New-York tribune., 1921-02-25
Harding Vexed
BY Criticisms
of Dauglnerty
''inlputations i'm Advance of
Action" Denounced as Eff
fort to Undermine Conf.
dence in Administration
Denies Slate Is Settled
State and Attorney General
Only Portfolios. Not
Subject to Alteration
By Boyden r. Sparkes

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla, Feb. ID
President-elect Harding lashed out
verbally to-day at all those who have
criticized his appointment of his friend
Harry NJ. Daugherty to be Attorney
General. Revealing unsuspected depths
Of. bitterness, Mr.. Harding said he saw
in "imputations in advance of action"
malicious efforts TO undermine public
confidence in The Harding Administra-
ton. His remarks were made in his
daily chat with newspaper correz
spondents.
'It isn't fair" protested the Presi
dent-elect, and his voice betrayed his
emotion. "This premature criticism is
serious menace to popular govern
nent Unhappily, it is d tendency Of
our journalistic practice l don't like
it 1t amounts to jumping on a man
before ne has had an opportunity to
demonstrate his ability or his inten-
ton. After there has been maifea sance
in Office then go after man. Go after
him hard. But don't make imputation5
in advance of action
II see in all thia wrong effort to
undermine public confidence in the in
coming Administration before it has
had chance to perform.
Objects to Prejudgment
cts being judged before per-
formance that | object to--shat all fair
minded people have right to object
to. This sort of thing goes deeper
than its effect on any one man. 1t
strikes at TIE root Of popular govern
ment, and strikes dangerously. There
is neither rhyme. nor reason nor COM
mon honesty IN subjecting people to
bombardment before they have had
ghost OF show TO prove their mettle" :"
George Christian jr., the President
elects secretary, interrupted his chief
at that moment to tell him he was
wanted on the long distance telephone
II can't come now" said Mr.. Harding.
Tell EN- I'm delivering a lecture"
After resuming in the same heated
tone that had marked his previous ut
terances, Mr. Harding abruptly broke
off in the middle of a sentence and
Struggling his broad shoulders in q ges-
ture of hopelessness, turned away to go
to the telephone. He left the room smii-
ing, but he also left the impression that
he had not said all that was on his mind
with respect TO newspaper criticism of
Mr.. Daugherty's appointment.
The President-elect let it be known
that he considers his Cabinet still in a
fluid state, except for the Hughes and
Daugherty appointments. He said fatty
that there have been no direct tenders
OF either the Navy, Commerce or Labor
portfolios. He made it clear that he is
anxious to get Herbert Hoover into the
Cabinet as Secretary OF Commerce.
DENLY Expected Tomorrow
Edwin DENLY. the former Representa-
tive from Michigan, is expected by Mr.
Harding to arrive here on Saturday
morning, but if he gets here sooner they
will have conference immediately Mr.
Denby, Mr.. Harding said, had been
strongly recommended to him, They
have had some telephonic conversation,
but it will take personal chat before
they can determine mutually whether
their own interests and, primarily, the
best interests of the nation, would be
served by the appointment.
"Mr. DENLY has to his everlasting
credit" said Mr. Harding, "the fact that
he enlisted as a private in. the Marine
Corps and rose TO commissioned rank
Continued Oh eage fivel