Evening star., 1944-11-25
Possible Cabinet Shifts
Weighed by Observer
Roosevelt Has Political Right
To Retain Group, Says Lawrence

Roosevelt Has Political Right
To Retain Group, Says Lawrence
By David Laurence
Ever since the election all sorts of
suggestions have appeared in the press
telling President Roosevelt that he
should remove some members of his
present cabinet and appoint new ones.
Most of tine comments emanate from
those who did not support Mr.. Roose-
welt during the campaign. Under the
present system, the minority really has
no voice in the executive branch of the
Government even though about 81 ,270,-
600 votes were cast in favor of the
Republican candidate. One of the big
issues of the campaign was that there
should be a change and house clean
ing in Washington, but the people voted
against this by a majority of approx
mately 100000 out of 45,670, 900 votes
cast.
Under the circumstances Mr.. Roose-
welt has every political right to dis
regard the viewpoint Of the minority
and keep his cabinet intact AS mat
ter of fact the view that "its time for
a change" was refuted by Mr. Roose-
velts supporters, who argued that ex-
perience and familiarity with public
Office was SO essential that there could
be no change at this time.
Every one Of the 10 members of the
Presidents cabinet is more familiar
with the work Of his or her department
than any newcomer could possibly be.
| 1t would take many weeks or months
for new appointee to become &C
| quainted with the duties and routine
OF the Office And a change at this time
would presumably be perilous while
there is war on-at least that is the
argument that could conceivably be
made by those who supported Mr..
Roosevelt in the last election.
| Runs Cabinet Himself.
1t Is well known that Mr. Roosevelt
runs the cabinet himself, anyway.
Every department head must do Mr..
Roosevelt's bidding or else resign 1t
would make no difference whether Mr..
Roosevelt selected new persons for his
cabinet-they would all have to carry
| out his policies.
So it is difficult to understand just
how there would be any recognition of
the protests OF the minority voters if
Mr.. Roosevelt did change the personnel
of his cabinet. AS matter of fact, if
there is going to be any change, it is
probable that the persons chosen will
not be those who represent the view-
point of the Republicans in the cam
paign at all, but those who reflect the
viewpoint of Mr.. Roosevelt and the
New Dealers.
Actually in position like that of
Labor Secretary, for instance, while
there are many able persons like DR..
John A. Steelman and others available
who could serve creditably in that post,
the logic SO far as the New Deal is
concerned is to pick Sidney Hillman.
He was the man who perhaps more
than anybody else in the campaign,
except possibly Robert Hannegan. chair
man of the Democratic National Com
mittee, was responsible for the vote
in the larger cities which piled up
enough majorities to swing the elec-
tion.
Mr.. Hillman served as co-chairman
OF the Office of Production Manage
ment with William Knudsen and, dur
ing his term of Office, nothing was
heard about his alleged Communist
relationships or about his radicalism.
Certainly, so far as Mr.. Roosevelt Is
concerned, he could not possibly coun-
tenance the objections to Mr. Hillman
that were raised during the last cam
paign. If Mr., Hannegan is deserving Of
the post Of Postmaster General Ger
tainly Mr.. Hillman deserves the post
of Secretary of Labor
Reasons Are Puzzling.
What is even more puzzling are the
reasons why Republicans here and there
are so solicitous about the makeup of
President Roosevelt's fourth-term ca BIZ
net. If Mr.. Roosevelt were to choose
conservatives or those who approximate
the Republican viewpoint, it is, OF
course, possible that the next four years
might tend to stability in the economic
life of the Nation, but this hardly would
benefit the Republicans who expect to
| PlOAt pUlItlCdlly Uy CIldOS vi Tie az
cumulation of more anti-New Deal
grievances
If the Republicans say nothing about
it and Mr. Roosevelt keeps the present
cabinets or appoints New Dealers, the
whole situation might possibly rebound
to the political benefit of Republicans
in the long run.
All of which adds up to the fact that
Mr.. Roosevelt will do as he pleases
regardless of the 21.27O00O people who
cast minority vote. If America some
day adopts the parliamentary system
of government as in Canada, where the
minority is represented in the cabinet
there would be some chance for a
minority of 21,27O,OO0 to have a say.
But until that time comes, the Presi-
dent has the right to ignore the minor
ity of 81 270,0O0 voters.
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