Atlanta Georgian., 1913-03-10
WILSON PIE PLAN
OPENS TALK ON
1916 RACE
While Disappointed Job Seek
ers Rage, Politicians Discuss
Influence on Succession.
BY JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES.

WASHINGTON, March 10.-The
malcontents who are seeking office un-
Ger Wilson declare that in his one revo-
su1onary act of turning over the Offices
% MS cabinet he has avoided the oppor-
tunity of rewarding them and shifting
the responsibility of turning them down.
Half of the half million men who are
seeking some sort of recognition under
the Wilson administration. are basng
their hopes upon the real or imaginary
record of personal service done to Pres
ident Wilson preceding his nomination
and during the campaign.
Pie Hunters Indignant.
1t IS safe to say that one half. IL not
two-thirds OF this ambitious army are
against a change which practically
sweeps the record Of personal service
and personal acquaintance out Of con-
sideration. 1t leaves the hopeful as
pirant to pass his claims under the cold
review of a new cabinet officer, who
perhaps, he does not know, instead Of
being permitted to plead his merits, his
service, his character and his campaign
contribution before the es8ient whom
he had personally known OF personally
served
The explanation issued from the
white house does not satisfy the NAL
contents. They say that If the sitting
process by the cabinet officer elimi-
mates all but one or two applicants,
that the cabinet officer might as we'll
appoint at once
Defense of Wilson's Action.
But there is another side and # is
nothing less than truthful to say that
the majority OF the disinterested citi-
zens with whom | have discussed this
all-absorbing question believe that Mr..
Wilson has done a very wise and very
proper thing. which 1t is astonishing no
other president ever thought to do be-
fore
The friends OF the president are par
ticularly enthusiastic in declaring that
he has eliminated the presidency from
the spois system. and voluntarily and
unselfishly reIinquished his personal
claim upon the future support OF the
officeholders of his admin stration, in
order to ship himself without handicap
for the mighty battle OF economic and
political progress to which he has con-
secrated himself.
Forecast of 1916.
There are those who take this order
10 mean that the president is indiffer-
ent to a re-election, and this is an evi-
denCe that he has agreed with Bryan's
plea for a single term, and is turning
over the patronage to Bryan in advance
OF 1916.
There are those who say that Will
sons theory of success has always dis
credited the office seeker and he be
lieves that the best road to a re-eec- |
tion in 1915 is to ignore the spois |
brigade and devote himself to making |
laws and executing them
And there is a keen group OF prac-
tical politicians-Republica and Dem |
ocratic--about the capital who scent !
danger to Wilson in the plan and fore
cast the forming Of cliques and com
binations within the cabinet of the
party for 1915.
Here is some of the reasoning which
these old seuths of the political game
give out: Wilson and Bryan must sure
" fan out before the administration
term is half over. Two strong men of
strong connections and dominant per-
sonalities. accustomed to dictate, can
not get along together for four years
OF power. Mr. Bryan will never relin-
uuish his desire to be president