Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-01
Editorial Comment
Maine Likely to Have Cabinet Place.


Some indication is given of pur-
pose on the part of Mr.. Wilson to Sc
lect his New England member of the
cabinet from Maine rather than Mas
sachusetts. Political considerations,
more for the party than for himself,
influence a President to give some sort
of geographical distribution to his cab
met appointments and there is at least
a shadow of Justification for that
course on the public side 1t is dcsir-
able that the President shall have in
his corps Of intimate advisers fair
representation of the life of the people
and 10 an extent Il cabinet without IL
New England member would fail to be-
we'll balanced. There has rarely, IL
ever been "A cabinet without a member
from this section.
Rare indeed, has been the tine Wher
Massachusetts, has not supplied 4
member of the cabinet President
Cleveland had Endicott and Omcy
President Nc Kinley had Long, PrcSi-
dent Roosevelt had Moody and Meyer,
who has held over through the Taft
administration during which time the
state has had a double representation
through the presence of Postmaster
General Hitchcock. If Massachusetts I
is not now drawn upon It will have to
he regarded US not so much shattering
precedent as recognition that She
has had Il full share of the honors.'
Maine, moreover, is the Bay states
daughter, not SO Ions departed from
the household as not to have the fam
ily distinction shared by the parent if
an honor is bestowed upon her.
The mention of Maine has not ce2s-
cd to have the effect of q reminder
that, fer a long period in political his
tory she supplied leading figures. The
Republican era was long enriched from
the Pine Tree state, taking the first
Vice President from there, Mr. Ham
lin being selected for Mr. Lincoln's
mate on the national ticket of 1860
out of respect to the element in the
new party. that had come from the
Democratic ranks, and Mr.. Blaine de-
veloping during the civil war into that
supremacy in party and in congress
sional and diplomatic affairs he long
enjoyed. The service of Speaker REED
beginning during the Blaine period
brought the distinction of Maine far
Their down. With these there We're
other national figures from Maine that
gave the group unique distinction,
Dingley, Hale, Frye and others.
If Maine has 50 contributed to the
distinction of Republican days. there
Will he warrant for her adding to that
of the Democratic regime just now
opening. Mr.. Wilson is said. and APP
parently with better evidence than in
the case of other cabinet places, TO be
favorably inclined to name Obadiah
Gardner for secretary of agriculture. 1t
is perhaps more than guesswork that
he will not select another secretary
from New England. Massachusetts
will be content. She can rest on the
honors that have come To her plentc-
ously at the hands of Mr.. Taft and
await the return of Republican control
or whatever else comes out of the sim
gularly uncertain future of politics as
it appears on the threshold of Mr..
Wilson'S service.
Governor Haines scored when he
! to the railroad situation right
| in Boston which ought not to
require the efforts of six Gov
errors to remedy it, The gap be-
tween tile North and South stations
| has long been a veXatious inconven-
| fence to all wayfarers from Maine to
| the Southern New England States and