New-York tribune., 1920-12-07
A Lincoln Cabinet

ampled triumph to the popular con-
v.ction that both his temperament
and his political principles oppose
one-manism. A public which was un-
utterably weary OF personal govern
ment turned to him as the champion
of the opposite.
-. The Election Night jubilation was
because at last the nation was prom
ised President not too proud to
consult, who was not larger than his
party or the country, who would re-
spect Congress and the people, and
surround himself with the biggest
men he could enlist.
His vacation over, Senator TTar-
ding now devotes his chief thought to
how he may best satisfy himself and
meet public expectation. The first
business before him is the make
UP of his Cabinet. He is aware that
on the spirit he concretely shows in
Z, lis selection the initial success Of his
administration depends; that public
confidence will be strengthened and
- confirmed if he strikes the right key
n the start
But the business, though vitality
Important. is not complicated. All
F1at the ident-elect needs to do
Is to apply the simple tests he him
self has sketched His task will be
easy if he is true to himself and his
own convictions--is adamant to all
attempts to defect his purpose.
As he himself has indicated, the
principal members Of the Cabinet
,-Aust pe preventative. be possessed
NJ prestige and be Of stature tall
rslodgh to be seen across the country.
7 hey must have q Justly earned re-
pate for independence and for char
setter must stand for ideas and broad
policies that The public understands
and approves Of. They mus bring
Something TO ne Administration, and
lot merely shine with reflected glory
because Trey happen TO hold its high
Offices.
p 50 the door mus, be tightly closed
against that new pest Of Washing
ton, namely an errand-boy Cabinet.
90 Nor Is j. enough for mon to be merely
experts in the management Of their
departments. The country would
lave again q real national council
composed Of statesmen, with the
Vision to see the country as a whole.
Nor is there place for those whose
claim is that they are personal
friends. Such are seldom able to
bring anything Of value to an ad-
ministration. They cannot rise higher
than the source creating them. Their
orbit is marked out, their judgments
arc derived. Such a dependent re-
lation is fair neither to President
rior to Cabinet member. One feels
he must stick by his friends, and the
latter are tcthered through their
very loyalty.
Nor is the present a time to en-
phasize geography, that bane of
Cabinet making. The country's DO
mand is for intelligent nationalism
and it cares little what is the post
address Of mon ernbodying It.
Now what particular men seem
most completely to embody the ideal
Senator Harding himself set up for
= his guidance? The answer is on
- every lip. Ask the men and woncr
- usually meet, ard you will re-
ceivc similar replies. You win hear
o It aid that clearly among the invited
should be Root, Hoover and Wood
a 70 other men there is natural diff
20 ference Of opinion, hat there is agree
ment that omission Of the big thre,
vi cave an unlilIablo hole. Thi,
opinion is born Of no spirit Of die
ta-ion - is simply a common sense
recognition of obvious facts.
- Bach Of the big three is an ex per
sToaching the business Of the depart
yn'cnt with which his name is asso
Fciated. But each is more than this
1fach has behind MIN great body Of
+-oublic opinion. Tbs good repuc i,
not born OF accident. It flows from
long service. Eac1 wil! definitely
contribute to the Administration, ant
together the three would invul
.ss 0erabiy establish it on lofty plane
III Great effort viii doubtless be mad,
sAtto induce Senator Harding TO accept
vi zubstltutes and u be satisfied witt
H. >ccnnd bests. Th. little fellows
already Ecek To creuts M artjfcia
atnosphere about him. All sorts oi
appeals will cornc from those whf
consider Cabinet Offices decoratiy.
aArndwnnHnGa Bn4 6enntnx Mn< I.