The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1920-12-30
LABOR MAN FOR
CABINET SEAT
w. G. Lee, Head of Railroad Train.
men, Among Those Mentioned
for Post
SEVERAL OTHERS SUGGESTED
Selection of Secretary is Very I'm.
pOrtant Matter

week have thrown light on at least
one cabinet position. Those cabinet
appointments remain now, as they
always have been, subjects in which
accurate knowledge is in one place
only, and that place is Mr.. Harding's
mind. But some of Mr.. Harding's
advisers have reflected certain con-
siderations brought up during the
past week.
In connection with the department
Of labor three sets of considerations
have been urged.
One is that labor man should be
appointed, but one with political ex-
perience and officially affiliated with
the republican party. The man COM
monty mentioned in this connection
is Congressman John Nolan Of Cali
fornia. Another suggestion strongly
pressed is that a great captain Of in
dustry whose contact with labor con-
sjsts Of having been an employer on q
large scale should be appointed. Ono
man occasionally mentioned in this
connection is Charles M. Schwab.
From another angle Of this position,
Herbert Hoover is frequently sug-
gested for the department Of labor.
The third position is that q recog-
nized leader Of union labor who il
still identified with labor exclusively
and who has the confidence Of organ
lied labor, should be given the post.
In this latter connection Senator
Harding has been specifically urged
to name w. G. Lee, head Of the Order
Of Railway Trainmen and one Of the
three or four men acknowledged to be
the ablest and the highest in stand
ing among the leaders Of organized
labor. Lee began life az brake
man on the Atchison and the Union
Pacific, and has never held any polit-
ical Office except for brief period
many years ago as deputy recorder
Of deeds in Ford county, Kansas.
The argument that supports Lee IL
to the effect that it is the wisest pol
icy to give recognition and support
to organized labor.
For some years past the conserva-
tive leaders Of organized labor includ-
ing Gompers himself, have been con-
stantly under assault from radical
labor men. It is believed to be the
best policy to give to these conserva-
tive leaders the kind Of recognition
that will help them in their resistance
against radical opposition in their
own ranks.
President Wilson has followed this
policy frankly. He went out of his
way to make an address. at the an
nual meeting Of the American Feder-
alton of Labor at Buffalo three years
ago. 1t was generally accepted that
his presence on that occasion was
partly due to his wish to give moral
support to Mr.. Gompers and to help
this veteran head Of the federation
against any attempt to oust him from
his position in favor Of some one less
conservative.
The selection Of secretary of la
Dor is especially important now be-
cause the question Of policy in that
connection is still in the making. The
department Of labor is new. It was
created just at the close Of Taft's
administration, and the first head Of
it was appointed by President Wilson.
This first appointment was given to
William B. Wilson, who still holds the
post.
Mr.. Harding now has the second
appointment to make, and If he makes
it in the same spirit as the first it
will tend to crystalize the policy Of
recognition Of the conservative lead
ers Of organized labor and give them
aid in their resistance to radical in
surgents in their own ranks.