Imperial Valley press., 1944-11-28
CORDELl HULL LEAVES
CARES OF OFFICE, TO REST

Gentleman from Tennessee came as
no surprise to close observers of the ins
and outs at Washington. That the genial
southern cabinet member had contem
plated the move many months ago gen.
orally was believed at the capital. 1t
further was capital talk that he would
have relinqushed the post as much as
a year ago had he been assured Sumner
Nelles would not succeed him.
After Welles was chosen to go, in the
feud that existed for some time between
Hull and his undersecretary those in on
affairs at Washington set the time for
the secretary TO resign as brief time
after the November election.
Hull served almost twelve years. and,
of course has the distinction of the long
est service in that office since John Jay,
the first secretary of state.
He was the 49th secretary of state.
Ills name goes down in history in that of
flee along with many notables. SIX OF
whom became president. Among the great
who served in that place We're Jay, Jeffer-
son. Edmund Randolph, John Marshall,
Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams,
John C.. Calhoun, Henry Clay, Daniel
Webster James G. Blaine, Richard Olney,
Elihu Root. William Jennings Bryan,
Charles F.. Hughes. The current secretary
of war, Henry l.. Stimson, was Hooyers
secretary of state. The six who became
president were jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe, Adams, Van Buren, and Buchanon.
While Hull served through three con-
secutive terms. it is interesting to note
he stands alone on that record. Next IN
lannth of continuous service In addltlon
to Jay was William II. Seward who serv-
ed under Lincoln and Johnson History
OF n a
three terms. that three presidents chang
ed secretaries of state three times while
in office. Tyler had Hugh S. Lagare,
Abel P. Upshur and John c. Calhoun.
Mckinley named John Sherman. William
r. Day and John Hay and Wilson had
three, Bryan, Robert Lansing and Baln-
bridge Colby.
Washington changed this cabinet post
four times in his eight years lncumDancy
Jay. Jefferson, Randolph and Timothy
Pickering.
Perhaps Hull will be remembered IN
the future because Of his good nelghbor
policy, which almost has been an obses-
sion with the Tennesseean. NO DOUBT ne
points with great pride to that endeavor.
Critics will differ on this part IN ms
career, although not so notlceably untli
after the lend-lease plan moved IN ana
0v6rSldQOW6u Lie
hind Hull's program. Likewise critics
will clash for all time, over his long
enduring patience with Japan. In this;
however. even those who do not hold
with the policies up until December T.
l94l, will not heap their criticism on the
retired secretary as much as on the al
ministration itself.
It will be agreed, too, that Hull STOOD
out stronger as a peacetlme secretary
rather than a wartime statesman, and
to this extent he may occupy the same
niche in history as that held by Bryan
although Bryan had no opportunity 10
serve as wartime secretary. r.,
Whatever biographers or historians
NAV write of Hull, all will agree as TO
his honesty of purpose, his untlrlng ener-
gy. his integrity and his answering be-
lief in the future of America. ~,
These attributes clearly are mlrrored
in his decision to retire when he came TO
the full knowledge that his health would
not permit him to undertake the trem-
endous task that will fall on his office
in the making Of peace terms. 1t was not
quitting in the face of the greatest prob
lem the country ever faces; 1t was the
simple dictates of honesty and conscience.
He knew he should pass the task along
to one who could carry on, with the phys
jcal vigor the work will demand in the
next four years.