South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-06
SOUTH MAKES BID
FOR AGRICULTURE
POST IN CABINET
Farmers Union Official Sug-
gests Butler-Has Rival
I'm Adams.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

WASHINGTON, u. g.. Dec. o.
I The appointment Of a secretary Of
agriculture IN the Harding cabinet
the portfolio in which the farmers
OF the nation are deeply and vitality
lntereSted-iS causing more prelim-
mary discussion and naneuvering
than any other prospective cdUinet
selection. not even excepting th@
premiership Of the cabinet.
Southern republicans are asking
and expecting recognition and its
| primary and fundamental interest Is
in agriculture.
On the principle that the south
IS more concerned IN the agricuI-
tural portfolio than any other, the
friends Of former United States Sen
ator Marion Butler, Of North Caro-
! lima, have started a movement 10
reach Pres't-elect Harding with the
argument that the secretary of agri-
culture in by all odds of the most
vital concern to southerns and that
the south should be represented IN
! the republican cabinet with a south
erner at the head of that portfolio.
A statement that has ben sent 10
! Sen. Harding by s. II. HOODS, form
erly chairman OF the legislative
committee OF the national farmers
I g
! in the south, says in part:
Urges Butler de Named
mo other place in the cabinet
will mean 20 much TO our basic in
! dustry - agriculture. Every man
who has held that important cab
! met position heretofore has been
| from the west, except Houston. and
! he does not represent the south !;
neither does ne represent agcioUl-
! ture. SO the time is here when the
great agricultural south deserves to
have this place filled by a true and
] able representative and at the same
time one who is broad enough to
represent the agricultural interests
OF the entire country.
"Pres't-elect Harding has an
nounred that he wants for secretary
/ Of agriculture, a man who is a dirt
| farmer, one who understands the
/ conditions and needs of agriculture
1 in every part Of the whole country
and who has the constructive and
/ administrative ability necessary for
that most important position. We
/ agree that the secretary Of agricul-
! ture should possess all of these eS-
! sential qualifications. but il will be
/ difficult TO fnd many men who pos
| seSs all Of them
The south, however, is most
/ fortunate to have ex-Sen. Marion
/ Butler, Of North Carolina, a man
/ who possesses all of these uualifica-
/ tions is a high degree and it is iouht-
] ful if there is any other man in
| either political party in the south
| who has as great organizing car a
| city. His most bitter political enc
! r,ies among the democrats of North
| Carolina bear testimony to his po-
litical skill, but at the same time
they acknowledge that he is loyal
and true TO what he conceives to be
the economic and material interests
of those who till the soil"
Endorsed by Democrats.
Copies Of this statement are be
ing circulated at the national capital
! 10 influence members Of congress
and others in favor Of the appoint
/ ment Of Mr.. Butler. II also sets
forth list of "life-long North Caro-
lima democrats" including Claude
! Kitchin, who, it says, have Endorsed
] Fuller for the appointment
1t is apparent, however, that II
| the south makes a drive for the ag-i.
! cultural portfolio former Sen. Butler
| Will not have the field entirely tC
himself. Samuel Adams. Of Green
! wood. Va, also is an aspirant and q
| rather formidable movement Is be-
ing organized 10 put him across
! Mr. Adams is publisher Of the Amer
lean Fruit Grower and is IN active
! farmer, as well as a publisher. His
| friends say he Is thoroughly alive tC
all the problems Of the farm ers. He
| is a lincal descendant to the Adams
! family Of Massachusetts that pro
| duced two presidents Of the United
States. His Identification with the