I was asked to give the names of men from California who would make good Cabinet material, and I named Phelan and Adolph Miller.  The currency question will be the big problem in the next two or three years, and I should like Wilson to have the benefit of as sane a mind as Miller’s; but I fancy that even if everything else was all right there might be some difficulty in getting a college professor to appoint another college professor.

I hope we shall see you here soon.  With holiday greetings to Mrs. Wheeler and the Boy, believe me, as always, faithfully yours,

FRANKLIN K. LANE

TO SIDNEY E. MEZES PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

Washington, December 23, 1912

My dear Sid,—­I have your letter enclosing a telegram from Miller.  I received a note from him acknowledging the telegram.  He was evidently extremely delighted at being remembered.  The sturdy, strong old Dutchman has a whole lot of sentiment in him; and he makes few friends, has drawn pretty much to himself, I think, and falls back upon those whom he has known in earlier days.  I sent a note to Mr. House regarding him.  He would be a splendid man to have here in some capacity connected with the Government, now that we are to deal with currency matters.  I told Mr. House that he could find out all about Miller from you.

I saw House a couple of times in New York.  He certainly is an adroit and masterful diplomat.  The fact is I do not know that I have seen a man who is altogether so capable of handling a delicate situation.  By some look of the eye or appreciative smile at the right moment he gives you to understand his sympathy with and full comprehension of what you are saying to him.  They tell me in New York that he is really the man closest to Wilson, and he tells me that Wilson is a delightful man to deal with because he has got a mind that is firm as a rock. ...

I send my Christmas greetings to you both.  We have a sick little girl on our hands, but she is coming along all right now.  As always yours,

FRANKLIN K. LANE

To John H. Wigmore

Washington, January 8,1913

My dear John,—...  You may not know it, but I suggested your name to Mr. House, an intimate of President-elect Wilson, for Attorney General. ...  He told me that he gave the letter to Governor Wilson. ...

Like so many of the Southerners, I fear that Wilson’s idea is that he can declare a general policy and be indifferent as to the men who carry it out.  There is a certain lack of effectiveness running through the South which makes for sloppiness and a lack of precision.  I have found that generalizations do not get anywhere.  The strength of any proposition lies in its application.  The railroads and the trusts and the packers, and all the others who are