The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-11-30
Mark Sullivan Says Most
Talked of Man for War
Portfolio Is julius Kahn
Senator Chamberlain Put Forward by G. O. P. Leaders
on Theory That Harding May Want Capable
Democrat in His Cabinet
Persg Wood Also Mentioned but General Belief Is
That They Are Disqualified Because They Are
Military Men.

peramental adaptation TO the kind OF
teamwork that is necessary in a cabi-
net. General Woods career and all the
distinctions he has earned have been
chiefly in situations where he had sole
control and sole responsibility. This
was true in the Philippines. in Cuba. and
in the various army posts where lit
achieved his honors Some wonder Is
expressed whether this kind of one-man
experience may possibly have led Gen
cral Wood to be uhadaptable to that
kind OF friendly cooperation and team.
political and personal considerations
which Republican leaders regard as es'
sential in the new cabinet.
1t is cited as proof for this argu'
ment that General Wood is believed to
be in a state Of feud with some Of the
existence OF this fractional feeling Is
given as an additional reason why the
selection of General Wood might be in
advisable. 4 cabinet should be har"'
family, and the hiener Officers of the
army VIGOROUSLY do not compose
happy family.
The truth is, these very qualities OF
decision and the habit of authority
which make General Wood one OF the
outstanding personalities OF contempt
rary American life. and cause so many
TO admire him devotcdly. have been a
politics. Incidentally. there is some
reason for saying that the trustees OF
TWO large universities ar" COnsiderin"
whether they could enlarge General
Wood as n national asset and take ad'
vantage of his capacity for inspiring
youn,- men, by making him n university
president.
Would Pershing Want rt7
Much that has been said about Gen.
shing. The traditional objection TO nut.
ting an army officer at the head Of the
War Department applies 10 him. and
also the objection that his a~-ointmen,
would renew or Intensity feuds already
existing among. high army officers.
Some Republican leaders doubt
whether Gen. Pershing would care for
the office. From youth up his expert
ence has been that Of an army officer
only, with an army Officers personal
authority and personal responsibility.
Whether he would care to exchange this.
or would, indeed. be successful in an at
tempt to exchange this. for the. greater
give-and-take OF a position that in all
circumstances must have some political
aspects, may reasonably be doubted.
Any army officer, considering General
Pershing's situation, would say that II
would be foolish for him to exchange
what he now has for four years tenure
as secretary OF war. and that the thing
which General Pershing might be ex-
pected most to desire would be the OPP
portunity to continue to be in face what
he Is in name. the military head OF the
American Army.
Next to General Wood and General
Pershing the man most frequently men
toned in connection with the war de-
partment Is Congressman Julius Kahn.
Of California.
The reason lies in the fact that Con-
gresham Kahn is chairman of the house
committee on military affairs, and as
such has q body OF informtion and eN-
pcriences which is not duplicated by
probably any other Republican. On geo
graphical grounds II is pointed out that
the Pacific coast ought to be recognized
and that Mr.. Kahn has proved his popu-
larity there. In the recent election he
had both the Republican and the Demo-
cratic nominations.
On the same geographical grounds,
however. It IS pointed out that Congress-
man Nolan, also Of California, being urg-
cd for the department Of labor. and that
Herbert Hoover. who Is also being dis
cussed as cabinet possibility. comes
from California as wen. The truth Is,
however, that geographical grounds do
or against any man. When President
Is backed by an overwhelmin majority
In as many sections OF the country as
Senator Harding is he does not need to
NC''"''t NV 6SOb 4oPHANNA' N'''N' 4SeN'O'A Va
his cabinet.
why Chamberlain Is Mentioned.
Tho mention of Senator George
Chamberlain OF Oregon rests chiefly
on the theory that Senator Harding
may wish to appoint at least one
Democrat in his cabinet. Mr.. Cham
berlain is the present senior senator
from Oregon. He was defeated In the
recent election by g bare three or four
thousand votes. although Harding car
ried the state by an unprecedented ma
jority.
Senator Chamberlain had tens Of
thousands OF Republican votes, and
his popularity among the Republican
voters of Oregon Is not less than the
friendlncss held for him by Repub-
theory that Senator Harding may wish
to appoint Democrat has any OK
istence in fact, there is probably no
he more appreciated by many Repub-
lican leaders.
The equipment Of experience which
suggests Senator Chamberlain Tor the
particular office of secretary Of war
lies in the fact that he was. for the
many years Of Democratic CONTROL In
the Senate. chairman or the senate
committee on military AFFAIRS. He
was chairman of :hat committee at
tho time We entered the war. and the
fact that as chairman Of the commit
tee he was willing to incur the dis
pleasure of his own party Chiefs BY