The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1913-03-27
WILSON THE CHIEF.
HIS JUDGMENT FINAL AFTER
HEARING THE OPINIONS OF
THE CABINET.
coUNsELS OFTEN WITH BRYAN
Dr.. Houston and Franklin x. Lane
inspire Confidence In Their Ability
to Conduct Their Departments
Sanely and Successfully.
Rx GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington-There seems to be ev.
cry desire on the part of Republicans, |
Progressives and Democrats to give |
the new president the best of 1t when
ever there is any seeming reason for
doubt as to the wisdom of his inten- |
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 opin-
ions, that he listens readily and urges
speech in order that he may listen,
and then then, weighing the fors and
the againsts, ne gives his own judg-
ment 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 at
the head of the table. 1t may be that
some of the present members of the
advisory board have been moved to
speech by sheer force of surprise. 1t
would be hngrateful to say that the
cabinet members did not expect to find
in Mr.. Wilson the qualities which they
have found in him. 1t is the truth that
most of them did not know him well
and naturally, they say. they had no
realization of the forces which lay
within him and which now they say
| they have found.
| It has been rumored about Washing
! ton for two or three days that MI,
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
! libels, 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 1ndivld-
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.
Houston Fits His Position.
It is not hard now for officials IN
Washington to understand why 1t was
that Mr.. Wilson chose such man as
Dr. Houston for his secretary OF agri
culture, overlooking other men In pub
lie life, and who had the farmer
claim" to the position. Most thing:
today in the department of agriculture
are specialized. A man may have
been a farmer all his life, know al
about crops, stock and other things
rural. and yet find himself utterly los
in the lanes of governmental act1v1
ties in the department OF agriculture
There were two or three men men
toned for the position and all
them were better known to the coun
, try generally than was the man Wh'
finally was called. Every one OF thos
suggested as likely of choice wa
!, known as a farmer. 1t Is not likely
the Democrats say, that any one Q
them could have taken up with thol
! ough understanding the reports of tn
bureau Of plant industry, OF the Dc
@ logical survey, of the forestry bureau
the bureau of soils, or the bureau q
= chemistry and have read them under
/ standingly, and with knowledg
I enough to make judicious commen
thereon and suggestions for improve
| ment. The secretary of agricultur
| TODAY has to be a specialist as we
rs farmer.
| Lane inspires Confidence.
| The department of the interior
today a place of specialization. Franz
| lin K. Lane, like some of the othe
| members Of Mr.. Wilson's cabinet,
| an idealist, but he has done enoug
work, it is said, to show that d
| spends little time in dreaming, TT
| federal conservationists, includir
| even Clifford Pinchot, say that the
| "have every confidence in Secretal
Lane" The conservationists of tn
| school have looked into MI. Lane
| work record and speech record. Inc
| know that he is a believer In II
states rights theory, but that
knows when a condition rather tia
| a theory confronts him. Not lol
ago I heard Mr.. Lane make speec
| That speech never was reported al
never will be, but it was the mo
i sanely and yet actively progressl
speech that I have ever. heard al
man aave one make.
There is to be no attempt here
60 through the cabinet with view
setting forth the likely humanity e
beavers of the members, but {
charge that it is purely 1dealls'
cabinet seems so wholly unwarrant
by. the apparent facts in the case tn
the existence of any impression til