The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-11-13
cnraicIsss rne CABINET.

Congressman Phil Campbell Of
Kenzas. finding time hanging heavily
on his hands since congress adjourned,
has given out an interview in which
he criticises the ability Of the men
comprising President Wilson's cabinet.
u seems to Us that the present cab
inet-as cabinet go-ranks head and
shoulders above any 81 i;S predecess-
ors. Il must be remembered that I'M
der the system In vogue for choosing
cabinets at lcast a few men must be
assigned TO posts the duties OF which
hey are unfamiliar. Take. for in
the secretaries Of war and
navy. Tt is doubtful II Secretary
Baker knee how 10 execute a right
dress" command when he was appoint
ed head Of the war department. or
that Secretary Daniels knew which
was the port" or '~'aiarboard'' side
OF the ship. This fact. however. wouli
have no bearing on the general intelli-
sence of the men. They were fuily a"
competent to serve as cabinet officers
rs many % those who have held those
positions In years gone by
The present sabinet members a
had more IL problems to deal
with than M, w. body in III his
tory Of our: lay Ordinarily a
cabinet offs mtN perhaps the e&-
ception o, ire tetEry OF state. is
more or less OF 7sure head. Their
offices have ceruNfs HuS1tions to per-
form, but ,~hsss.so-a great extent, ars
assigned to assistants and clerks. but
the present cabinet members have a
no such sinecure. They have had
duiies-a multitude OF them-,o per-
form. and We think they have don 20
In a highly creditable mi
You will remember thai during tho
spanlsh-American war there was an
awful commotion raised trying to ct
n few troops together In the first
place many politicians who knew
fully as much about wal as a Billy
Goat does about Latin. grabbed tho
FAT offices. After the troops got into
camp there was much sickness and
many deaths due to unsanitary condi-
,ions. And last. but not least. there
was the "eubalmcd" beef scandal.
The United states ha- in ne various
army camps now approximately half a
million men II IL not known 20 a
certainty just how many troops have
been sent abroad, but Il is estimated
hat there are not less than $50. zoe !n
France today. True. there has been
some delay In %equipping the men. bat
this l. due 10 the Inability Of the fac
tories to turn cut the supplies AZ fast
as they are needed In the mobiliza-
ton % this vast army and transport
ing a portion OF II across the oceaa
there has not been the least charge -
~inefnciency The men judging from
all reports have plenty 10 eat and the
food II good The health Of the men
In camps and ia Europe IL watched 30
closely thar the death rate ron NAT
urai causes h as low or lower than b.
IL In clsli life "a seems 10 ar seCrc-
tary Baker has done remarkably well
and that he Is entitled 20 praise rath-
er than censure.
Secretary Daniels at the head oi
me navy department has been equal
as efficient a. his co-worker al the
head 81 the war department
Robert Lansing. secretary - state.
Will. IN our opinion. 40 down ia his-
tory as oae u the greatest s.atesm %
In American history. ranking aious
with such eminent predecessors 3r
jefferson. Webster Msrshslt Adams.
seward and Bayar6. lie has had "a
multitude of knotiy problems ~ han
die during the tlmo he has bcon il
office. bat ne has solved them in q
highly satisfac tory manner
Taking the cabinet as q whole e
ranks high and even were this NOT
true we cant see that usr has
any license 10 charge % with inef0.
cheney Congress should SCI its ~
house in order before attempting "a
stick a monkey wrench into the gears
~ any other branch ~ the Cover"
mental machinery.