The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-04
KNOX MAY FILL
POST OF STATE
Sutherland for AttOrney-Gen-
eral, Weeks for Navy, Seem
Sure Choices.
WOOD FOR WAR OFFICE
Panama Toll Policy of Root
May Prevent Him From
Being Called.
WOOD FOR WAR OFFICE

| Special Despatch sosTEr Nrw York yIREALp
MARION, Ohio. Nov. 3.--Senator Har-
ding already has made up his mind L
invite certain distinguished men to ac,
cept Cabinet responsibility. That much
is known. He also has made up his
mind to defer for some weeks, posi-
bly, many weeks, any announcement
| or names.
This decision springs from his con-
victiOn that II would be poor Judgment
to act In seeming haste. BY tempera-
ment Senator Harding proceeds eau
tiously in large matters He forms
opinions swiftly. as swiftly as Theo-
dore Roosevelt was accustomed to do
but he has trained himself to lock UP
his thoughts and his purposes until he
Is certain that he is acting rightly and
wisely.
Sutherland Thought Certain.
Persons close to the President-elect
believe that former Senator George
Sutherland Of Utah will have a Cabinet
post. Sutherland was one Of Harding $
most Intimate associates and advisers
here in Marion all through the cam
paign. Every problem OF real import
was put up to Sutherland. His shrewd
Judgment was solicited. for example. as
regards phases OF the LIE. que Of Nations
controversy: about the Japanese ques-
ton In California: about the race issue
and about matters relating TO rhe> for
eign born. For Mr.. Sutherland Senator
Harding has the warmest friendship and
the highest respect. 1t is certainly a
possibility that Mr.. Sutherland will be
asked 10 accept Il post. the Attorney
Ceneralship likely, as the former Sem
a.or from Utah Is an International
lawyer OF brilliant reputo.
Personally and politically former Ser
ator John W. Weeks OF Massachusetts
ranks with Mr.. Sutherland In Senator
Harding's regard The President-elect
thinks Mr.. Weeks has ono Of the best
minds in America, and that Mr.. Weeks
liz not only thoroughly well Informed but
very highly qualified with intellectual
equipment, and In touch with the times
He is n graduate of the United States
Naval Academy. When In the Senate he
was a member of the Naval Affairs
Committee. Few men are better posted
on naval matters or are more keenly in
terested In the maintenance of first
rate navy. Mr.. Weeks, therefore. is a
leading possibility for Secretary Of the
Navy.
About the portfolio OF state there ia
more speculation than about any other
Cabinet post. Possibly some OF IL Is
without basis. Here In Marion, for ex-
ample, II In considered extremely doubt
ful that Ellhu Root will be Secretary Of
State. There are persons who say Mr..
Roots course in the League of Nations
mattor did not altogether please Senator
Harding, who considered Mr.. Roots
world court proposition az merely an
other cupoia to be erected upon the I'm
possible structure 81 the League OF Ma
tions. Furthermore, Mr.. Root is among
the group OF Republican statesmen who
ardentiy supported the contention that
American shipping must not be favored
n the Panama Canal.
This matter Of free tolls for American
ships is almost an obsession. II that
word can be used In a kindly and re-
spectful sense, with Senator Harding. He
~ determined 20 break down the treaty
agreement which denies special consid-
Grafton to american vessels. He In de-
termined to find way Of upr?otins that
agreement without offence TO Great
Britain. lie thinks he knows a way.
30. Mr.
be read simply as reflection OF the
gossip that swirls around the towering
figure OF tho Presldent-elect. 1t need
not be taken as refiecting Senator Har-
ding's opinions at all Nevertheless
there are few persons hero who believe
Mr.. Root himself would care % accept
the first place In the Cabinet
Knox ana Lodge Mentioned.
Who then are possibilities? Senator
Philandsr G. Knox OF Pennsylvania.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge ct Mas
sachusetrs and Charles e. Hughes or
New York stand out. And all three
are OF sterling merit. But a. for Knox
there Is a suggestion that he might not
care 20 leave the comparative ease OF
the Senate for another term of onerous
Cabinet responsibility. Ike is distinctly
a possibility with this qualification. 30
Is Lodge. There IL "a suggestion mere
that Senator Lodge might like 10 round
out n career OF great craftsmanship as
the Secretary of State. and general
belief that no American IL more com
petent TO FIJI tho post held. until recent
timer. by men as great az Fr"s'ue'ta
and often far moro gifted.
We come 20 Hughes. II is known mat
Justice Hughess attitude In the past
campaign has been particularly gratify-
ing TO Senator Harding. without effort
their minds ran together upon most
great issues, especially the issue of the
League OF Nations. Senator Bardins's
speeches might have been thotc OF
Hughes Huehes's might have been
Harding's. For Hughes Mr.. HardinS
cherishes a special rcspcct. Mr.. Hughes
ls the type that Senator Harding seeks
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C',vfID,ied mn With Pane.