The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-11-30
By MARX SULLIVAN

National Political Correspondent OF the
Intelllgencer and New York
Evening Post)
Washington, Nov. 29.-Repeatins
possibilities for secretary Of state
namely. that all of this kind OF discus.
sion Is only justified as Il record OF VIVA
is actually consuming Il good dca4 Oh
time Of Republican leaders-let US col GU
slider the men who are mentioned Tor
The discussions and surmises On this
point centre chiefly about four names
General Leonard Wood. Gen. Pershlns'
Congressman Julius Kahn Of Caldornia.
and senator George Chamberlain Of Ore
or these Gen. Wood is the most obyi-
Gus. He has the favor OF many Kepup,
iican leaders. and that rather important
section of the party which supported
him for the presidential nominal4oh
would be especially gratlted at ms SO,
lection. Cen. Wood has In some degree
the capacity that Mr.. Roosevelt ha9 LOT
devotion among his followers and those
who come In contact with him.. He IS
one of a very small number Of pubic
men who can be described as having
certain amount Of national following.
n cabinet appointments wore TO De
made on the basis that they sometimes
have been. with the Idea OF cemehtIhS
the loyalty Of factions In the party, Zen
Nv oods selection would be enc OF me
surest: II Is tire tor inat N he receIyei.
does not need TO consider thu placatlnS
of factions in making his cabinet APP
pointments, and also true that Gen.
Woods friends do not need 10 nase men
His uualifica lions for the office are ooVi-
Gus. ,.,noos 1vb,cb
qualify him also. in a sense. oisauat ao -
The fact that man IS a psotes sn nb.
soldier is in the minds OF many an OBJ
| lection to his choice as secretary OF
war. It is rather an American TRADITION
that the army shall be under the direc-
ton of a civilian.
Harding uuuer No Obligation TO WOOD.
In some Of the gossip that has oeen
published on this subject the liKelinooo
~ Can. Wood being selected is put on
tn. ground of a deal made by him. or
by his leaders on his behalf, at Tue
Chicago convention with the victorious
Harding forces: Considereo IN Tue sd
is another example OF the kind OF subtle
opaganda, not infrequent in the Sur'
rent gossip about cabinet appointments.
designed less to advance nun 'han W
impair his chances.
There NAV DO some ground for the
! the az that the forces which nominated
i Senator Harding at Chicago have rea-
sons for bein" grateful to Governor
Lowden or to his leaders FOR the sw' zen
ing OF delegates during the closing pal
lots But IL this Is true. Governor Low
dam Ia the only one Of the defeated can,
didates for the Republican Presi Sei,. u
nomination who can be said to nave
claim on Harding for aid in getting the
nomination. General Wood as matter
Of fact. was conspicuous In holding MS
delegates to the end.
hTNthe Renublican leaders agree that
inter the Harding nomination was made
General Wood went out of his Wv way 70
give conspicuous support to HARDING
snd TO Induce his followers to d the
same. The net of all this discussion OF
the political aspects OF General WOOD ;
relation to the office OF Secretary OF
War ia that they neither qualify nor
dIsqualify him, and are unfair. as much
, OF the cabinet gossip is unfair. ooth 70
Mr.. Harding and the man discussed.
Objections to General WOOD
The objections made to General WOOD
nv a few among the Republican leaders
consist chiefly Of doubts as to MS tenn