The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-30
HARDING MIND IS ] NOW MADE UP ON CABINET MATERIAL
Three of Best Minds" Are to Constitute ''Inner Circle" in Next Presidential
 Family
By ROBERT T. SMALL

{ Marion, O., December 29.- ! Special. )-"The cabinet ma iterial is pretty we'll in hand. 'i It is just a mater now of fitting Ithc pegs into the holes.'
 This is President elect Harding's own Isummarization of the cabinet situation n. These words were attributed to him Itoday by one of his official callers and lit indicates the senator has pretty well tmade up his mind as to. the personnel Iof his official family even if he has not made any absolutely binding decisions. | One of the difficulties said to con Front MT. Harding is how to squeeze labout 20 eligible men into 10 cabinet t positions. The new department of wei ffare still is to be created and the selec- ktion of d woman to preside over it nat t.rally is being deferred until the reg Elarly constituted departments are faken care of.
 TALK OF HOOVER
 MT. Harding also has in mind several linen he is confident would fit well into any one of two or three inches in the cabinet, making a decision in their jcaso all the harder to reach. Herbert Hoover, for instance, if finally induced Eo serve, could be usefully employed in { almost any cabinet position, In fact, he has been mentioned at one time or arother for almost all of the positions.
 The latest report that he may be made Secretary of Labor has gained much credence here at Marion. His ac- reptance of that place would solve 8 very troublesome problem for the Pres ident-to-be.
 Unquestionably there has been con siderable wrangling in republican cir teles about the labor portfolio, Sugges- LFians for the office have run all the Way from strong union labor men to (Vg business men violently in favor of 4 te open shop. It is certain Senator
 trding will so to neither extreme. te present Secretary of Labor is a lnion man, but had served in Congress before his elevation to cabinet rank. At present there is no thought in MT. Farding's mind of placing a strictly Nlion man in the job. Mir Hoover. with
 Is fine understanding of men and con Ftions of labor not only in this coun- .Sy but abroad has been urged as an tdeal man for the labor chair at the Presidents table, and is being ear Ilestly considered in that connection. Il NO SURPRISES IN STORE | Senator Harding insists that he also has under consideration several men Ehose names have not been mentioned, tt any rate not prominently metioned, in inc public prints. In view of the wide Y iapge cabinet discussion has taken it Would be difficult to imagine a real Eurprise
 I Senator Harding is quite frank con- lcrning the theory upon which he is Eonstructing his cabinet even if he re- mains extremely taciturn as to its per- Eonnel. He wants the cabinet to have h foundation of three or four strong knen, men whose names will mean much ko the American people. He believes Ehat with such foundation, the super Etructure can more or less take care of Itself. In other words, the senator is understood to mean that political and Geographical considerations can enter into the choice of men who are to sur round what might be termed the 'big three'' or "big four in the cabinet fam lily.
 SMALL INNER CIRCLE
 This would indicate, of course. that while Senator Harding expects unani- nous approval of all of his cabinet choices he is banking upon surround fling himself first of all with three or -four of the best minds' that can be induced to take public office. The in- her circle, or foundation members of ifhe cabinet, may consist of three men
 
 principle of physics that legged table sits steadier under varying condi- tions than a four-iegged one.
 l Marion has just witnessed a most un- usual reunion of three figures of strik- ling political interest in this state. In 1900 Warren G. Harding made his first political appearance as & member of the state senate at Co., v Iumbus.
 In 1900 Frank B. Willis made his ! first political appearance as n rep | resentative in the state legislature n mt Columbus.
 In 1900 Harry l.. Davis of Cleve-
 land began his political career as n | page in the house of representa-
 lives at Columbus.
 These three men held a confer
 ence in this city n few days ago and If recalled their first meetings. The ] lapse of 20 years finds one n Presi- i. dent-elect, one a United States sem ' ator-eIect and the third the govek-
 nor-e1ect.