
ago l heard Mr.. Lane make a speech
That speech never was reported an
, never will be. but it was the mos
! sanely and yet actively progressiv
speech that have ever heard an
man save one make.
viii Delay Currency Reform.
There is some doubt yet as [
: whether currency reform legislatio
!, will be attempted at the extra sessio
, in addition to tariff enactments.
! currency is taken up it may be
! will not be finished this summer by
? will go over until next winter
The Democratic leaders are tellin
the president they are afraid of tn
currency. The odds seem to be abou
sixteen to one that it will not be tai
en- up before next December, but it
OF course possible it may secure