Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-14
PROBLEMSOF
VAST IMPORT
FACE WILSON
Political, Economic and
Financial Situations
Demand Attention
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright 1919 by The Argus

ACOPgl ASII 4J1V ny 1 he al SuS.J
Washington, July 14.-President
Wilson may seem to be most inter
ested in getting the peace treaty
and league of nations ratified but
he is nevertheless de1ving deeply
into the domestic situations. polit-
ical, economic and financial which
have grown acute during his abb
sence.
The president has been told that
his administration was severely
criticised while he was in Europe,
criticised for many powers exer-
Ncised by cabinet officers and other
sNhordinates and that the people
areNexpecting him to set his official
house in order.
First and foremost among the
delicate problems which stare Mr..
Wilson in the face is the contro-
versy over the postmaster general,
Albert Sidney Burleson. 1t would
be surprising indeed if the presi-
dent fatty asked the postmaster
general to resign. He has always
given ear to Mr.. Burleson's obser-
vations and no man in the cabinet
has spent more of his time talking
or thinking about the political for
tunes or destiny of Woodrow WI
son than the postmaster general.
OF course Mr.. Burleson's oppon-
ents, and they are numerous, would
be glad if the president asked for
the resignation of the postmaster
general but this is unlikely.
BurIesOn VIII Quit7
What seems more plausible is
that Mr.. Burleson himself will
offer to withdraw from the cabi-
net. Even then Mr.. Wilson might
consider that he had even more
important work for the postmaster
general than managing the post
Office department-he might ap-
point him on one of the numerous
international commissions which
are being set up in this country and
abroad to carry out the provisions
of the peace treaty and to meet the
reconstruction needs of Europe.
But that Mr. Burleson, like one or
tWgkothers of the cabinet, is ready
5Rdd anxious to turn himself away
from an Office which he has held
uninterruptedly for seven years is
beginning to be thought in quarters
where the subject is gently touched
upon every now and then in man
ner significant and interesting.
No White House Denial.
Usually when there is an un-
founded rumor that cabinet
officer is to resign, instant denial is
forthcoming. And the White house
adds a word or two of emphatic
denial But the absolute refusal of
White house officials even to dis
cuss the subject is generally con-
strued in Washington as the fore
runner Of some change.
There is good reason to believe
that Mr.. Burleson himself wrote
the president rather clearly on the
subject of recent criticism and in
dicated a willingness to withdraw
if he seemed to be in the way. The
president has not yet let anyone
know what his answer would be.
But if Mr.. Wilson wants to rally
the Democratic leaders in various
parts of the country and bolster up
his party, he will heed the clamor
of the Democrats who claim their
chances to win next time have been
hurt by the postmaster generals
attitude on various public ques-
tions.
Redfeid Ready to Step Out.
Another cabinet officer who has
lately been mentioned as likely to
retire is William C. Redfield, sec
retary of commerce. l asked him
him today if there was any truth
in the report but he said NO
without equivocation. Like many
another cabinet secretary, however, |
who realizes that only about |
eighteen months remain of the
second Wilson term he has been !
thinking of what he would do after |
retiring from the cabinet, and it is |
just possible that his plans may
materialfze before the end of this !
This is the season |
in all administrations when cabi- |
net changes are usual. There would |
be more shifts If Mr.. Wilson had |
not felt it necessary to go to |
Europe. Most of the cabinet officers !
deemed it their duty to run their |
without trying to |
break in successors while Mr.. Will
son was away.
Many Congressional Problems.
Mr.. Wilson is already giving
much attention to these questions |
of personnel, but he is also turn
ing. with especial interest to the
Rcdon, past and contemplated, os |
the Republican congress. The pres
ident. even while governor of New
Jersey, was rather skillful in the
use of the veto power. While the
party possesses a ma
jority in both houses of congress, it
is quite another matter to get
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