Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-20
HARDING NOT likely
ITO TAKE COX OFFER
Expected to Keep Seat Until
Republican Governor
Assumes Office.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

MARION, Ohio. December 20.--All
indications point to the. fact that
President-elect Harding will not ae-
cept the offer Of Gov. Cox to appoint
Frank 3. Willis to the United States
Senate, and permit Mr. Harding to
resign his seat in the upper body Of
Congress. ~
Senator Harding takes the position
that there is no need for his imme-
date resignation and he will wait
therefore until after January 10. when
the new republican governor of Ohio,
Harry Davis, will be inaugurated at
Columbus. Mr.. Willis was elected to
ordinary course of events would not
take office until the calling of the
extra session very soon after March 4.
When Mr.. Harding was in Washing
ton a couple Of weeks ago he an
nounced he would resign his seat in
publican successor to Gov. Cox had
been installed at the state house, an
understanding already having been
reached that the new governor would
appoint Mr.. Willis.
Feels Nothing Would Be Gained.
Gov. Cox read of Mr.. Harding's vale
dictory address in the Senate and of
HIS ucsHc " TtSISH dS soon as ne
could do SO with political safety The
governor thereupon wrote the Presi-
dent-eIect and said he would be glad
to expedite the change if Mr.. Harding
so desired and pledged himself to ap-
point Mr.. Willis. Mr. Harding thank
the matter up with Senator -elect Will
lis. At the time. however, Mr. Will
lis aged father was seriously i'll and
a conference with him was out Of the
question. Since then the elder Willis
has died.
Senator Harding now feels that as
Congress is about to take a holiday
recess nothing would be gained by
hurryfng matters and accepting the
Cox offer. By the time Congress actu-
tive business Gov. Cox win have re-
tired to private life and Mr.. Willis
will go to Washington as the ap-
pointee Of a republican rather than a
democrat. Mr.. Harding has been re-
luctant to accept any favors from the
democratic national administration.
and it is virtually certain he will not
place himself in the position of ac-
ccpting what might be classed as a
political favor from his late opponent
in the presidential race.
New in Cabinet Gossip.
The week end stay Of Senator New
of Indiana at the Harding home has
led to q revival of cabinet gossip in
Marion. The numerous conferences Of
last week on the International situ-
alton eclipse all cabinet talk for the
time being, but it is recognized here
that Senator New is one Of the yery
closest men to the President -elect in
all matters appertaining to things DO
litical. and it is known his visit had
more to do with political matters than
with the new association Of nations
At the Harding headquarters it is
insisted that all cabinet talk at this
time Is the merest speculation, but in
some manner the impression has
spread abroad that two or three of
the men generally regarded as Ger.
tain OF appointment to the Harding
official family will not be selected nv
him for the berths popularity assigned
to them. Ever since the election IL
has been taken more or less for
granted that John w. Weeks of Mas
sachusatts would be named as .Secre.
tary of the Treasury or Secretary OF
the Navy. his influential friends nre.
ferring the former position for him.
Rumor now has it that Mr. Weeks
may not be named and that Charles
ID. Hilies of New York, at one time
secretary to President Taft, has the
inside track for the Treasury mort
folio. George NJ. Reynolds and Charles
q. Dawes. both Chicago bankers. also
are being mentioned.
Geography in Account.
Geographical considerations are wor-
rying Mr.. Harding in making up his
cabinet slate. and some OF his more
intimate friends are urging him to dis
regard the time-worn political tradition
that no state should have two members
OF cabinet. @7g
Mr. Root. for instance. is being !