Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-09
PREMIERSHIP OFTEN
A STORM CENTRE
Incidents From the History Of the
Cabinet, Showing the Primacy of
the President in All Affairs of
State.
By RAYMOND G. FULLER

TTTHEN woodrow Wilson was nominate
w for the Presidency at the Baltimore con
= ventlon It was the power Of William Jen
nings Bryan that did It. After the campaign
, few politicians expected that Bryan would b
in the Wilson Cabinet. Some doubted tha
he would be asked, while others were SURE
that, If invited he would decline They be-
lleved that "temperamental Incompatible.
ity" existed between them, and II was so. The
difference was clearly apparent to all who had
considered their separate careers. Despite the
display OF political strength which Bryan
had given at Baltimore, where he had made
Wilson President, nobody thought he would
become President "de facto" in the approach
ing Administration.
Leaving aside the question Of Bryan's ht-
ness for the post, it may be said that the in
fiuence Of the American premiership in Cow
ernmental affairs has not in past history, de-
| pended solely on the calibre of the man APP
pointed to that high Office. Men OF the high
| est ability and force have indeed, increased
the dignity and Importance of the position,
! but even the best Of them have been sighted
! and subordinated by the Presidents. The
! present instance reanlrms the fact that
| the primacy OF the State Department
sometimes within its own Domains largely
idea or sentiment which the growth of
our unwrtten constitution has failed to es-
tablish on hrmer foundations.
After Blaine had effected the nomination
and election of Garfield the opinion was wide
~ held that Blaine as Secretary Of state
would be President de facto" From the
'Stalwart" writings Of the day one would
gain the impression that such actually proved
to be the case. But through Garfeds long
illness the President kept informed Of the
course Of public affairs and never yielded to
his able Secretary any Of his prerogatives as
Chief Executive. Blaine was quite willing to
be the recipient Of extraordinary powers, but
during the whole period the Government, as
some one has said, was "a government Of de-
partments."
The Unofficial Title of premier"
After three years service as Secretary of
State in the Administration of Harrison,
Blaine resigned because of difficulties with
his chief. In the controversy between the
United states and Chilli Mr. Blaine was over
borne by the President. Harrison took mat
ters entirely out of the hands of his so-called
Premier" and himself issued the ultmatun
TO the Chilian Government. At the very be.
ginning of the Administration Blaine received
what he considered a serious personal affront
in Harrisons refusal to let him appoint his
son as First Assistant Secretary, as Webster
and Seward had DONE These and other incl
dents led to the break. 1t is worth noting,
by the way, that the title of premier" was
first applied to Daniel Webster and then as
a kind Of slogan of his political adherents.
Recent notable examples of the subordina- |
tion of the Secretary OF State in his own de-
partment may be cited. The country has |
known few abler Secretaries than John Hay |
but Mckinley acted in direct opposition to !
the opinion of Hay when he decided to de. |
mand the cession of the Philippine Islands
from Spain. Roosevelt acted solely on his
own Judgment and initiative when he inter-
vened between Russia and Japan
Farther back in the history of the Cabinet
we find that Jefferson did not once seek the
advice of any of its members regarding the
Louisiana Purchase, one of the most mo-
nentous events in the history of the nation
Jackson and Grant had Kitchen Cabinets"
of State Fish, in Grants Admins
ration resigned because the President had
gnored him in dealings with the San Domin-
gan Government, but did not actually leave
he Cabinet, as he felt that he ought to re-
main for the good of the party. Webster
Ind Clayton are among the Secretaries of
State who resigned in times of Cabinet agi-
alton Buchanan, interested while Secre-
ary of State in the dispensing of PennsyI-
'ania patronage, became bitterly offended
With Polk because of the Presidents disre-
;ard of what the Secretary considered his
lights in the matter. From this and other
auses a general breakup of the Cabinet
vas impending when Polk proved himself
master of the situation and established him
elf in full control of the department heads.
Conflict in Washington's Cabinet
Conflict in the Cabinet has been really
iolent in several Administrations Washing
on had his troubles, all readers of history
now, with the rivalry and wrangling of
hamilton and Jefferson. That of course,
'as before the day of one-party Cabinets.
he council table became the scene of such
uarrels that Jefferson, some years after his
wrote that Hamilton and I
ERE daily pitted in the Cabinet like two
ocks." These quarrels led Washington to
ettle down to a strictly party council for
he last two years of his Administi alton ,
The story OF Lincoln's relations with the
ivil War Cabinet has been often told: how
eward, the Secretary Of State. offered to re-
eve the baclSwoodsman of the burdens of be-
g President; how he essayed to dictate the
omestic policy and the foreign policy: how
2 learned that Lincoln was President In fact
J well as in name; and how Lincoln, with :
tact and infinite patience. bore
lth the attempted interference Of Seward
I'd other members OF the Cabinet and with d,
eir quarrels, and yielded full praise of their
'ility and acknowledgment Of their service.
The priority OF the Secretary OF State
nong department heads dates from the sec
Id Administration Of Jefferson, or perhaps.
he himself once said, from his own in
mbency Of the seeretaryship under wash
gton' Madison as Secretary Of State under ;
nerson, was designated as the Administra
IN candidate for the Presidency, precedent
hich has long lain on the shelf. Madison
not greatly distinguish himself in the Of s
70 OF Secretary, and the same Is true OF Jef- 4