Evening star., 1924-03-12
CHAPTER XVII.
How Woodrow Wilson Picked His
Cabinet-One Member He Never
Met Till Inauguration Day.


Cabinet-One Member He Nevei
Mcf TIL Inauguration Day.
The selection of William Gibbs
NcAdoo to be Secretary of the Treas
ury was due in no small measure tc
the splendid capacity which Mr.. Nc.
-tdoo had shown in the 1912 cam
paign. AS vice chairman of the
democratic national committee he was
opposed by w. F. McCombs, who
on account of i'll health did many ir-
responsible things, the course of the
campaign being often threatened by
internal friction. Mr.. McAdoo was a
diplomat throughout. and twice offer
ed to efface himself if it would as
sist Mr.. Wilson's political fortunes
Oddly enough, Mr.. McAdoo did no,
see Mr.. Wilson for many weeks after
the election of 1912. These circum-
stances gave rise to rumors that
there had been a break, something
of course, which the McCombs fac
tion was eagerly trying to bring
about. Mr.. McAdoo was one of the
few men in the New York financial
district who had pronounced Wood
thrown his influence TO the candidacy
of Mr.. Wilson in preconvention days
Mr.. McAdoo had won attention as
the builder of the Hudson tunnels
His readiness to cast his lot with
Gov. Wilson was no small influence
in those days, when the New jersey
candidate needed all the friends he
could get from the conservative
areas of the Empire state.
why Daniels Was Chosen.
.Josephus Daniels owed his appoint
ment as Secretary of the Navy to
Mrs. Wilson and Joseph r. Wilson
brether of the President-elect. The
latter had worked in democratic head
quarters with Mr.. Daniels and became
impressed with his executive ability
and judgments There were. of course
many from North Carolina urging
that Mr.. Daniels, who had been ma
tional committeeman from that state
for many, years, should be appointed
in recognition of his services, but
the deciding influence was entirely
in the Wilson family. Later, when
William jennings Bryan learned that
his old friend and supporter was to
be in the cabinet, he was deeply
Sratified, and the Bryan faith in Will
son promptly increased.
Selecting William B. Wilson to. be
Secretary of Labor was largely the
outgrowth of desire to make good
the promises given in the campaign
TO be friendly to labor. Congress
81 f<>1 ha al g
Secretary 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 colleague,
an honest, fair-minded. devoted
friend. loyal to the nth degree, sym
pathetic, to be sure. with labor's
in his views. He was often iniu-
ential in converting the labor leaders
TO q more conservative policy, for he
had their trust and confidence.
Albert Sidney Burleson was polit-
ical choice. The influence of Col.
House in this appointment was evil
dent. Mr. BurleSon, like Mr.. Houston,
hailed from Texas, where Col. House
knew them intimately.
An ola-F..hsoned Politician.
Postmaster General Burleson was a
strong figure-an old-fashioned demo-
crat of the partisan kind, who had
a convincing way about him, which
on more than one occasion caused
Mr.. Wilson to follow him in oppo-
sition to other advisers. Mr. Rurleson
had been chairman of the democratic
caucus in the House. and frequently
as Postmaster General busted himself
about the lobbies OF the Senate and
House, winning support for Mr.. Will
son on various administration meas
ures. His activity in this respect
There can be no question that he did
many things which the Presid lent
could never have done for hims self
especially in lining up the democrats
III Congress. His persuasive argu-
ments won over many a wavering
vote.
Franklin X. Lane, who became one
of the conspicuous members Of the
Wilson cabinet. never met his chief
until inauguration day. Various
tales are told of how Mr.. Lane hap
Dened to be chosen, among them
being story that he wrote a letter
to Mr. Wilson urging that Walter
u. 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. great admirer of Theodore
Roosevelt, who had appointed him to
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, and one of the few democrats
who had an opportunity to win ma
tional fame in Washington.
1t so happened, however, that Mr.
Lane was an intimate friend of one