Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-04
How D. S. Is Ruled
~ With President III

OF the United States today. due to
President Wilson's prolonged and Sc
rious illness. In being directed by the
members OF the cabinet and two aux.
i,!ary officials created by wartime
legislation. 4.y
Altho President Wilson has been
consulted by the cabinet once or twice
since his collapse late in September, 1t
IL fact that he has seen but one
member OF his cabinet In all that time
and no was not tonsulted regarding
determinatio OF the policv, In the coal
strike nor with respect TO the present
critical negotiations with Mexico.
President Not Consulted. =
1t may be stated authoritatively that
the conduct of negotiations with the
Carranza government over the abduc-
ton and subsequent Imprisonment OF
Consular Agent Jenkins was framed
by Mr.. Lansing, The secretary OF state,
without any consultation with the
president, and that It was approved by
Mr.. Lansing's cabinet colleagues with
out having been submitted to the chief
executive.
In the matter of formulating a final
policy for dealing with the coal strike
after operators and miners had been
unable to reach an agreement the cab
met acted without consultation or adj
vice, from the chief executive. During
the time that this important subject
was before the cabinet Walker d.
Hines, director general Of railroads.
and DR.. Harry A. Garfield, the fuel add
| mi int trnt 70. in;, tod tn, ha
fcrences in an advisory capacity.
Garfield Overrules Cabinet Men.
Mr. Garfield, however, acted in much
more than an advisory capacity really,
because it was his decision that the
miners should be offered no more than
a II per cent increase in wages, and in
pressing this decision upon the cabinet
he succeeded in overturning recon-
mendation for, a 81 per cent increase
made, by Secretary Of Labor Wilson. a
regular member of the body which is
now running the government
OF course DrtGarfield and Director
General Hines fad no vote. in the ex-
executive proceedings Of the cabinet,
but their influence in favor of the II
per cent wage increase had great
weight with the presidents advisors,
who. after many hours deliberation,
rejected the suggestions of the presi-
dents own secretary of labor.
These two Illustrations, the case Of
the Coal strike and the present Mexi-
can diplomatic disturbance, furnish
the most striking instances Of cabinet
government Of the United States since
the president became incapacitated for
transacting the duties Of his office.
Attend to Department Details.
In so far as routine matters of gov
eminent are concerned the head Of
each executive department takes care
of them himself, Just as he ordinarily
would even with the president in good
health and with his hand on the gov
eminent throttle. In some cases,
where a matter Of general govern
ment policy has been involved, depart
ment heads have asked for advice from
their cabinet colleagues, but these In.
stances have been few.
The nations involved foreign rela-
tons are being handled exclusively by
Secretary Lansing and the state rde-
partment staff. So far as can be
learned none Of the negotiations with
the American peace commissioners at
Paris has been called to President
Wilson'S attention since he was
stricken. Secretary Lansing recently
admitted that, in SO far as the gov
ernments foreign relations were con.
cerned. he was acting virtually a. the
president Of the United States.
1riunovira$> Rno r>.I ex.N
AS to the coal strike and the en-.
forcement of the policy determined
upon last week, its direction is in the
hands of triumvirate. Attorney Cen
eral Palmer is charged with enforce
ment Of the law and whatever action
may be ~taKen to prosecute offenders
against the federal injunction. Distri.
button OF coal in accordance with reg
u!ations emanating from the fuel ad-
ministrator Is directed by Mr.. Hines of
the railroad administration, but all
orders for restriction Of coal consump-
ton or steps which might be taken
regarding enforced operation Of the
mines by the government, must como
from DR.. Garfield. who is using the
department Of Justice and the railroad
administration as his administrative
agents, there being no operative ma
chinery left to the fuel administration.
Power Vested in Garfield.
DR.. Garfield. in determining yester-
day to suggest reduction in consump-
ton Of coal. directed the railroad ad-
ministration to deliver coal to the first
five groups Of consumers Of the gov
ernment's priority list. Ordinarily the
preside1t~of the United States would
have been consulted in the promulga-
ton Of such q statement. In this in
stance. he was not. The law creating
the fuel administration gave the pow
er to the president of the United