The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-03-04

an eXacC1ng country. ne Hdo
selected men of known capabll-
tiles and honor. We do not
question who they are, we know
because they have long been in
the public eye and connected
with the big things of the coun-
try. We are over our period OF
immature, experimental govern
ment. Again we are to have a
representative government IN
Washington. The Miami Herald
had the following editorial when
Charles Evans Hughes name was
placed before the country as the
next Secretary of State:
The official announcement by Hard
ing that he will appoint Charles
Evans Hughes to the cabinet as
secretary of state, and the acceptance
by Hughes of the honor, is another
indication that Harding is running
true to form of other men elected
to the presidency. In Hughes he has
recognized the man who was al most
unanimously picked by the public
for the place as soon as it was
known that the republicans had won.
The public mind was moved by
tradition more than by appreciation
of Hughes fitness, which is acknowl-
edged 1t runs in the minds of the
people, through reading history, that
most presidents appointed men to
the position of secretary OF state
who were universally accepted as
being more brilliant than the presi-
dents themselves. 1t is not likely
that this actually was true in any
instance, and it certainly is not true
in the case of Hughes. The presi-
dent-elect has just as fair reputa-
ton for craftsmanship as Hughes, but
there are those prehaps who, because
of Hughes longer prominence in
the public eye, look upon him as the
more experienced of the two. That
has been the case in a number of
instances.
Thomas Jefferson, the first secre-
tary of state, was regarded as the
mental superior of Washington. The
first Adams made John Marshall
secretary of state, and Marshall was
heralded as his better. John Quincy
Adams, premier in Monroe's cabinet,
was looked upon as being more bril-
liant than the president, just as
Henry Clay was regarded as being
many heads stronger than John
Quincy Adams, in whose cabinet he
was etary of state.
Daniel Webster, Of course, was
generally conceded to be the superior
of Harrison, who chose him to head
his cabinet in 1S41. John c Calhoun,
who was called to the state DEPART
ment by President Tyler, ranked as
the leading statesman Of his day.
President Polk chose James Blu
chanan, who later became president.
! President Fillmore recognized the
brilliance of Webster and for sec
ond time that distinguished American
was put at the head of the state
department,
In the Lincoln administration the
turbulent Seward was acknowledged
to be his chiefs superior as a dipio-
mat. Lincoln put up with a lot Of
Stewards eccentricities in order ia
avail himself Of his statecraft. Gen
eral Grant had for his premiers
Washburn and Fish, neither of whom
stood high in public opinion. Hayes
took for his chief adviser William N
Evarts, a man of large calibre.
Garfield chose the brilliant Blaine
as did Harrison. Not since the dav.
of Clay, Webster or Seward had {
man of greater ability served in the
cabinet.
The line Of secretaries of state
since then has included Americans
: rrrhn in, oil
of the people. They were:
Harrison, John w Foster; Cleve
land, Thomas F Bayard, Walter G
Gresham and Richard Olney: McKin
ley, John Sherman and John Hay
) Roosevelt, John Hay and Elihu Root
Taft, Philander Knox; and Wilson
William j Bryan and Bainbridg,
Colby. 1t is pretty we'll understood
7 that Wilson made Lansing secretar,
: Of state principally for the reason
, that he (Wilson) wanted to perform
the real duties himself and to hav
! Lansing, who was familiar witt
! detail, run the department.
/ Secretaries Of state who mad
, notable races for the presidency
other than Jefferson, Madison, ]
Adams, Van Buren, and Buchanan
who attained it, were Henry CLAW
4 Daniel Webster, Blaine and Bryan.
! Clay had 105 electoral votes to III
l for Polk. Webster ran a good rae,
in 1886, but his party was split fou
: WAYS. He was a candidate again ii
, 1852, but received very small vote
James G Blaine received 1872 elect
oral votes to 2l9 qiven Grover Cleve
land. There were only a few THOUSAND
$ votes between them in the popula
, vote.
Bryan was the nominee of hi
party three times. In 1896, he re
ceived 176 electoral votes to 271 70
: Mckinley: in 1900, he received 1876 T.
. McKinlev's 300, and in 1908 received
1862 to Taft's 321.
Hughes was beaten for the presi
dency in 1916 by Wilson. The vot
l was so close that the result was nc
, definitely known for several DAYS.
!, Following a line Of noted Amer
leans. some Of whom had almos
! identical careers in political am
billions, Hughes viii easily be tn
2 stellar member If the cabinet. an
!. his future nolitical career will b