Evening star., 1920-12-10
CABINET CHIEF TALK
TURNING TO HUGHES
Visit to Marion Considered
important in View of
FactionaI Conditions.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

Senators arc following with anxiety
and profound interest the undercur-
rent movements which may affect
President-elect Harding's choice of
the man for Secretary Of State.
Their concern is based not SO much
upon the individual selected as upon
the effect Of the selection on harmony
within the republican party.
The latest development visible on
the surface, indicative of the drift
below. is the confidence with which
the "ifrec0ncilables' on the league
of nations question assert that Elihu
Root will not be Secretary Of State.
led some senators to the query
whether they may not have secured
from Mr.. Harding. during his recent
visit, intimation to that effect.
Coincident with Mr.. Hardfng's de-
parture and the. circulation of this
rumor. there has been a notable out
put Of propaganda in favor Of the ap-
syivania to the secretaryship. This
suggestion Is traceable directly to
quarters in which the irreconciliiable
sentiment flourishes like the green
bay tree.
Views Of Factions.
The resultant situation is this: The
irreconcilfables say to the President
elect that he must not appoint Mr.
Root. as they would consider that ac-
tion q slap in the face to them, on ac-
count Of Mr.. Roots leaning toward
tions. or high court, "or something" "
which they cannot define. but fear.
And then they turn around and sug-
gest that Senator Knox would be
highly acceptable to them.
Whereupon the middle-of-the-ro road
republicans. who are neither irrecon-
cfliably against some kind of a league
nor committed to any particular kind
OF league; say
Well, that fs nice way to stimu-
late harmony, for Senator Knox Is az
much as iFreconciliRbie 10 Mr. Root
is alleged 20 be OPPOSED 70 the irrec'
onciliables."
All reports assea that Mr.. Harding /,
bent upon harmpniSfng these two FAC.
the future, II ft can be done by choos-
ine q man who would b objectionable
- nS9ther Side. VIM he be able to dc
Senators in seeking an answer, cail
attention TO the. tact that Mr.. Harding.
y good Job Of harmonistns the fac-
70 be sure, there were few who
WAR. DANGER around, thumpiflg the
ground with their toinahaSwlxs and NUT
tering threats OF jumpipg the feserva-
tion. on the league of nations Issue, but
they never lett In numbers or as indi-
viduals Of high importance or conspicn-
oslsness.t Those who did 60 are still
wandering in the desert. seeking the out
posts of the democratic party, scattered
and vanished.
With knowledg Of Mr.. Harding's de-
termination on harmony frst." SEN
ators were inclined today to attach
importance to the visit of Charles E.
Mr.. Hughes name has been mentioned
as possible compromise selection
for Secretary of State. The judgment
of senators expressed today was that
this Immediate visit may not crystalline
Mr.. Hardings decision. but is calcu-
lated to- give him a clearer under
standing Of Mr.. Hughes position to-
ward the league of nations, from
which the President elect may be able
to conclude whether Mr.. Hughes
would be agreeable to both sides.
Mr.. Root. also. is to visit the Presi-
dent-elect in the next few days.
In discussing MI. Hughes as possible
cabinet timber. and for the place men,
toned. senator's say that II he is ad-
judged acceptable to both factions on
his league of nations views he pos
sesses other Qualifications which
should commend him. He is admit
,tedly a man of wide business training.
an administrator, and in touch with
big business on this side of the water,
IL not abroad. - ---- ~
One man, whose attitude toward the
league Of nations was expressed by
him as being ''the less we have of any
league, If we must have one, the bet
ter I'll be pleased" said today he
thought Mr.. Hughes should not be OBJ
jectionable to either faction on the
league Of nations issue.