Evening star., 1918-12-04
MAY FILL CABINET
POST BY WIRELESS
President Believed to Have
Picked Mr.. Glass for
- Treasury Head.

With President Wilson on the high
seas, bound for Europe, without an
nouncing the appointment Of Secre-
tary Of the Treasury to succeed Will
liam G. McAdoo, interest in Washing
ton about the unusual method Of ap-
pointment was almost as keen as that
concerning the man to be appointed.
Secretary McAdoo is expected to
send a wireless message to the Presf-
dent during the day announcing
whether the man selected for the
Treasury secretaryship will accept
the appointment.
| It generally was believed that Car
| ter Glass is the Presidents choice.
Mr.. Glass is understood to have been
in conference with the President late
last night just before the President
left for New York.
Representative Glass has not de-
cided whether he will accept ap-
pointment of Secretary of the Treas
ury, according to his colleagues in
the House, who say announcement OF
his appointment only awaits his ac-
ceptance. Mr.. Glass, how ever. de-
clines to admit that the position has
been offered to him.
"At this moment I don't find my
self in position to say whether I
tion, If invited to do So" declared
Mr.. Glass today. 81 would rather not
say anything on the subject of
whether the position has been offered
me-"
Should Mr.. Glass decline. on account
Of i'll health. for he has suffered from
a stomach complaint for some years.
it is thought the President then Will
again urge Bernard M. Baruch to ac-
cept the position.
Mr.. Baruch's Attitude.
Mr.. Baruch told friends today that
he still did not consider himself safe
from the appointment. He is generally
understood to have been the Presi-
dents choice, but to have declined 1t.
But with the President out Of the
country 1t is probable that Mr.. Barusa sa
cabinet if the President appointed
So far as appointment of the Presi-
dents first choice is concerned, it is
believed the President has signed the
nomination and left it in the hands of
his secretary, Joseph P. Tumulty, who
was In New York with him.
But should the appointee named In
this paper decline and should the
President be compelled to name an
other man. the procedure OF appoint
ment by wireless or cable, either In
this case or in other appointments re-
quiring. the Senate's ratification. was
a question concerning. which there
was considerable speculation.
1t WAS generally. believed today that
the President has left signed nomina-
tfon papers AZ the White House. to be.
f11ed In with names of aDuOtntaeH,
which he MAY send back by cable or
by wireless. White House officials
would not state today whether or not
this had been done.
Customary Procedure.
.Ohicials believe such course would
be perfectly legal, for all the Presi-
dent does upon any occasion is to sign
the papers. and they usually are
filled in by members of the White
House executive staff.
It Is understood that the President
studied the constitutional points In
volyed in his trip abroad personally
and that he entertains no doubt of the
absolute legality of his ability to
transact all the functions of his Office
abroad. 1t was stated by an official
who had talked with him ON this point
that he was so sure of his ground that
he had not even asked for an opinion
from the Attorney General about it.
The President has been a Lifelong
student of constitutional government,
II not of constitutional law. and
friends were inclined to believe his
own opinion OF value.
There will be no difficulty about the
appointment of a director general Of
railroads, because that appointment
does not have to be acted upon by
the Senate.