The Washington times., 1920-11-28
KAHNFAVORED
AS WARcH|E
California Congressman Promi-
nently Mentioned as Bakers
Successor in Cabinet.
By JOHN SNURE.

ny oo"N oNShLs
CONGRESSMAN Julius Kahn OF Cali
fornia, chairman OF the House Com
mittee on Military Affairs, is rap
idly coming to the front and center
In the discussion OF probable ap-
pointees In the Harding Cabinet Mr.
Kahn is being talked OF freely In
inside circles for the post of Secre-
tary Of War.
CIVILIAN IS FAVORED.
Numerous states OF the new Cabi-
net have been made up on the sup
position that either General Leonard
Wood or General Persbing would head
the War Department. This does not
appear probable, however. II is said
to be quite unlikely that Senator
Harding will go counter to that tradi-
tion which favors a civilian for the
office of Secretary Of War.
Politics OF large caiiber. including
lot of sizzling army politics. is
concerned with the prospective ap-
pointment of a new Secretary OF War.
Under present conditions the ques-
tion of who will head the War De
partment is extremely important.
The army is in process OF reorganiza-
tion and probably will not settle down
to anything like n permanent condi,
tion for years. Talk Is current in
Congress OF heavy reductions in the
military service.
TRAINING BILL DISCUSSED.
At the same time, the movement
for universal traiping has by no
means died out. Abroad. there Is an
uncertain state of things with refer
ence to whether peace shall be main
tained in EurnRC or war shall spread
again. The relations between the
United States and Japan. though like
ly to be smoothed out, are sufficiently
to cause some elements
Of the public to advocate greater pre-
What is going to be done
about an association OF nations. arbi-
tration and disarmament is uncertain.
With such uncertainties, a level
head is needed at the top OF the
War Department. Moreover. there
Is a sad tangle OF internal factional-
ism in the department. II is doubt
ful ii there are 50 many cliques and
jealOusies in any other department
as in the War Department, including
OF course, the army.
WOOD HAS BACKING.
Gen. Leonard Wood has a strong
following OF army admirers. General
Pershing has u STRONG following
also. Gen. Clarence Edwards has his
corps OF influential friends among
the officers. The anti-Wood element
is such that IL would raise a great
Iproar II General Wood were made
Secretary OF War. and the anti
Pershing faction would raise Just as
big a protest IL General Pershing
were named to head the department.
Then. too. there. is the national
guard. force which is not without
is potent political influence. 1t is
not at all on cordial terms with many
of the West Point influences in the
regular army, and would not take
kindly to the appointment of a reg
Iiar army officer to head the War
General Wood, to be sure, is not
West Point graduate. but while the
national guard would rather see him
secretary of War than to see a West
Point officer named, 1t would much
prefer to have a civilian selected. as
'uming that a national guardsman
would not be.
KNOWS DEPARTMENT.
The War Department is a trouble
'ome institution to govern. Ordiua-
lily. 1t runs the Secretary of War in
tead of the Secretary of War run
ling the department. Most men ap-
'ointed to head the War Department