The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-08
Independence Shown
By President
Talk of Washington
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by The IntellIsencer

Washington. Dec. 7.-President-elect
Harding's show Of Independence in his
farewell speech at the senate IS the
talk OF the national capital. lI WASH
so much the impressive way by which
the departing senator appealed TO his
colleagues for cooperation but the very
clear-cut emphasis which he placed upon
the powers OF the executive that cauEhS
the car Of political Washington ana
promptly set everybody SUSStpinS as IL
the true meaning Of the informal uttt--
anCe.
Il is fact. for instance. that when
Mr.. Harding arrived here Sunday nIght
indeed when he met some OF his COL
leagues carly Monday they We're almost
unanimously against the idea ot MS
making Il speech 1T all. Some suggested
that II would be indeitcatc for him u
address the senate IN his present pos
ton. But Warren Harding showed tha;
he has mind ot his own. He deternin,
ed uNmtke the speech because he had
something very dsAtnite 70 say, some,
thing that couldn't very well be said II
were already President and had To au-
dress the senate on official business.
He wanted the men in the senate 20
know that ne Intended 70 be as lnsistent
upon the powers Of the executive as ne
had been on the powers OF n senator; ne
gave = gentlS warning that anEthlnS
like a Senatorial Oligarchy' wouldn
be tolerated He referred more or less
humorouSly 10 iov1rnor toNs phraSe--
"a senate olgarchy but the stGnihcant
thing is that he saw 1T 20 bring tue
phrase back into this particular speech
AT all. Those who know Mr.. Harding
mind say he wanted TO take occasion
TO appeal TO his friends not 10 presume
too much, not 10 make his task hard
simply because ne had grown SO tntl-
mate with his colleagues in the sonata
Moreover. he wanted 10 remove any Su6,
gestion that the senate would controi
the next administration rs has oeen 81
.N.l ~
not by Democrats alone but oy lea1lhE
Republicans IN the senate wi;h whou'
the wish Is father to the thought,
Cabinet Demands.
To be sure Mr.. Harding has found out
one thing already during his oriet VlSl
10 washington. namely. that the most
insIstent demands for representation IN
the cabinet either for themselves or
their friends has come from coacag cues
in the United states senate. This mas
led TO very we'll defined counter-moTe-
ments-one on the part OF some IoSaS
comrades who really think they are OF
the greater assistance TO Mr. Hardtns
by their effort to keep anybody IN the
another group VINO really wants to n
a good deal 10 say in the next admlnis-
rration and thinks IN" best way 10 az
complish II is BY retaining in the senate
all the strong men and making the capi-
tol the same center OF gravity that II
was in the days OF Aldrtch and cannon,
when 10 know what the administration
was going TO do newspaper mon 1loekeo
TO the senate or TO the mouse lnsteAu u
White House.
Then again there Is another campaign
being waged withSar the sGotlety that
politicians can command. They have
obligations OF their own to tuIh!i' tnss
want to sec a particular friend In tho
cabinet but the position FOR which tne
s latter may be fitted - being sought ny
somebody IN the senate or else thetc Is
conflict on the subject OF seograpniSia
selection for II Is not customary TO take
more than one cabinet member from any
one state. So the process OF HilIlnS
or the other fellow" Is now In 1uii
swing.
ThrouRhout II all. Warren Harding
remains shrewdly non-committai,' listen
INK attentively. even sood-humoreoIy tc
some OF the awkward attempts TO gam
his car. But the very definite impression
;s lcft by President-elect Harding as he
goes TO Marion that nobody has a capi-
net portfolio Gin" ID. Mr.; HARDING is
SLOW to make up his mind about any
thing He is deliberate type and ne
doesn't hesitate to change his mind
when II Is once made up. In that very
psvchology lies the best chance lor
Elihu Root 10 be a leading adviser IN tos
next Administrations. Were the cnS!S,
have a chance. But Mr.. Harding has
vet TO hear from the whole country. Hc
has yet 10 learn what all Republicans
think about all questions. He has .oeen
away from tho country Tor Inontn'
away from editorial opinion and the iet'
ters Of friends in all sections ,S OF AMER, nation
ca The public opinion or tne naS'or
Sent-eiect Ss1t eHs." from re now on. Therein rests
the faith Of the friends srftSns Of Mr: Fo0I From
HarSinp men who have not ben part!cu'
Iariy frindly to Mr.. Root that there are
things bigger than the seSretaryshlp sna
OF state, namely. the commission ina;
Soas abroad to negotiate a revision OF
the peace treaty or the estaoilshment OF
A new association or league or nations
and that on such 4 commission MIR. Rool
would b. a logical chairman. However
the public can only be TOLD thus socsn, sGr
tivs On ,ll questions and not dctlnitive-
that the newly elected chief magistrate
is iustlfyiug the confidence OF his ln::,,
matc friends in proceeding slowly and
carefully. and. everybody hopes Win
sure footed caution.