The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-06
OF MEDIUM ABILITY

1t seems, judging from the authorized ad-
yanced information, that the Harding cabinet
will be like all its predecessors-made up of
one or two able men, of a few medium men
and Of several men who are neither able nor
medium.
Such condition is one which unfortu-
nately arises by the executive head of national
affairs being compelled to pay off political
debts through making professional politicians
the recipients of posts, the duties of which
demand business acumen ard business meth
DDS upon the part of those who are given
directorial authority.
The political history of this nation shows
that practically every president we have had,
Democrat or Republican, has been man of
strong personality, of keen executive ability,
Of dominant character and of good business
judgment
Yet the administration of every president,
from the days of George Washington on down
and through the two successive terms of Wood
row Wilson, show that errors of judgment
have led to fatal mistakes to mistakes which
have cost the taxpayers of the United States
billions upon billions of dollars, mistakes which
have resulted dsastrously to the political party
whose chief executive was held responsible,
but which were in every case chargeabe to
the observation-disclosures and incompetency Of
some men who, while shrewd politicians, fitted
to control and deliver big blocks of votes in
doubtful states, were grossly untitled either
by business training or ability to handle the
affairs entrusted to their care in such man.
ner as to reflect credit upon either themselves
or the administration by which they were
appointed.
1t has been conceded by friend and foe, by
Republicans as well as Democrats that Wood
row Wilson is one of the brainest men who
ever sat in the presidential chair. 1t has been
conceded by those who recognize ability and
true worth, that he was q master of state
craft, q business man of undoubted ability, a
man Of great character and strong personality.
Yet in paying political debts, in serving out
the pottage to those who played the game of
politics and brought about his ascension to the
highest and most honorable office in the gift
of the enfranchised citizens Of the most en-
lghtened country in the civilized world, Mr..
Wilson surrounded himself by a cabinet, gave
10 himself governing board of directors many
of whom were most VIGOROUSLY incompetent
and unqualified.
AS a result money was scattered to the
four winds of the heavens, graft walked abroad
in the land at the time when patriotic sons
of America were battling for the overthrow
of autocracy and departmental scandals be-
came as common as the neighborhood gossip
dispensed from meetings of old time sewing
circles
Handicapped on every stretch, hampered
on every hand by assistants who held positions
which were too big for them, broken by dis
ease and wrecked by nervous strain, Wilson's
second administration in place of ending in a
blaze of glory which should have left the party
of Thomas Jefferson in power snuffed out
. into an oblivion which carried with its passing
the most disastrous and overwhelming defea
ever known to political party of this nation
II is to be sincerely hoped, for the welfar,
of the people of the United States, that tn,
Harding administration will accomplish mucl
toward bringing about that condition of NOR
nalcy" of which he talked so earnestly durin,
the campaign last year. The American peopl
expect much of the Republican party-the,
expect much of Mr.. Harding as the executive
head of that party and as the executive chic
Of this government. Many promises have beer
made and many practically insurmountabl