Evening star., 1937-10-22
Multiple Driving.

From the simple horse-and- buggy
mode of transport, which has become
in presidential parlance a symbol of out
moded simplicity, to the eighteen-horse
team is far, far cry indeed. The many
multiple horsepower method of execu-
tive travel, however, has its disadvan-
tages Driving, or controlling, eighteen
horses at once is difficult feat, not
assuredly successful. 1t takes all the
attention of the driver, all his energies
In the coordination of the power units.
And this especially when there are other
matters than driving to be attended to,
foreign relations, economic complexes,
political problems.
Thus it is by no means surprising that
the driver in chief of the administra-
tive team" has decided to turn the reins
over TO another, acting as his proxy,
or substitute, or what you will, in the
highly desirable, indeed the essential,
matter of insuring harmonious and con-
tinuouS progress. Nor is it surprising
that he should select for this job his own
son, who has become his administrative
secretary and who without doubt knows
all the ms and outs of the road, all the
intersections, all the congested places.
There is no precedent for this new
set-up at the White House. Indeed,
there is no need for a precedent. So
many unprecedented departures from
the established concept of administra-
ton have occurred during the past four
and two-thirds years that another one
is not surprising. King Louis the Four
teenth of France once declared, THE
State-it is l." He made his precedents
as he went along, and he gained his
objectives without serious disputation
and without effective resistance.
1t will be recalled in this connection
that not long ago-so many things are
happening in American administrative
circles that time has become somewhat
confused-the President proposed an
other kind of new set-up of adminiStra-
tion, consisting of group of six men
with a passion for anonymity who
should do the actual work of executive
management, subject, of course, to the
supreme authority. Evidently change
of mind has occurred and there are not
to be six self-effacing administrators in
all but chief, but one, whose qualif1ca-
ton as one dedicated TO the principle OF
-concealment has not yet been
demonstrated.
Just how the new plan will work Is,
of course, q matter of question, to be an
swered in perhaps few weeks of trial
1t would be discourteous to say, in the
usual phrase, trial and error" And 1t
Is too soon to know how the eighteen
Observation-Disclosures will relish the
proposition of communication and con-
tact with the chief through the medium
of an individual clearing house. OF
course, they will not repine in public.
Nor will they quit their jobs in umbrage
at the new arrangement. There are not
enough good places out in the wicked
world of business to go around, such
as In the molasses field. The chances
are that there will be less publicity for
the eighteen, which is matter doubtless
of some regret to them.
For the newly named handler OF the
eighteen pairs of reins there will be SYM
pathetic concern. 1t is no small job TO
drive nine pairs of spirited steeds along
a somewhat rough and winding road.
OF course, in this case-as in so many
others In modern motoring-there will
be a back-seat driver, the sole and
superior passenger-conductor, whose ad-
vice and directions are to be strictly
followed, which will possibly complicate
the performance somewhat.