The Washington herald., 1920-11-15
WEEKS ORIGIN
In BAY STATE
'BASISOF FIGHT
Former Senator Aspiring to
Post in New Cabinet Finds
Opposition.
GEOGRAPHY HAS ROLE
His Banking Connections
Also Make Enemies
Many Fear His Views.
By ROBERT BARRY.


ponents of John W. Weeks, former
United States Senator from Massa-
chusetts, in an effort to deprive him
Of a portfolio in the Harding Cabi-
net to which Republicans Of nearly
all shades Of opinion agree he is en-
titled. Mr.. Weeks, a business man
Of broad experience. exertedSan in
huence in the management of the
Harding campaign second only to
that of Harry NJ Daugherty. the
President-elect's personal friend and
confidential adviser.
The enterprise which contemplates
the refusal of a Cabinet post to Mr..
Weeks because he happens to be a
citizen of Massachusetts seems to
have but slight chance of success,
but rumblings of 1t are being heard
already in Washington. Its one re-
lance is that Massachusetts, will
have the Vice Presidency. through
Calvin Coolidge; the Speakershrp
Of the House of Representatives.
through Frederick H. GiIlett. and
the Republican leadership of the
senate. through Henry Cabot Lodge.
For Navy or Treasury.
Mr.. Weeks has been regarded a
certainty for Cabinet position. His
name mas been mentioned most fire.
Quently in connection with the navy
~
a graduate of Annapolis and for his
interest in naval affairs while iu the
Senate and House. In other quar-
ters, however, the story has ner-
sisted that Mr.. Weeks desired 10 he
Secretary of the Treasury and n.
has been indorsed very strongly for
that post because of his broad
knowledge Of financial matters. IA.
was for many years a member of
the banking aru of Hornblower a.
MeekS,s.rs --s-f-,zs =, -.
deosraphy aiw.s s has played an
important role in the distribution
OF federal patronage. It has been
an especially vital factor in the
matter OF selection for Cabinet hon.
ors. Presidents have sought to
nave representatives of all sections
OF the nation in their official fam
liies. Precedent has been built up
oy years of adherence to set rules
In that respect The sentiment that
everything must not go to any one
State or any one section has been
fostered with especial emphasis by
party managers who look always
with an eye toward the maintenance
of party Organization.
Availability" because OF resi-
dcnce has meant more to them in
many respects than personal and
professional qualifications. They
have followed closely the rule first
invoked in the days of the Contin-
entail Congress. where Frederick
Muhlenberg OF Pennsylvania became
the first Speaker of the House of
Representatives. chiefly because the
South had the Presidency, through
George Washington, of Virginia; the
North had the vice-presidency,
through John Adams, of Massachu-
setts; and because the Central
States of those days demanded rec
ognition.
Opposition Hard to Trace.
1t is difficult to trace the genesis
of the opposition to MIR. Weeks on
the ground of geographical un-
availability" but there are indica-
tions that. 1t has it's proper inspira-
tion in the objections of Western
Republicans to the selection of a
man whose profession has been
banking and his business connection
an established Boston and New York
house.
In Democratic quarters there has
been vigorous criticism of the pos
sibility of Mr.. Weeks becoming head
of the Treasury Department. Demo-
cratic influence in the choice of a
Republican Cabinet would not ap-
pear at first to be of Importance. un-
til 1t is stated that a quiet propa-
ganda against Mr.. Weeks in the
farming sections of the Middle West
might influence Republican leaders
in that section.
Democrats are spreading a story
to the effect that Mr.. Weeks desires
to become Secretary of the Treasury
in order to gain control of the Fed
eral Reserve Board and the Federal
reserve banking system. 1t is re-
lated that Mr.. Weeks has been op-
posed, because Of his bankers view
point, to the Federal reserve system
prohibition upon the collection by
member banks of an exchange on
out of-town checks.
Small Basis I'm Fact.
The fact that bankers have disa-
greed over that provision of law be-
cause ,of honest professional opinion
on the subject means little to the
men now attacking Mr.. Weeks and
trying by every possible means to
deprive him of the honors due him
for the service he rendered in be-
half of Mr.. Harding's election.
BY sheer force OF personal 'capa-
bility Mr. Weeks has worked to a
position of greater prominence and
influence In national Republican pol
hics since his defeat for reelection
to the United States Senate in 1918.
than he enjoyed when a member of
that body. The old rule that would
cast into the discard men retired by
the ballots OF their constituencies
has not operated in his case and he
now is respected as one of the most
influential men In the Republican
party.
The effort to keep him out OF the
Harding cabinet because Of the as
xured pre-eminence of Massachusetts
in the next administration due to
Lodge. Coolidge and Gillett does not
appear to men of conservative opin-
ion to have much chance Of sue
cess. but that IL will be urged no
less vigorously by politicians hsv-
Ing their own pet schemes in mind
is not doubted.