The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-20
Strong Effect Expected,

Because of these facts and circum
stances, 1t Is not doubted here that
the action by Gompers' organization,
anu unanimous action at that will have
SON. WI
Were It not for the fact that many
people In the national capital are SILENT
~ IN concurrence with the postmaster
generals views on labor, though they
dllier with hhm on other questions. the
resolutions at Atlantic City would have
been looked upon as a premise or basis
TOT action by the president
But, az the capitol particularly, where
Ut. wilson Is repeatedly accused Of
caterlng TOO much to labor, 1t was plain
70 see that some men thought 1t would
pc highly, unwise and undesirable for
any member of the cabinet to be re-
moved in these times for a refusal 10
recognize labor unions.
lon the other hand, the progressive
elements. who count themselves cham
pions of labor and who agree with the
substance of President Wilson'S last
message to congress, cabled from Paris,
that labor Is at the very forefront of
the world situation today, believe the
president must make his deeds square
with his words and sever connection
with any member of His cabinet who
does not uphold his view.
William Jennings Bryan, as secretary
of state, left the cabinet because of
difference of opinion between the presi-
dent and himself on fundamental ad-
ministration policy with respect to Ger
many. while Lindley L. Garrison re-
signed as secretary of war because OF
q disagreement on military policy
Gregory and McAdoo.
The resignation of McReynolds Greg
ory and McAdoo were for personal rea-
sons, the first being elevated to the
,Ipf Af Nc IT,,st kok
the last two being anxious to return
to private life to increase their financial
income.
Not one member of the cabinet, how
ever, has been removed. Both Bryan
and Garrison resigned voluntarily with
out the slightest hint or suggestion
from the president.
There was a time, too when Seere-
tary Baker offered to resign, If he were
embarrassing the president in any way
but Mr.. Wilson steadfastly refused to
accept his resignation. On the contrary,
he wrote Baker a letter prasing him
highly and deploring the criticism Of
II the president we're to take cog
niZance Of the Atlantic City resolutions
and ask for Burleson's resignation, it
would be the first case of its kind in
the cabinet, though the president has
removed several officials below cabinet
rank.
These cases have been rare, and
usually cabinet officers have seemed to
be sponsors for the action, but the
direction or instructions for removal
came from the president himself. In
some instances> publicity was not given
because Of desire not to .embarrass
the official removed, but during the
war particularly there was much more
flexibility about personnel than during
peace time.
Has Stood by Members.
Thus far the president has always
stood firmly by members of his admin
istration against all attack on the
ground that 1t was a personal assault
upon him and an effort to discredit his
administration. He has refused to per-
init anybody to be "the goat
The demand for the removal of Post
master General Burleson, however, Is
different from any other case ever pre-
sented to the president. For Mr.. Will
sons political family, the conspicuous
members of the Democratic national
committee have made it plain to him by
letter and otherwise that Postmaster
General Burleson is an insuperable OBJ
stacle to the political success of the
Democratic party, on the ground that
he has alienated hundreds of thousands
of voters
Criticism of the administration of the
postoffice department and the telephone
and telegraph lines has been at the bot
tom of the movemet against the post
master general though he himself has
attributed 1t to the alleged prejudices
of newspapers and periodicals. in con-
-~nection with his attitude on second
class mail rates.
Air of Expectancy.
In administration quarters nothing is
said nowadays about the Burleson sit
uation, but there is an air of eXpec-
fancy noticeable which is construed as
meaning that, on the return of Presi-
dent Wilson, serious consideration viii
be given TO the entire question of per.
sonnel In the cabinet, Some members
Of the cabinet are said to be anxious
to retire to private life,
They feel that they have served Mr.
Wilson throughout six years and were
in duty bound to continue during the
war Some felt that 1t would seem like
deserting the president if they resigned
just when the armistice came and Mr.
Wilson set sail for Europe.
On his return, however, with the at
tention of the executive himself turned
once more to domestic policies, there
would be less hesitation about leaving
the cabinet. So changes may be expect
ed, and that which would occasion least
surprise would be the voluntary resig-
nation Of the postmaster-general dim.
self.
(Copyright, 1919, by the New York Eve,
ming Post, Incl