davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1921-04-10
Contends American People Are to Blame
for "Usurpation" of Power by President

day Of the election in November
up to the Inauguration of Presi-
dent Harding. the newspapers
were filled. not with comments
upon the republican platform Of
1920 and the various legislative
steps which the party proposed to
take in order to crystalline into law
the promises made to the people.
but statements in flaming head
lines of what President Harding
proposed to do.
OF course, no one believes that
any President OF the United States
seeks to usurp power, but 40 one
can be deceived with reference
to the attitude of the American
mind at the present time, and that
is that the citizenship of our coun-
party nor to political platforms
nor political principles for the
guidance Of the affairs of this ma
ton, but, upon the contrary. all
look to the President for obtain
ing the kind Of government which
they think should exist.
And the newspapers Of this coun-
try make, perhaps, not public opin-
ion-because they may not present
the entire facts upon which an
opinion is to be based-but they
do beyond doubt make a public
pre- ejudice. In all administrations
that l have observed, the press has
in the beginning lauded and mag
nfied the President and minimized
the principles of his party; and
then, when the executive lost the
favor of the newspaper owners and
editors, they have begun d general
criticism of his conduct.
X x X X
During all the years Of my con-
scious life l have been hearing
about the usurpations of the Pres-
dent and about senatorial oil
garchy; but. as 1 have watched the
public press of America. it has
seemed to me that Presidents usurp
just as long as the people desire
them to usurp and the Senate oil
garchs whenever the people de-
mand that they shall oligarch.
In other words. under the life we
lead. it is continuous perform
ance of dcifying first and then
damning. l do not claim that
harm is done thereby. Whether
it be public opinion or public pref
udice. in the end it is legislative.
judicial and executive in it's char
acter. Still, l believe that some
time we will get tired Of deifying
marrying and numbering either
the bodies or the characters of our
Presidents by loading upon their
shoulders responsibilities not con-
tanned in the organic laws of the
land. We will restore the ancient
balance of power. We will take
a parting laugh at our snobocracy
and become real American demo-
Gratis.
The saving grace Of the Amer
lean people is not their system
OF government, their wise men,
their intelligence, their prosperity,
but their ability to laugh at them
selves.
No difference how solemn the
ceremonials may be under which
treaties are negotiated. consti-
tutions adopted and laws enacted.
unless the people themselves desire
Evening star., 1921-04-10

to keep them. they will still be
only scraps of paper. Unless dis
cussion about their binding force
good humor and with a sense Of
humor. trouble is sure to arise.
When Shakespeare sounded all
the shoals and depths of human
passion, he wrote that 'all the
worlds stage" I do not know
that he desired us to understand
that it was very largely mummery,
but l am inclined to think that
he did want 1t understood that.
while each man in his time plays
many parts, any man with good.
hard, common sense can play
part.
The players in the parts of public
life generally take themselves Sc
riously. They expect everybody
to recognize them and to pay that
tribute of respect which belongs
to the costume they wear. When l
was in office never grew angry
at the bitterest criticism of my
conduct by a political enemy-that
was part of the tragedy or comedy
I was engaged in-but l did feel
that the pillars OF our constitu-
tional liberty were being shaken
to their foundations when a de-
cided blond-one that l afterward
learned had determined only the
L1 III
that | furnish her with reference
as to who was and whether I
was financially able to pay for
dollar necktie. 1 was willing to
admit, as I have always been, that
l was only playing a part but 1
did think that the audience should
familiarize itself with the cast of
characters. That phase of public
life-playing a part-seems to go
on forever.
fetal from constable up anywhere
in America who has legs long
enough to reach the ground
as Lincoln said all legs should be
who does not pose as a second
edition of Abraham Lincoln. 1t
was bad enough to be shot down
in cold blood by a frenzied assas-
sin. as was the Great Liberator.
but why America may not per-
NIT heaven to deal with the faults
and foibles Of Abraham Lincoln l
cannot understand. Why, pre-
tending to worship him as mar
tyr in the cause of our common
humanity. must we punish him
from day to day and year to year
when he is silent and cannot pro-
test, by observing the great re-
semblance that exists between him
and the Honorable Todd Hunter.
county coroner.
X X X X
The duello has passed from pub
lie life, the league Of nations has not
arrived. and yet think some way
would be found to drive a man into
a fight or arbitration who seri-
ously disputes the fact that we are
a great democracy. On that sub I,
ject one Of these days we are go
ing to get into trouble. unless our
sense Of humor enables US to
laugh at our Inconsistencies and.
laughing, to rectify them.
Whether the world has been
made safe for democracy or not will
depend pretty much upon whether
Evening star., 1921-04-10

! however, a t the community meeting
for the adults, and at this time
collection is taken
All OF the work done BY the West
End Presbyterian Church Is as far
as possible approached from the re-
ligious standpoint DR.. Albert Edwin
keigwin. pastor OF this church. be-
lieves that the way to do the Mas
| ter'S work is TO do social service work
with the soul in it," 1T must be hu-
| manitarian, but also strictly evan
Eelistic-" he says. 'and for the glory
of God and not alone for the good of
man.
| One of the features of the West End
community work is wireless unit of
| Boy Scouts. One of the finest wire
| less outfits in the city has been pur-
| chased. Regular classes in sending
| and receiving messages are held and
up-to-date instruction is given.
The Boy Scouts work is under tho
direction OF Mr.. Serene Stetson, who
was the first to recognize the Boy
| Scout possibilities in this PRESBYTERIAN
Church and TO develop the scout
troops. He is now one of the officers
on the headquarters staff of the Bow
Scouts of America.
Established .: Years Ago.
The welfare work developed by
Prof. Jasper I. Goodman rwenty-two
years ago. had met with such favor
and grown so that when DR.. Albert
Edwin keigwin, present pastor, came
TO the church. he soon found a new
building and parish house necessary.
1t was then that the plans were made
for the church and s15Q.O00 parish
house, the erection of which was
soon started at 165 West l05th street.
The social service department of
West End Presbyterian Church as
now recognized officially by New
York city as board of health center
During recurrence of the influenza
epidemic this church ministered
widely to those affected. Relief has
been extended in many cases of un-
employment and sickness where the
wage-earner has been forced by cir
cumstances to appeal for help.
CIothinE Made.
Mrs. II. c. France. the social service
secretary. has made hundreds of
friends among those she has helped.
Not mind only. Is put into the solu-
tion of problems" she says. but the
heart also" The Good Cheer Circle
of Kings Daughters helped At sick
and shut-ins. and sent fruit. plants
and cut flowers. while letters. birth.
day cards and nowess brought cheer
to the lonely.
Evening star., 1921-04-10
Br WILL. r. KENNEDY.

! y PERATION of an "undercab-
inet"-not so-cailcd but in
J effect to fill just such a
i place in the federal serv-
! ice-is being urged upon those in
! charge of the reorganization pro-
| gram as one way in which to get
greater efficiency in the government
workshop.
The general principle is this: The
cabinet named by the President and
confirmed by the Senate is a party
cabinet and concerns itself with big
questions of policy-financial, inter-
national, etc. 1t has too many i'm
| portant questions of policy to handle
| to consider the relatively smaller
matters of detail in departmental
and interdepartmental business.
So that an "undercabinet' is being
! discussed. 1t is suggested that it
! should be composed of assistant
/ secretaries of the various depart
ments. and the recommendation has
been made that they should be made
| semi-permanent, SO that come-re-
| publica and go democrats or vice
versa. the business of the depart
ments would continue to run along
smoothly.
! 1t is urged that the "undercab-
met" should meet regularly and ham
die all interdepartmental problems.
and that in this way much duplica-
ton and overlapping of work could
be detected and the surperfuous
work stopped.
AS a matter of fact. the joint con-
| gressional committee on reorgani-
| zation of the federal service will
| after July 1 have an opportunity to
see how the permanent assistant
secretary phase of this proposal will
| culture. having sought openly for
years to get permanent assistant
secretaries, now gets them by in
| direct legislation. These assistant
secretaries are: A director of regu-
latory work, who will handle all
law-enforcement duties of the de-
| rtment-being the police work
the other director of research
work. who will handle all matters
| iSioeAho ~ nc" PiOJSStS, lHNcSliS
tions, etc, being the science work.
They are both to be civil service en-
ployes, not presidential appointees.
and SO removed from partisan poll
tics.
For years the Department of Agri-
culture has been asking for perma-
nent assistant secretaries, and dur
ing the war period got them under
the emergency appropriation. The
work done then. notably by DR.. Clar-
ence Owsley, made a very favorable
impression upon members of Con-
| gress.
Like a Board of Directors.
Those who are urging this second
ary cabinet scheme point out that the
President should not be worried with
the petty matters of co-ordinating
| work-say as between the bureau of
4 chemistry and the bureau of stand
| ards, or between the bureau of
| standards and the bureau of mines.
Evening star., 1921-04-10
COL. BASH TRANSFERRED

Col. Louis H. Bash. Quartermaster
Corps, at Fort Mcpherson, Ga, has
been ordered to Hoboken, N. j., for
duty as general superintendent Army
transport service there.
Evening star., 1921-04-10
WOULD GIVE DETAILS
no AN UNDERCABINET
Plan Suggested to Increase Efficiency in
the Reorganization of the Gov
ernment Departments.

Sanized board of directors in
any large business, who would work
out these purely service problems and
make report with recommendations
to the President and his cabinet. on
which they could act without having
To take time for personal study.
Emphasis is also laid on the fact
that this would make the position OF
assistant secretary in each depart
mcnt one Of greater Importance and
responsibility, instead of being. as
frequently called. the rubber stamp"
for the Secretary. The point is also
stressed that by such an arrangement
the employees all along the line would
not have any one placed in authority
over them who was not already their
superior oftlccr.
Those who are fathering this pro-
posal advise that the permanent as
sIstant secretaries should be apnoint-
ed through the civil service because
of their special fitness for the work.
II the new Secretary appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Sem
ate and the assistant secretary could
not agree on policy then the Secre-
tary could move out the assistant
secretary, but it would not he on ac-
count of party politics.
Evening star., 1921-04-10
Retaining Experienced Officials.

The general thought is to retain the
assistant secretary as an inside mana
ger. one who knows the ropes. and
so avoid any serious upheaval in the
government workshop every few
years with the change of adminis-
| tration. The Department of Agricul-
ture now presents an illustration of
low this can be done. Elmer ID. Ball
is republican, appointed by a demo-
crat. who is being retained under the
! republican administration. The ap-
pointment was made because DR.. Ball
| was considered the best man avail
| able for the job, and Secretary Wal
lace is retaining him on the same
| grounds.
| 1t is pointed out that il does not
| need any new law to put the second
ary cabinet proposal in operation, but
| to have the assistant secretaries come
| to an agreement among themselves
and get the approval of their chiefs.
! Other close students of government
| who have been advising with those
| in charge of the reorganization pro-
gram strongly advocate department
al cabinets" as. for example. that the
, Secretary of the Interior should have
cabinet composed of his bureau
! chiefs. with whom he would hold
! regular conferences.
| The already existing Federal Club.
composed of the real working exec
utiyes of the government service, is
pointed out as an agency through
which greater efficiency in the federal
service can be obtained. Some of the
administration advisers believe that
the idea should be carried further.
and that all appointment clerks should
hold meetings to compare problems
and methods. and that other special
organizations of particular groups OF
government officials should get to-
gether and work out more efficient,
oo-ordinated procedure
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-27

doubtedly volunteer, and unofficial.
The United States win not remit its
efforts to regain possession Of this
slippery young man, but it will not
engage in sensatienally lawless meth
DDS of seizure. Some day. somehow,
Bergdoll will be caught. For some
day, somehow, the United States and
Germany will be officially at peace
and means will be at hand for the ex-
tradition Of fugitives from American
justice. Germany cannot expect per-
manently to harbor this man, even
though his offense was his refusal to
enter the Army the United States was
raising to fight that country. If the
German authorities are really wise
they will lease" Bergdoll over the
frontier some night into the occupied
zone into the hands of the American
representatives waiting there on a
tip. That is, unless the Berlin govern
ment actually regards Bergdoll as a
hero and wants to give him the maxi
mum Of protection. In that case they
ought to warn him to keep out Of
range of the occupied area, for where
one enterprise, inspired by the hope
Of reward, has failed, another might
succeed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-27
Florida's Responsibility.

Mr.. Harding is finding the Florida
weather more hospitable than the
Texas weather. He went to Texas in
good faith and for rest, and rest called
for good weather. The people did not
fail him. They were all he could de-
sire. But the weather was atrocious.
The rain came down in torrents, and
the wind doomed. He did not find
Texas a rest spot.
Florida is balmy and smiling. She
has rest for the weary, and the dis
tinguished visitor can help himself.
Golf, fishing, whatever he likes, he
can have for the choosing. Let US
hope the inviting conditions continue
during his stay.
But not all Of his stay will be de.
voted to rest and pleasure. The day
approaches when he must tackle an
address to be delivered on Capitol
Hill March to a very large assem-
blage Of his countrymen, anxious to
hear from his own lips how he views
existing conditions at home and
abroad, and what may be expected
from him in the way of governmental
policies.
Such an address is not composed,
even by a man Of Mr.. Harding's gift
Of expression, while you wait. The
things left unsaid may be quite as
important as the things said. But
everything will be important that day.
And then Mr.. Harding has his cabi.
net problem with him, and must find
time to work on that occasionally.
He may shift names on the slate at
the last moment.
So Florida's responsibility is con.
siderable. She must, If possible. favor
her guest both in the way of rest and
of work. If she fails she may be ac-
cused of doing it a.purpose, and re-
minded of the fact that she voted for
Cox.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-27
Two Important Cabinet Posts.

The Department of Commerce and
the Department of Labor will bulk
large in the Harding administration.
Commerce is the cry. The country
wants all that can be encouraged.
The public debt is enormous. Taxes
are sky high. All the prosperity that
can be coaxed will not be more than
necessary to meet the emergency.
Production in all lines is to be stimu-
lated. Distribution at home and
abroad is to have special care. Hence
the Department of Commerce will be
very much in the picture.
Labor continues to grow in impor-
lance in the American scheme. Just
now it is in q state of great discomfort,
not only in this country. but else
where. Organized labor is probably
better organized than ever before.
And this is true of labor considered as
a world proposition. In this country
we want labor of all kinds, organized
and unorganized, contented, and as
sisting to the full in pushing the coun-
Try along. We want it to shake hands
Yeh capital in good faith, and do
tpnafWofk. Labor is fully entitled to
M. stnre in whatever prosperity is
eReducod
N. Harding VII be well advised.
therefore,. II he puts at the head of
tAe Commerce Department man with
. knowledge Of commerce, and at the
had Of the LaAer Defartment man
who knows the lahor world, and I'M
derstands present contentious and
tsnAencies there. A strong cabinet
calls for strong men for those two
asdxnments. They should be avail
0Ale.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-27
Something Doing Down There"

"Something doing down there" re-
marked North Carolina farmer to
4 neighbor the other day when the
ground beneath them shook a little
and from the depths came faint rum
bles and creams as If a Titan were
struggling to escape. Other farmers
noted the phenomenon. and all agreed
that there was something doing in
tho depths. A general belief prevailed
that an earthquake was in the max
ing and some alarm was felt. Then
skeptics averred that possibly there
were no tremors after an. but. that the
noises had been caused by crafty
manufacturers OF moonshine seeking
to make the region awesome to the
~revenuers" However that may
have BEEN, the movements and the
noises ceased after a while.
Next came q report from Berkeley,
Calf. that measurements have been
made that demonstrate that the noun.
fains Of the coast range in that re.
Efon are moving northward. causing
severe earth strains and rebounds.
This movement II Is boldly asserted by
de scientists, who are not as shy as
aEe The laymen Of the section about
referring to the disaster Of 1906 as an
sSaxthQuake." IL the cause Of the oc-
eAa1ona1 seismic disturbances along
No California coast.
1esv CONS reports of really sewers
bsakx-nat IN the 1sighborhood o1
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-27
''The Papers, Still Missing.

An expert finally managed to open
tho steel ding cs4lnefs oG the tuna.
ing trades council In New York, In
the search for evidence for the trial
Of Brindell. accused of extortion, but
the minutes Of the organization, which
We're to have shown completely. were
not to be found in them. Much ado
had led to nothing. Now it might be
suggested that 1t the defense knew
that the minutes were not in the safe
the fact might have been frankly
stated. or the cabinets opened in court.
The failure to produce the books may
or may not indicate that they con.
tain implicatory evidence. Certainly
the refusal to assist in the search
bears somewhat against the side that
may possibly be harmed by the pro-
duction Of the missing papers. These
matters Of the bearing OF Incidental
details upon the question Of guilt or
innocence, or rather Of conviction or
acquittal. are psychological in their
nature. That is one reason why pres
ent-day trials are spun out to such
inordinate length. Attorneys for both
sides seek the utmost possible advan.
tage OF every point" The old-fash-
Toned methods which sought the truth
by the shortest cuts are no longer
favored. And meanwhile justice waits.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-27

Philadelphia and Trenton. Buildings
were shaken, some chimneys fell and
windows were broken. No record is
to be discovered of an accidental ex-
pIosion in the region and a genuine
earthquake is credited as the cause
of the phenomenon.
Truly, it would seem that the North
Carolina farmer was right, and that
there is something doing down there"
These seismic strains occur with a
certain degree of regularity. They
may come spasmodically, and again
they may come at rhythmic intervals.
II these unsettlements are but slight
adjustments, to be followed by quiet,
they will cause no particular damage,
however they may alarm the resi-
dents of the affected regions. But if
they are symptoms Of a decided shift
In the crust, disaster may come at
any time. and in any place. with little
or no specific warning.
The moving mountains in California
are not especially significant Of i'm
mediate danger. They have been
moving, it is estimated, for an indefi-
mite period. But they serve to remind
humanity that. after all. this sup
posedly solid sphere we inhabit is not
wholly substantial and that the foun-
dation upon which we have built our
structures of civilization is subject to
shifts beyond our control.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-27
The Extra Session.

There are two Suggestions 2bout the
extra session Of the Sixty-seventh Con-
Gress.
One is that as soon as tariff re-
vision Is out of the way-say in four
months, or five at the outside-ad-
iournment be taken. Business de-
mands the stabilizing influence Of a
new tariff law. Let Congress give
business that. and then go home.
The other suggestion is that Con.
gress tackle everything in sight-the
tEi6 hrsk Of course. A tariff bill win
- ready By the time Congress as
aonhaes.
There are q good many things IN
a4gM and others are likely to swim
Mto the congressional ken a. time
.DaDeG The world has been revelv-
t1E. and We with II. rretfy rapidly Tor
nnse than ak years now. Some
fhGaps have been sx1pped. Other
tAAnDAro under aDpEaisement. Still
0abaEA arc in hand, and should be
aDssdRy disposed Of.
IN legislators VINO Will gather on
Ospitol Hin in the spring may not
have thought measures out very thor
oughly. but Washington is a good
place for thinking; and. gathered to-
SDt6a. they can exchange ideas. and
20-that way help,one another think
xhe second suggestion seems to be
o. WeiEhtier. Congress in session,
M func&ioning aoose1tng to rule. is
Ar1lnAlfxtnE influence in itself. And
tba0e-Arv times Whsax every stabiiiz-
Mg 1n0Dencs availa1ae should be in
aetion. fhkapshsaiA Re no hurry to
get away. The regular session does
not begin until December. and all the
time between March and then can be,
II necessary. devoted to the public
business.