The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-12-31
BETTER >ENDERS
ON FRONT PORCH
MUCH PLEASED AFTER VISIT
TO HARDING-KNOX SAYS
THAT NEXT PRESIDENT HAS
. INTEREST IN VERSAILLES
PACT-ALL OPPOSE LEAGUE

Marion, Ohio, Dec. 30.-The sen.
ate irreconcilables had their big inn,
ing today in President-elect Hard.
ing's meeting Of minds, and then
spokesman went away from Marion
declaring undoubted confidence
that no foundation timbers for the
new association of nations would be
taken from the covenant of Yer.
sailles.
Senator, Knox of Pennsylvania,
one time Secretary. of state, ! and
throughout the treaty fight lead
er of the rejectionists, brought to
the president-elect the warning OF
bitter opposition should he attempt
to revive the covenant in any form
as a basis for his new peace society,
81 am asured," said the Pennsyl-
vania senator afterward, 'that he
has no set idea in mind
Mr.. Harding's conference with
Mr.. Knox dovetailed with another
of unusual Importance in which the
president-elect took UP with his
ranking political advisers, Harry M.
Daughterty and Will H. Hays, the
problem of cabinet appointments.
No conclusions were reNealed but
here were growing indications that
the two party leaders had been
summoned to give final opinion on
two or three of the most important
posts in the official family of the
next administration. One of the ap-
pointments foreshadowed for the
near future is that of secretary of
state, a place for which Charles E.
Hughes is understood to be under
serious consideration.
A secretary of the treasury
GEMS likely to be named at the same
time and speculation gave greatest
prominence to the names of Charles
G. Dawes and John W. Weeks.
Plans for the Inauguration also
were discussed by the President
elect and Mrs. Harding today with
Mr.. Hays, Mr.. 'Daugerty, Senator
Knox and officials of the Washing
ton inaugural committee. E. B. Nc
Lean, chairman of the committee
and Joseph w. Smith, it's secretary
laid before Mr.. Harding many sug-
gestions for the ceremony, which it
was said would provide for an old
inaugural celebration on scale
never exceeded in the nations his
tory.
Senator Knox is chairman of the
congressional committee participa-
ting in arrangements for the inau-
guration and it was partially to con-
fer on that subject that he came to
Marion. He also was one of those
long ago selected by Mr.. Harding as
a conferee on the association of ma
tions plan and the confidence re-
posed in his judgment by the presi-
dent-elect has led to frequent men,
ton Of his name as possible head
of the state department during the
coming administration.
Other circumstances surrounding
the visit, however, clothed it with
peculiar significance. Rumblings OF
apprehensions have been heard
Emore than once in the camp: st the
senate irreeoncilsb1es as TAD
Mr.. Hoove and other friends Of the
Versailles league succeeded one an.
other <at the president-elect's coun-
Gil table or publicly expressed con-
fidence that the Versailles covenant
would be the foundation of new
peace plan.
Fresh from conferences with his
colleagues, Mr.. Knox is understood
to have pictured to the president
elect in graphic fashion, the posi-
bilities of a factional fight should
the new administration ask the SEN
ate to accept any sort of member,
ship in the league.
personally" said the Pennsyl.
vania senator after his long talk
with Mr.. Harding, 81 never credited
reports that he would use the league
machinery as a basis for the propos.