The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-29

Times change and we change win
thcm. Sometimes we change whether
the times do or not II frequently de-
Ponds upon our own personal Interest
whether q certain proceeding 10 proper
or improper. As the old fable had Il
the matter OF whose OK 10 gored makes
considerable difference. AZ once ad'
mirably phrased by Bill Nye, II may
also depend on which paper you read
These observations are merely prelim.
mary TO a case In point. In II proper,
or even permissible. that a president OF
members OF his cabinet participate in q
presidential campaign?
The question just propounded il sug-
gested by objections raised by the New
York Tribune against members OF the
cabinet speaking In the campaign In be-
half OF Cox and drawing their salaries
while so engaged. That paper Is quite
sure that such practice Ia wicked and
reprehenslble when II Ia INDUCED In by
ana IN behalf OF democrats. II might be
all right for republicans TO do that way.
but for democrats II 10 positively scan
dnlous. In expressing lts outraged feel
inPs over the shocking offense. the
Tribune says. In part:
Asking the people TO pay campaign
bills for Mr.. Cox and the salaries Of
COY orators Is something Mr. Harding
would not do--even though II would
materially help his cause.
The place for cabinet members and
government officials in a campaign IL
on their jobs--not on the stump.
THE day 10 past when government
employees can be turned out TO boost
etx xvtt
scandal"
So the day IL past. The Tribune
neglects, however. to tell us the date
OF It's passing. That II was not always
30 considered by that paper IL a mat
Ter OF comparatively recent history.
The Tribune was a devoted follower
OF the late Col. Roosevelt II has been
more or less lukewarm in the present
campaign because one OF the colonel's
friends was not nominated for presi-
dent But II never protested when
members OF the ooioners cabinet spoke
In campaigns. II didn't complain when
cable tolls to and from Manila were
paid BY the government in an attempt
70 disprove some charge by Judge
Parker in 1904
There are several things the Tribune
has found II convenient TO forget about
or change It's mind about. II suR-
gests no breach Of the proprieties when
the same Col. Roosevelt virtually took
the management OF Mr.. Taft's campaign
out OF the latter's hand and engaged in
protracted and angry disputes with Mr..
Bryan In 1908. II did not even raise Ito
voice when President Roosevelt urged
tho payment Of campaign expenses out
Of the public treasury.
II Is perfectly conceivable that Hard
Ing would not ask the payment Of sal.
aries to Cox orators" but what would
no do In case Of his own oratorsf It
10 not hard TO believe that he would
excuse thom for leaving their Jobs co.
caHionally. Notwithstanding all this,
however, we have always had more or
less doubt about the propriaty of a
president and members OF his cabinet
engaging In a political campaign. But
II republican precedent was to be con-
sioered AS determining the, isstie, we
should have no trouble whatever in SIT ;
ting the matter at rest.
That the Tribune 10 not at ease in the
preAent campaign Is perfectly apparent.
IL does not like the republican candi-
date nor his construction of the plat
form on which he Ia running. In trying
to divert Its own and the attention of
others from the predicament In which
II finds itself, II Ia attempting to man
ufncture issues which do not exist.
Some Of these have no relevancy and
others are not very impressive. But we
suppose some allowances should be
made on account of It's disappointment
with Harding.