New-York tribune., 1920-12-11
State Portfolio Believed
to Have Been Offered
to New York Man at
Conference Yesterday
Talk ''Cratifyingg,' g, -
Jurist Declares
Views ON Foreign Policy
Closely Coincide With
Those of President-Elect
From q STAFF Correspondent

Wv ~ otNU COTF cSVOUucHL
MARION, Ohio, Dec. 1O.-There are
MANY cogent reasons for believing that
Senator Warren G. Harding extended
an invitation to-day to Charles Evans
Hughes to become his Secretary Of
State. After an interview with the
President-elect, which Mr.. Hughes de-
scribed as gratifying, the former Su-
preme Court Justice is returning to-
night to his home in New York.
Mr.. Hughes arrived from New York
early in the day, in response to an in
vitation from Senator Harding. He
breakfasted with the Hardings, passed
the morning in conference with the
Senator, and then issued a statement,
in which he said:
I'VE have been talking over the i'm
rortant questions which are pressing
for solution in connection with our in
ternational policies, questions which
must be considered in the ght of corr
ditions which are constantly changing.
The solution will, Of course, be found
IN harmony with Senator Harding's
statements in the course of the cam
paign. 1t is most gratifying to have
this interview"
Talks With Daugherty Also
After that the Presdent-elect lent
Mr.. Hughes an old red sweater for
protection against the raw December
wind, and with Colonel George Harvey
they motored frty miles to the Scioto
Country Club Of Columbus, where they
had luncheon and conference with
Harry M. Daugherty, Mr.. Harding's
closest adviser. Former Senator Theo-
dore Burton, who was returned to
Congress as representative from
Collinwood, Ohio, at the November
election, was at the luncheon table
with them, as were Judge Henderson
and Robert Jefferries. These last two
were there to play golf with Senator
Harding and Colonel Harvey.
First among the facts suggesting
that the Republican nominee of 1915
has been rendered the portfolio OF
State is the definite knowledge. OBJ
tanned from persons in Senator Har-
ding's confidence, that Mr.. Hughes has
been under consideration. for this most
important place. AT this time, how
ever, Mr.. Hughes is probably the only
person who couldA say with assurance
whether he could be induced to accept
the Office.
The meeting between Mr. Harding
end Mr.. Hughes was the first confer
ence the President has held with
any one of Cabinet caliber since the i'm
portant dinner at Senator Harry News
home in Washington last Monday.
Cabot Lodge and Senator Philander
Knox, former Senator Weeks, of Mas
aachusetts, and Harry Daugherty, and
it was the first opportunity that had
been afforded Senator Harding since
his election to talk about his Cabinet
with the men whose advice weighs
most with him. During that evening
the political fate of several distin-
guished Americans was settled for
time aoe least. .
Limit Expired Yesterday
just before he boarded The train
Monday that brought him to Washing
ton Senator Harding was asked about
Cabinet appointments Standing in the
Pennsylvania Railroad trainshed, he
1erlied:
IL 1t Will put your mind at rest
can say that no Cabinet places have
been rendered. None will be rendered
tomorrow (Tuesday) nor the day after
that Wednesday,, ror the day after
that (Thursday)."
To-day, however, was Friday and Mr..
Hughes appeared, ss Mr.. Harding
knew he was scheduled to do when he
left Washington.
Senator Harding is essentially Greg
ular" in all party matters. He is ex-
trencly proud of this fact. AS Mr..
Hughes was> head Of the Republican
party four years ago. when only the
electoral votes of California, plus Mr..
Wilson's slogan, kept him from becom-
ing President it would be only logical
for Mr.. Harding to wish to include Mr..
Hughes in his official family, and be-
cause of the high places Mr. Hughes
has already filled in American politics
it is extremely unlikely that he would
even consider any post of lesser i'm
J ortance than Secretary of State
Most important Of all, Mr. Hughes's
idea Of plan of international CO.
operation, based on a world court of
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