New-York tribune., 1921-02-18
Illinois Man Tells Harding
He Wants No Political
Appointment at Present:
Action Favors Hoover
HamlnOnd's Name
Wins Approval
ALI Ship Board Places To
BE Filled; Heads of Rail-
roads Discuss Troubles
From q StnR Corrcsrondrrt

FROM q Stat Correspondent
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla, Feb. H.
Frank o. Lowden. former Governor of
Illinois, has Informed President-Elect
Harding that he has decided to remain
out of public service for some time to
come. This decision is deeply disap-
pointing to the President-elect, who
had counted on having Lowden in his
Cabinet as Secretary of the Navy.
The elimination of Lowden greatly
disturbs the balance of the Cabinet
structure Mr.. Harding has been Great
ing. 1t had been felt that the presence
of Lowden, one of the strongest con-
tenders for the Republican nomination
at Chicago, among the Harding ad-
visers would counterbalance other con-
templated appointments not so likely
to meet with wide public approval.
Greater dependence, it is understood
is now being placed on getting Herbert
Hoover into the Cabinet.
Hoover is pegged for the portfolio
of Commerce, a place for which there
is another strong contender in John
Hays Hammond, the mining engineer
A decidedly favorable public reaction
followed the recent efforts of some of
MIR. Hardings unofficial advisers to
sound out sentiment regarding Ham
mond. But as between Hoover and
Hammond it is felt that Mr.. Harding
will be forced to try for Hoover first
now that Lowden has been scratched.
Regrets Lowden's Retirement
In explaining about Lowden to-day
the President-elect said;
Mr.. Lowden has Informed me that
his personal affairs are such that he
desires to remain out or public service
for some time.
There had been no direct tender of
office. TO him, but you may say that
am sorry. l esteem Mr. Lowden very
highly and l should have liked to have
brought him into my Admin stration." !"
Lowden's message to Senator Har-
ding has been interpreted by him as
meaning that he is also not to be con-
sidered for any diplomatic appointment
for some time. Before he was sounded
out regarding the navy portfolio Low
den had been considered the most
likely possibility as ambassador to Lon
don.
Coincidental with the elimination of
Lowden there arrived here to-day A.
Tobias Hert, one of the national com
mittee executive group of five which
directed the Harding campaign In
speaking of Hert's visit Mr. Harding
said he had merely dropped off in St.
Augustine on his way home from Cali
fornia. Home for Hert, by the way, is
Kentucky, where he is the national
committeeman. On the basis of extra
mileage travelled by Hert within the
last few days for the purpose of seeing
Mr.. Harding, it is deemed highly prob
able that there is foundation for the
report that Hert is to be substituted
in the slate for Lowden.
Ship Board To Be Reorganixed
Some of the pressure for appoint
ment that is being brought to bear on
the President-elect is going to be re-
lieved by the fact that the present
the Wilson ministration, because the
members have never been confirmed
There are seven of them, and, with the
possible exception of Admiral Benson,
it is unlikely that any of them VIII he
retained. There has been some effort
made to convince Mr.. Harding that Ad-
miral Benson should stay. The Presi-
dent-elect has not let it be known how
he feels about this, but he has can
didly stated that he would like to ap-
point former Senator Chamberlain,
Democrat, Of Oregon.
81 hold Chamberlain in very great
esteem" said the President elect. ~
can see possibilities of Chamberlain's
going on the Shipping Board if it is
agreeable to him. We have never dis
cussed the matter, however"
There are four Interstate Commerce
Commission vacancies to be filled by
Mr.. Harding also, and this has given
rise to the report that some of the
numerous railroad officials who are
visiting st, Augustine at this time have
this fact in mind. In denying this to-
Continued page hye)