The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-11-08

appointed him. Opposition was
strong Many bankers were antagon-
,stic to the appointment. Many Sen
ators, without regard 20 party lines
opposed confirmation. The result 10
tina. Mr.. Williams, though President
Wilson has kept him in office, has
never been confirmed. The term OF
office OF the comptroller Is Ave years.
II Mr.. Williams were to be confirm
ed in the short session, he would hold
on to a highly important post for Ave
years--alI through the first Harding
administration and longer.
Now IL goes almost without saying
that Republican leaders, having
blocked combination of Mr.. Williams
some months as IL is, will not permit
him to be confirmed when a Republi-
can administration Is assured.
What will happen Is that Mr.. Will
liams. assuming that he desires to
hold on this winter, will continue in
office without confirmation until a
little while after March 4. Then he
will give way to some Republican
whom Mr.. Harding. as the new Presi-
dent. will appoint
Emergencies may arise where con
Z rmations are necessary this winter.
but on the whole II Is said the con-
formations will be few and far be-
tween when 1t comes to jobs recog-
nized as having any political charac-
ter.
In making his appointments. Sena-
tor Harding. It Is assumed, W II not
confine himself strictly to Republic
cans. In the campaign he had the
support of a number of Democrats
who were out in the open as Hard
ing Democrats. Presumably. a lin
tied number of them will have to be
recognized.
MUST CONSIDER WOMEN.
Recognition will have to be & ven
to women voters. Some OF the promi-
nent racial groups in this country
that supported Harding will come in
for recognition. For instance, many
Irish Americans were for Harding
They will have to be recogn zed IL
the accepted rules of political re-
wards are followed. Republicans in
the labor field who supported Hard
ing will get some recognition. And
there win be various voting eleme mt s
that will have to be taken into &C.
count in making appointments.
The organized farmers, for exam
pie, cannot we'll be disregarded.
One of the difficult problems for
Senator Harding will be to satisfy
the Republicans of the progressive
school and those who have always
affiliated with the conservative
school. when 1t comes TO making ap-
20 ntments. Supposedly. the effort
will be made so to divide the appoint
ments as to satisfy. or measurably
satisfy. both elements. This will call
for some real diplomacy. butsit will
have to b. done " internal trouble
in the party is to be avoided.
Interesting IN this connection Is
the story of what happened to Presi
dent Taft in making appointments.
He had not been in office long when
certain Republicans in Congress be-
came insurgent with respect to legis-
lation favored by the Administration.
Senator Dolliver made q drive against
features OF the tariff bill, and there
was a formidable group OF insurgents,
Mr.. Taft sought to punish the in
surgents by. Withholding patronage
from them Instead OF this putting
down the insurrection. 1t made things
worse. The insurgents went out in
their States and capitalized the 8c-
ton Of the Administration in keeping
Offices away from constituents OF the
insurgent members. Senator Harding
viii Undoubtedly steer clear of any
thing OF this kind. He has repeatedly
declared himself a believer In party
government and he will naturally
seek to cement the party and keep
down factional differences and diff
culties