Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-02-27
NO ENNU| IN
CONCLUDING
|OAYS0F WV.
Presidents independence,
Keeps Politicians on
the Qui Vive.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial to The Argus.)

Warrington, d. c.. Feb. 27.--
President Wilson doesn't intend to
eke out the remaining II months Of
his term in monotonous reverence
for party tradition or the comforts
Of avoiding quarrels and contro-
versies with his political opponents
who control congress. The sp-
pointment Of Bainbridge Colby as
secretary Of state has started a.
heavy how OF gossip and cloakro0ml
threats that may define more,
clearly than ever before whether
or not the senate has any real con- I
troll over the kind OF cabinet off, |
GERS . president may select to man. [
age the big departments Of the
government. Plainly there are
Democrats as we'll as Republicans (
in the senate who do not like the
nomination Of Mr.. Colby. but III
anything aggressive is done, 1t will
naturally be by the Republicans.
But the ground on which to base
objections to Mr.. Colby's conflrma-
ton is difficult to find this political
year. We're senate Republicans to
say Mr.. Colby has been too anti /
British, they would find their newly
acquired Irish supporters looking |
askance at them. Were senate Re-
publicans to argue that Mr.. Colby |
is inexperienced for the Job or un- !
suited tempermentally for the post,
they lay themselves open to attack
by Democrats who might say the
Republican conservatives are SO
conservative that they wouldn't
even vote for the confirmation OF a
progressive Republican. In the emu
Mr.. Colby will be confirmed, but it
wouldn't be surprising to find a
resolution adopted expressing the
senate's opinion Of the choice.
Some Want sInqulry."
/ There are senator's, on the other
hand, who think it Is about time to
stop confirming cabinet officers as
a matter OF courtesy and to make
inquiry into their qualifications. /
They contend that cabinet respOn- |
sibility viii never be emphasized !
until congress establishes a prece- I
dent that would make the president
give as much regard to the advice"
OF the senate on cabinet appoint /
ment rs any other selection that
requires confirmation by the SEN
ate. Mr.. Wilson has on more than
one occasion held back from ap-
pointing men who might not be con-
firmed by the senate and has in one
conspicuous case-that -of Thomas
d. Jones Of Chicago-withdrawn a
nomination for craftsmanship Of the
federal reserve board.
The Colby appointment, however,
is not merely personal choice but
it rouses the political ire OF Mr..
Wilson's opponents on Capital hill
who, incidentally have been feeling
onene too pleased over the selection
Of Charles R. Crane to be minister
to China, a post for which he
started, only to be called back
home by Philander c. Knox, then
secretary Of state, and now an ac-
tive foe Of the president in connec-
tion with. the treaty fight Speak
ing of political repartee, the NOM
ination OF Mr.. Crane is hardly pal
atable to Republicans. Mr.. Crane.
however, has his revenge. He bolted
the Republican party after that in
cident and supported first LaFol-
lette and Woodrow Wilson. contrib
uting to the campaigns Of both
men in the hope that either might