The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-03-25
HIS JUDGMENT FINAL AFTER
HEARING THE OPINIONS OF
THE CABINET.
coUNsELs OFTEN WITH BRYAN
Or. Houston and Franklin X. Lane
Inspire Confidence in Their Ability
to Conduct Their Departments
Sanely and Successfully.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Progressiyes and Democrats to give
the new president the best Of it when
ever there is any seeming reason for
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 adj
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 1t 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.
the againsts, he gives his own judg-
ment in a 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
advisory board have been moved to
speech by sheer force of surprise. It
would be ungrateful 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.
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
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 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 it is these
policies which the administration must
work out to their logical legislative
conclusion.
Houston Fits His Position.
1t is not hard now for officials in
Washington to understand why it 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 things
today in the department of agriculture
are specialized. man may have
been farmer all 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 specialist as well
as farmer
Lane Inspires Confidence.
The department of the interior is
today place of specialization. Frank
lin K. Lane, like some of the other
members of Mr. Wilson's cabinet. is
an idealist, but he has done enough
work, 1t is said, to show that he
spends little time in dreaming. The
federal conservationists, including
even Clifford Pinchot, say that they
have every confidence in Secretary
Lane" The. conservationists of this
school have looked into Mr.. Lanes
work record and speech record. They
huOW IAdI Nc - d D0ll6VGr In the
states rights theory. but that he
knows when condition rather than
a theory confronts him. Not long
ago heard Mr. Lane make a speech.
That speech never was reported and
never will be. but it was the most
sanely and yet actively progressive
speech that have ever heard any
man save one make
viii Delay Currency Reform.
There is some doubt yet as to
whether currency reform legislation
will be attempted at the extra session
in addition to tariff enactments. If
currency is taken up it may be i'll
will not be finished this summer. but.
will go over until next winter.
The Democratic leaders are telling
the president they are afraid OF the
currency. The odds seem to be about
sixteen to one that it will not be tax
en- up before next December. but 1t is
OF course possible it may secure
place. Representative Carter Glass Of
Virginia who will auccaad Mr. p,sio