Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-04-22
IRy e. G. Dougherty.l


Washington, April 22.-Postmaster
General Albert Sidney Burleson will
remain in the Wilson cabinet until his
term expires despite what in the past
few days has grown &c be nation
wide demand that he be removed be-
fore he wrecks the democratic party
and completes the job of wrccking the
postal, telegraph and telephone >serv-
ice.
Washington is accustomed to con-
certed drives against cabinet members
OF the present administration altho II
must be admitted that none in the
past has approached the present one in
severeness. With certainty it can pre-
dict the outcome No official heads
will he Topped off. There are two rea-
sons for this in Mr.. Burieson's case.
They are of about equal Importance.
One reason is Col. Edward NJ. House
of Texas.
The other is Woodrow Wilson.
Burleson is a political lieutenant OF
House and has been for many years.
House Is responsible for his fellow
Texan being member of the Wilson
cabinet. House Is the presidents
most trusted adviser. In fact 1t IS
general opinion here that House is the
only man the president ever really ad-
vises with. II Colonel House has ap-
proved everything Burleson has done
in recent years, il is argued here, why
should he turn on the postmaster gen.
eral now.
President Wilson has a habit OF
standing by his Official family. A little
more than year ago when Secretary
of War Baker was vigorously
criticised for handling the war depart
ment, the president rushed TO his de-
Tense. In declining Bakers resignation
the president described the secretary
of war as the most efficient pubhc
Official he had ever known Another
case of less Importance was that OF
George Creel. When the whole country
was insisting that Creel be shelved the
president gave no heed. He even tooh
Creel 10 Europe in his official party on
the first trip at the peace conference.
1t has been said that Creel and House
were the presidents only advisers
whose viewpoints made the least i'm
preston on Mr.. Wilson.
The continuation of Burleson in pub
lie ONCE, many democrats fear. will
cause breach In the party wAich can
not be b -aled until after the next
presidential election. This breach IN
the ranks of democracy was best eVi-
denced in the cablegram sent to the
president by leading democrats OF
Massa chusetts demanding the remoEai
of Burleson for his handling OF the
New England telephone strike. The
message said: "Burleson wrecking the
party. Remove him and settle the
strike" Another illustration Of the de-
mand for Burleson's retirement was
seen in the editorial of the New YORK
World, recognized as the adminlstra-
tion's best friend and supporter in the
metropolitan press, which referred TO
the cablegram of the Massachusetts
politicians as excellent advice.
Wilson's Heaviest Burden.
THE language of the petition" the
World editorial said. may be abrupt
and the tone pre-em ptory, but in spite
of any defect in style the advice itself
is eminently sound and sensible the
editorial continued by referring to
Burleson as the heaviest burden that
President Wilson has to carry, and
that Burlcson has done more to dis
credit the administration and the
democratic party than all its protested
enemies combined" 'As counsellor to
the president" the World said, he has
been a continuingly m!schievous in
fiuence. AS an administrator he has
stirred up more popular discomfort
than all the boIshevist and l. w. w.
agitators In the country. He has done
for all the elements Of reaction what
they were helplessly incapable of do
ing for themselves.
While there has been great deal OF
criticism of Burleson since he became
postmaster general. what really set the
politicians Of his party against him
most vigorously was his order incrces-
ing the telephone and telegraph rates
| thyuout the country. 1t was bad poll
| tics, they declare. 1t made the whole
country angry. And they fear that the
democratic party, and not Burleeon
himself. will bear the tbrunt Of the dis