The Bozeman courier., 1921-02-02
Hitting the Nail or the Head

treasury, contrary to half-forgotten |
law which prohibited a merchant from
holding that office. The Senate pro-
perly refused it's cOnsens.
Otherwise, altohough the Senate |
has sometimes, as in the case of |
some of the Roosevelt appointments,
delayed its assent, it has never re-
fused to allow the President to ap-
point whom he chooses. The Senate
recognizes that the President must
have harmonious administration.
Several principles guide the Presi-
dent in making up his administration
The first principle, which has been
almost universally followed, is that
the members of the Presidents cabi-
net should be members of his party.
1t is true that in the Civil War period
when party lines were blurred, and
during the administration of Presi-
dents Roosevelt and Taft, this rule
was not followed absolutely.
A most remarkable exception was
the appointment of J. @. Gresham.
He had been a member of President
Arthur's cabinet and an aspirant for
the Republican presidential nomina-
tion. Yet President Cleveland ap-
pointed him secretary CT state.
AS will later be seen, this is a
good principle Cabinet officers are
not only administrative officers, but
political advisers as well. We would
hardly have expected Mckinley, elect
ed on gold platform, to appoint
Bryan, the exponent of free silver, as
his secretary Of the treasury. 1t
would not be natural for Wilson tC
have appointed Lodge to advise him il
foreign affairs.
Another principle is a geographical
: one. The President usually attempts
to have all sections. of the country
represented in his cabinet. With
this, however, goes an implied prohi
bition that no State should have NOR
than one representative. Presiden
Wilson, to make his cabinet represen
all sections of the country, appointe
men from eight different States. Blu
he violated the prohibition, for thre
of the members of his cabinet cam
> from New York and one from tn
neighboring State of New Jersey.
r The country at large makes anothe
k demand. 1t desires an able cabine
f Of course, this is never entirely abser
a from the Presidents mind in maxim
$ appointments. The people applaude
5 the appointment of Root as secretar
n of war to re-organize that depar
% ment. They rejoiced in he skill {
l. Secretary Hay in the conduct of fo1
le eign affairs, and felt safe when
it noted banker like Lyman Gage w;
If the head of the treasury.
l. But strangely enough, administer
tive skill is not always a prerequisit
i 1t is not the duty of a cabinet off
lie Ger to run his department. This
ct done by the almost permanent offiC
at ais and the assistant secretaries II
n cabinet officer must determine lar
f. questions Of policy rather than bu!
t. himself with petty details, must ha
to a large vision rather than expe
j." knowledge Of the little things. VIII
ke did Secretary Root know about mi
or tary affairs? Yet President Roos
b. velt called him one of the create
is secretaries Of war.
al A fourth qualification which is COZ
n ing more and more to be recogniz
e. is political influence. Rightly
wrongly cabinet officials are mo
in frequently than ever called upon
es advise the President concerning lar
It. policies. They are expected to
&C. fluence Congress and the country
al get the adoption of these policies.
of This WAS clearly recognized /
President Wilson in his original ca
rt- net. To many people, Bryan seem
A joke as secretary of state. Yet
ew 1913, Bryan's influence in the Den
to cratic party was probably great
he than that of Wilson. Without b
rt- ans support, it is to be doubt
ito wheather the radical Democrats COZ
ID have been brought to support the F,
;h- eral Reserve Bank.
IDS Burleson to some people has bt
at failure as postmaster-general.
let Congress, Burleson's influence W
ay the Democratic majority was u:
ent again and again to win them to
rot support Of President Wilson's polio
Compare the success of Presid
len Wilson's policies.
ack Compare the success of Presid
the Wilson's first administration with
tly administration of President Taft.
i've for man, President TaftIs cabin
nal was probably more able and conts
ch ed better administrators than that
ur- President Wilson. But able as tn
i'll men were in administering the
ers fairs of their departments, they W
ate not so able in impressing the co
of try, and more especially Congr
The Congress passed every law WI
ing President Wilson desired in the f
too | wars of bic od,,o ,,o;x,ie4xok,o, D..