The Bozeman courier., 1921-02-02
THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE
REST OF US.


voted for him because they didn't
want Democratic administration.
For two years we have had Re-
publican Congress, but have we MOTTO
ed that it made much difference?
Congress may make the postal appro-
priations, but Mr.. Burleson delivers
our mail. Congress may pass laws
concerning immigration, but the Sec
retary of Labor applies them. AS
attorney-general, Mr.. Palmer may re-
fuse to prosecute the profiteers un-
der laws which Congress has passed. !
Has our mail been delivered more
quickly, are our foreign relations
more secure, has the cost of living !
decreased since the Republican Con-
gress, which we chose III 1918, has
been in power? What does it profit
us to change parties in Congress if
the Administration can continue its
own policy?
What is the Administration How
can it thwart the will of the people? ?
Have the past two years been charac-
terized by executive or administrative
usurpation? Or do they disclose a
weakness in our system?
The problem is an eternal one. Re-
duced to its lowest terms, it is
question of the popular control of the
executive. The trainers of the Con-
stitution gave US measure of popu-
lar control when they allowed US to
elect the President every four years.
But they gave to this President tre-
mendous power. The President and
his administration, once in power,
while subject to criticism, are almost
beyond control.
What is the Administration We
sometimes speak Of Republican Ad-
ministration or a Democratic Admin
istration. These terms, however, are
abstract. Let us try and put it more
concretely. What was the Democratic
Administration of President Wilson ?
1t was Bryan in foreign affairs, ii
was Daniels in the nevy, it was Bur
Lesson in the postoffice. President
Taft's Administration meant Knox
! at the Department of State, Ballingel
in the Department of the Interior
Hitchcock as postmaster-ge general.
! We may talk about Republican o.
; Democratic Administration and speal
& of government by laws and not o.
men, but actually We have a man, /;
Democrat or Republican, admins
tering the Government. The Admins
tration, then consists of the men WHOM
4 this man, the President, appoints t
3 run the departments of the govern
= ment. The Administration is tn
z President and his Cabinet. Thus j
& is of vital Importance to everyone O
2 us what sort Of men President Hard
q ing chooses.
& What is the cabinet? The Const
tuition is silent on this point. TIL
little seed from which the cabine
. grew is the phrase which says ths
1 the president "may require the opir
ion, in writing, of the principal Of
I ficer in each Of the executive depar-
1 ments, upon any subject relating I
7 the duties of their respective offices
] That's all. Our Constitution, unlil
| some state constitutions, rovides fl
| no executive council. The entire cal
/ met syster in the United States
/ founded on custom and usage. It a
1 develOpes from the Presidents col
| sultation of the heads Of certain d.
/ partments.
! Concretely, the cabinet means,
the order of their rank, the secretari,
= ofstate, treasury and war; the a
torney-general; the postmaster; Sc
retaries of the navy, interior agricu
ture, commerce, and the secretary
labor.
1t is to be noted that these depar
ments are created by Congress-.
statute is passed establishing a ne
department, sometimes contrary /
the will of the President, as in Il
case of the division of the Depa1
ment Of Commerce and Labor in
two departments during Taft's q
ministration. It has be~ome the fas
ion for Cor ross to sneak of the hea
OF some l@-'a~tylont;, wheather cres
ed or to De created, as of Goblin
rank. But although Congress m
decree that the head of departme
shall be of cabinet rank, he may II
- be in the cabinet.
. The cabinet consists of those m
whom the President consults. Ba
IN the days of Andrew Jackson, I
President consulted more frequen
mot the heads of the great executi
departments, but a group of persol
friends, who were known as the Kit,
en- Cabinet. Rumor has it that dl
A ing periods of President Wilson's
ness he seldom consulted the memb
of his cabinet, who could communict
\ to him only through the medium
his secretary and physician.
A press says President-elect Hardi
| has invited Vice President alao+ n