The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-14
League Talk Predominates
In Harding-Root Meeting
Mr.. Harding Believed
Veering Toward the
League of Nations
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright BY the Intelngencsr)

Washington Dec 1.-Two things are
disturbing the members OF the So-called
group OF "irrcCuncillhlaS'' who oppose
the entrance OF the United states into
any association or league Of nations
whatever One j. that Iresident-elect
Harding is veer:ns toward the present
League OF nations and has about made
up his mind that the machinery of the
league must b. used even though a
meudment~ ami reservations freeing
.\mer.CI from obligations or cntanGle-
r.ents shall De the basis OF America CO.
operation with u" other nations. And
the other thing is that Mr.. Harding Is
showing marked fri"ndhneSS TO Hereert
Hoover and has hin:cd that he wants
him in the cabinet.
When l.resident-elert Harding was IN
Washington. x was learned today that
he amazed certain members of the irrcC-
onCitabie group by his friendly refer
cnCeS 10 Mr.. Hoover. He got some
frank expressions OF criticism in return.
Il will not pc forgotten that Senator
Hiram Johnson. leader OF the !rrccon-
nilahles, fought Mr.. Hoover in the Cal
!tornia primaries and that the sores OF
that fight have nut altocether healed. SO
when Mr.. Harding comes along and says
nice things about Mr. Hoover and hints
that the latter may he cabinet timber
though fOrSooth he is careful not 10 say
ne intends 10 select him--thcrc is nat
ural d:SUNay in the Johnson camp.
Hoover and the Cabinet
But Mr.. Johnson Is not the only one
who would regard the appointment or
Mr. Hoover in the same way as waving
4 red flag IN front OF q bull. Senator
penrose when asked what he thought Of
Mr.. Hoover for the cabinet. IS quoted
IS having said he regarded such talk
Is a joke.
The fact Is the possible appointment
~, ~, has Sffr
up Sore interesting discussion On cap
uol hill Threats and talk OF splitting
the party are o. course heard. Some
II the senator's have begun referring
I lgain to Mr.. io"verS long residence in
England while others have revived the
controversy about the fixing OF the price
- wheat. which MIR Hoover insists ne
l,dn't do. but which was The work OF
special commission appointed BY the
president Nevertheless IN the scramble
FOR cabinet positions. III" friends OF
those who want positions IN the cabinet
md want 10 eliminate Mr. Hoover be-
cause OF the suggestion that he VIII be
the only Western man chosen are begin
ming 10 unite against Mr.. Hoover.
The understanding here is that Sena-
tor Harding is thinking OF Mr.. Hoover
!ur secretary az the interior particularly
because Mr.. Hoover IN = Western man
deal with the Sreat problems OF the In
terror DEPARTMENT. Mr.. Hoover may or
may not be selected but his presence in
Marion IS annoying 20 his opponents in
the senate who really fear he win he
appointed. Until these opponents began
20 take K seriously the impression was
not we'll refined that Mr.. Hoover would
bs chosen. The activity against MT.
Hoover is the strouSes, evidence thus
far that Presjdrnt-"!ect Harding has
him strongly ~ mind for the cabinet.
Confidence in Hoover
Of Iarhart HOnYAr
m the league OF nations or European
conditions which - influencing Mr.
Harding. The close tric7ds OF the pres
ldent-elect say ne wants Mr.. Hoover De-
r.uSe he believes the COuntry has con-
Udcnce in the former food administra-
,or and expects him to choose men OF
Hoover's executive ability.
Some significant things have been
happening here too on the league OF ma
lions question which, when pieceI TO-
Eether with the occurrences at Marion.
.eveal Mr.. Harding - ANXIOUS 70 nave
Nmerica center h"r plans for an inter-
national ASSOCIATION around the court
which El.hu Root helped 10 create. Mr..
Harding has wanted - know whether
he court wouldn't be sufficient and the
purpose Of tho Confrr"Evc at Marion be
tween Mr.. Harding and Nj. Root and
thr meeting between Senator FAN and
Mr.. Root IS 70 nnd on; whether the
.ourt can be- made 10 stand sDdepead-
.nt!y Of the lcagu" Of nations.
Nj. Hughes Viii be asked his ideas
N the same thinE. The Nr"sid"nt-e!e -
wants advice that will help HIM mar
rnouize the discordaUt elements IN his
party. Tie knows how far Senators
Rorlh and Johnson are committee on
the subject OF an international court.
They signed the round robin IN March.
lHl9 which pledged America TO an in
terna tional ASSOCIATION OF some kind and
Nr. IardinG'S idea AZ reflected h"r" IS
that Il the international court can bring
about that COOPERATION Of nations. Mes
srs Borah and Johnson Will have 10 ap-
prove IT, At present the rour, Is the
,reature Of the league and tn judges
are chosen through the council and as
Sembly OF the league. Mr.. Harding IS
struggling to ind n middle ground for
compromise hut m his efforts 70 do so
Na has already shown such tirmness as
Washington rather uneasy. That's the
latest drvE Torment In tho national cap
tai and il IS fraught with the deepest