Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-05
Wilson Feared to Name Him,
but Later Regretted It,
How First Cabinet Was
: Selected
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

IN lJAA III LAW INLLAAsJ
. fCoyright. 1924 by the George H. Doran
company in the United States, Canada, South
America World publication rights reserved
by Current News Features, 1ncorporated)
CHAPTER XVII.
TIME selection of William Gibbs
McAdoo to be secretary OF the
treasury was due in no small
measure to the splendid capacity
which Mr.. McAdoo had shown in
the 1912 campaign. AS vice chair
mar of the Democratic national
committee he was opposed by w. f.
McCoombs, who, on account of Ill
health, did many Irresponsible
things, the course of the campaign
being otter threatened by Internal
friction, Mr.. McAdoo was a diplomat
throughout and twice offered to
efface himself if it would assist Mr..
Wilson'S political fortunes.
Oddly enough Mr.. McAdoo did not
see Mr.. Wilson for many weeks art
er the election of 1912. These cir
cumstances gave rise to rumors that
there had been a break, something,
of course, which the McCoombs fac
ton was eagerly trying to bring
about. Mr.. McAdoo was one Of the
few men in the New York financial
district who had pronounced Wood
row Wilson safe and sane, and had
thrown his influence to the candl-
dacy of Mr.. Wilson in pre-conVen-
ton days. Mr.. McAdoo had won
attention as the builder Of the Hud-
son tunnels. His readiness to cast
his lot with Governor Wilson was
no small influence in those days
when the New Jersey candidate need
ed all the friends he could get from
the conservative areas Of the Empire
state.
Josephus Daniels owed his appoint
ment as secretary Of the navy to
Mrs. Wilson, and Joseph r. Wilson,
brother OF the president-elect The
latter had worked in Democratic
headquarters with Mr.. Daniels and
became impressed with his execu-
tive ability and judgment. There
were, Of course, many from North
Carolina urging that Mr.. Daniels,
who had been national committee
man from that state for many years,
should be appointed in recognition
of his services, but the deciding in
fluence was entirely in the Wilson
family. Later when William Jen-
nings Bryan learned that his old
friend and supporter was to be in
the cabinet, he was deeply gratified
and the Bryan faith in Wilson
promptly increased.
Wilson Fortunate Choice
Selecting William B. Wilson to be
secretary of labor was largely the
outgrowth of a desire to make good
the promises given in the campaign
to be friendly to labor. Congress
had just created the portfolio of Sec
rotary Of labor, and the president
elect felt that the recommendations
of the American Federation of Labor
should be given serious weight. He
was happy over the selection Of Will
liam B. Wilson and always counted
it as one Of his best strokes. Secre-
tary Wilson was a splendid col
league, an honest, minded, de-
voted friend, loyal to the nth degree,
sympathetic to be sure with labor's
viewpoint, but by no means radical
in his views. He was often influen-
tial in converting the labor leaders
to more conservative policy, for
he had their trust and confidence.
Albert Sidney Burleson was a po-
litical choice. The influence of Col
onel House in this appointment was
evident. Mr.. Burleson, like Mr.,
Houston, hailed from Texas, where
Colonel House knew them init
mately.
Postmaster General Burleson was
Ctrnp~ oh
Democratic of the partisan kind who
had a convincing way about him
which on more than one occasion
caused Mr.. Wilson to follow him in
opposition to other advices. Mr..
Burleson had been chairman of the
Democratic caucus in the house and
frequently as postmaster general
busted himself about the Hobbies o.
the senate and house winning sup
port for Mr.. Wilson on various al
ministration measures. His activity
in this respect in later years aroused
resentment. There can be no ques-
ton that he did many things which
the president could never have dcna
for himself-especially in lining up
the Democrats in congress. His per-
suaslve arguments won over many
a wavering vote.
Franklin K. Lane, who became one
OF the conspicuous members of the
Wilson cabinet, neXer met his chief
until inauguration day. Various
tales are told of how Mr.. Lane hap
pened to be chosen, among them be-
ing a story that he wrote a letter
to Mr.. Wilson urging that Walter
l.. Fisher, secretary of the interior
in the Taft cabinet, be permitted to
continue in that office, and that Mr.
Wilson was so impressed with Mr.
Lanes grasp Of the problems OF the
interior department that he became
convinced the Californian should be
appointed. Mr.. Lane was a progress
sive, a great admirer of Theodore
Roosevelt, who had appointed him to
the interstate commerce commission,
and one of the few Democrats who
had an opportunity to win national
fame in Washington.
1t so happened, however, that Mr..
Lane was an intimate friend of one
of the members of Colonel House s
family and visited in Texas. His
qualifications were presented to Mr.
Wilson by Colonel Mouse. He was
dCCSpteQ On pdpGis SO TO speak, ana
was one of the first to be decided on
for the cabinet.
In later years a GOODNESS developed
between Woodrow Wilson and
Franklin Lane. Mr.. Wilson once
said the secretary of the interior was
too visionary and while he was
the sponsor of many good ideas they
did not always seem possible of eX,
ecution. Mr.. Lane was outspoken.
He frequently criticized things the
administration did and volunieered
his opinions on many matters out
side the interior department, al! of
which was bound sooner or later to
create friction in a cabinet as sharp
" epartmentalized as was that Of
Woodrow Wilson.
Mr.. Wilson'S greatst trouble IN
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