New-York tribune., 1921-02-07
Dawes Said TO
Have Ret
Cabinet Place
Treasury Portfolio Definite
ly Offered lo the Chicago
Man in Spite of Strong
Opposition 10 Candidacy
Transfer of Hays Sought
Sentiment Agains, His Re
tanning Craftsmanship If
He Heads Postoflices
From The Tr4ourc's Wosninotor Burea.

WASHINGTON. Feb 6.-When Gem
eral Charles G. Dawes, in picturesqde
language. told the House Committee
| investigating war expenditures Just
what he thought Of its inquiry he did
it from the assured position of one
who had been offered and declined one
lof the choice portfolios in President
Harding's Cabinet.
1t became known here tonight that
Mr. Harding had urged General Dawes
to become Secretary of the Treasury.
but that Dawes had refused. While it
is possible there are other instances,
this is the only case 80 far where it is
known positively that man has re-
fused an actual tender of place in the
Harding Cabinet.
An interesting phase of this is that
Mr.. Harding, iii rendering the port
folio to Dawes, did so in spite of
vigorous drive against the Chicago
banker. Whether General Dawes him
self, conscious of the vigorous oppo-
sltlon to his appointment from several
influential sources inside the Republi-
can party, thought his usefulness would
be impaired because of this opposition,
is not known. His testimony before
the House committee would indicate
he had no desire to hold any public
office in peace time so long as Con-
gressional committees and their in
vestigations continue.
Move to Shift Daugherty
There has been more or less of a
drive by certain Republicans who are
eager TO avoid criticism of the per-
sonnel of the Harding Cabinet to have
Harry NJ. Daugherty accept the Post
master Generalship instead of the At
torney Generalship, and to have Will
Generalship to some other important
place in the government, probably on
the commission to rearrange the divi-
sions of the government
Those holding this view point out
that there would be little criticisms of
Daugherty, except from his personal
enemies, were he to be made Postmas-
ter General The general attitude of
the country, they think. would be to
accept the appointment and inaugurate
hopeful watching waiting for an i'm
provement frcn the present postal
service.
There is no real expectancy that Mr..
Harding will make the change, or that
it would be satisfac tory to Mr.. Daugh-
erty if he did but there is a great deal
of comment along this line.
On one point there is little room
for doubt, and that is that if Will Hays
goes into the Cabinet there will be
tremendous opposition to his remain-
ing at the head of the Republican Ma
tional Committee. This may easily
develop sufficient strength to cause
trouble about his confirmation for the
Gnl ,nA L. 4
Of Mr.. Hays here have said lately shat
Mr. Hays does not. intend to resign
as national chairman for some time,
if he goes into the Cabinet, but the
sentiment among Republican leaders in
Congress is so strong on this point
that the best opinion is he win be
forced to resign the one place if he is
given the other.
Senators Still Favor Root
The disappointment in the Senate
over the portfolio of State has not en-
tirely died away. While right after
election there was more division of
opinion than later among Senators as
to the premiership, the crystallization
in favor of Elihu Root became rapid
after two developments ts--first, that
Root was much more in line with the
majority sentiment with regard to an
association of nations than had been
supposed, and, second, when it became
almost an accepted fact that Hughes
was to be appointed Secretary Of State
There is no doubt whatever that the
Senate would infinitely prefer Root to
Hughes.
AS to the possible appointment of
Hoover great deal of doubt remains.
Word brought from Florida indicates
that Mr.. Harding has so far reached no
n or Tot
of the leaders of the Republican party
believe that the appointment of Hoover
would do much to popularize the Har-
ding Cabinet slate.