Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-11
LEADERS TO URGE
!, SOUTHERN MAN IN
HARDING CABINET
Republicans Hope to Follow
Up Wedge Driven Into the
Solid South.
ALVIN T. HERT PICKED;
KINDLYFEELlNG IN G. o. P.
Views of Republican Congress on
Representation Are Cloud on
Rainbow of Hope.
BY n. o. MESSENGER.

The republicans having driven a
wedge into the solid south by carrying
Tennessee on the electoral and state
tickets. capturing a United States SEN
atorship in Kentucky and picking up
representatives in Congress here and
there, some of the leaders will urge
President Harding to swing the maui
again by appointing man from a
southern state to the cabinet
The man selected by them is Alvin
T. Hert Of Louisville, who, though born
in Indiana, is thoroughly identified with
kentucky, and the idea is to recognize
the state as well as honor the indi-
vidual There is ample ground for
claim to recognition of Mr.. Hert, his
friends point out, on account Of the
service he has rendered his party. He
was western manager of the campa.S So
III 1916 and was one of the high COM
mand" at republican national headquar-
ters in New York in the late campaign.
Aspiration to Break South.
To break the solid south has been
the aspiration of republican leaders
for years. Some statesmen have
argued that it would be a good thing
for the country. regardless of mere
partisan politics. In every presiden-
tial campaign there is that solid block
of 126 electoral votes which must be
counted as good as registered for the
democratic candidate for President,
whomsoever he might be and regardless
OF the issue.
IN 1896. although there was strong op-
position in the south to free silver.
the party's candidate. William ].
liam Mckinley lived. 1t was his dream
and intended policy to try to win the
sonth with kindness.
Roosevelt carried on" with efforts
TO coax the south to look more favor
ably on the republican policies. es-
pecfally on the protective tariff. the
benefits of which were urged upon the
manufacturing sections Of the south
Time Believed Auspieious.
President Harding. republican leaders
say, Will find the time most auspicious
for endeavors to break down the poiiti-
cal barrier which has followed the
geographical boundary set dawn hx tha
Mason and Dixon line. In The elections
of November it is an indisputable
fac- tnat thousands of democrats
voted the republican ticket in the
southern states who had never before
contemplated. without a shudder, the
mere thought of casting a ballot for a
republican candidate. This was true
In Georgia, in Texas, even in Arkansas
which is regarded as the limit"
1t is not presumed by the republican
leaders that the southern people are to
he bribed into allegiance to the repub-
1can party by the tender of cabinet
office to southern state. That is not
the point at all; it would be merely an
outward and visible sign of an inward
political grace: courtesy, recogni-
tiOn. they explain.
President-elect Harding Is known to
feel most kindly toward the south, and
the southern people think il Is high
time an Ohioan should give them a few
kind words. remembering the bitter on
slaughts of the late James B. Foraker,
who in his earlier years of activity in
politics. baited the south with regular
ity and dispatch.
One Little Cloud Seen.
There is one little cloud behind this
rainbow of hope about winning the
south, however, which may be dis
perSed or may grow and develop a
whirlwind which will sweep away all
prospects. Will the new republican
Congress seek to reduce southern rep-
resentation in the House to the basis
of votes cast?
That question has been asked fire.
Quentiy since the election by southern
men In Washington. The proposition
has been advanced from tire to time
in the past when the republicans were
in power. 1t has reached at periods
the stage of partial favorable action,
but never conSummated. The intro
duction of bill purposing it would
chill the south. it is said here by men
in position to know the temper of
that section, and serious purpose on
the part of responsible party man
ayers or the steering committee would
put an end at once to further expec-
tation of nourishing republican pros
poets in the south.
This fact is recognized by some OF
the leading republicans, who will en-
her who may desire to start the move.
ment Let the situation ride as il
is" they say. "and, besides, we don'i
need to cut down the democratic seats
anyhow, as We have majority enough
and to spare.