The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-04
The New Cabinet


There is no objective test by which to judge the
Hoover cabinet or any other. The question is not as
to their individual or collective ability whether
they are the choice someone else would have made
The only question is whether they suit Hoover and
can work with him personally in the manner he
desires
They are honest-and aside from that the cabinet
personnel is not the business of the public but of the
President.
That is asst should be under system of gov
eminent which makes the cabinet the personal family
of the chief executive. They aides subject to
his policy and direction They are responsible to
him. and he is responsible for them to the public.
That is why eminent men sometimes have failed
as cabinet officers, while men of modest ability have
succeeded The job is one of teamwork and sub
ordination to a leader.
The cabinet is made up of Henry stmson, secre-
tary of state Andrew w. Mellon of Pittsburgh, Sec
rotary of the treasury; James w. Good of Chicago
secretary of war; William D. Mitchell of ST. Paul.
attorney-general Walter F. Brown of Toledo post
r1aster-general; Charles F. Adams of Boston, secre-
tary of the navy; Ray Lyman Wilbur of California
secretary of the interior; Arthur NJ Hyde Of Missouri
secretary of AGRICULTURE Robert P. Lamont of Chi
cago, secretary of commerce. James j. Davis OF
Pittsburgh, secretary of labor.
stmson an able lawyer successful secretary
of war under Taft and efficient goVernor-general
of the Philippines under Coolidge He pac1ed Mica
ragua two years ago with ultinatum, which makes
him unpopular with Latin Americans.
Mellon has not been good secretary of the treas
ury under the last two adlninstrationsn our judg-
ment He is popular with Wall Street, which fought
HooverS nomination. and with big and little business
men the country over but is opposed vigorously by
the progressive group and others in Congress
-S.I
is about the best possible recommendation.
Good is astute politician and lawyer, who man.
aged Hoover's western campaign. His real work APP
parenty will be to act Hoover's liason officer with
congress- Job necessitated by the Presidents non
political training and experience.
Brown is the party boss of Toledo. but has been
independent of the old Ohio organization.
Adams is a successful business man. Wilbur is
president of Stanford university. Hyde, former
Governor of Missouri, is insurance man who owns
several farms Lamont is manufacturer banker
and United States Chamber of Commerce official
Davis who himself after eight years at the
labor department, is wealthy business man and
lodge organizer, formerly iron puddler.
Compared with other cabinets, this group is
wealthy and representative business interests rather
than Of professional politics. which sometimes DOM
mates cabinets. It is conservative, containing no
outstanding liberal except DR.. Wilbur. Finally, this
is a cabinet of older men than most.
With the possible exception of Mellon, there is
no reason to doubt that each of these men will do
his job Hoover wants it done leaving matters Of
policy to the President From all indications Hoover
is going to be the administration And that no doubt
is what the voters had in mind when they elected him.