Evening star., 1921-02-25
President-EIect Says He Is
in Accord With Former
Food Head on Policies.
WALLACE ALSO ASSURED
FOR AGRICULTURE POST
Harding Motors to Jacksonville for
Day and Is Guest of City at
Public Luncheon.
By the Associated Press.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. February %.
-President-elect Harding's selection
of Herbert Hoover TO be Secretary of
Commerce in the coming adminlstra-
tion finally was confirmed by Mr..
Harding today after series OF de-
velopmentS that at one time seemed
likely to lead to cancellation of the
appointment.
MIR. Harding announced that he had
found himself in perfect accord with
the policies urged by Mr.. Hoover as a
condition of his entering the cabinet,
and that the entire incident had been
closed with a definite acceptance from
the former food administrator.
Selection of Wallace.
At the same time the President-elect
of Henry Wallace of Iowa to be Secre-
tary of Agriculture. The selection of
MIR. Wallace has been well known for
some time, although previously Mr..
Harding had declined to discuss it.,
MIR. Harding finally broke his Si-
lencs regarding Mr.. Hoover after re-
peated efforts had been made without
result to secure confirmation of the
statement issued by the former food
A.
No formal statement was issued here.
Mr.. Harding simply saying that the
whole question had been closed salts
factorily.
Asked about the conditions laid
down by Mr.. Hoover, which included
Endorsement by Mr.. Harding of def
mite policy for reorganizing the Com
merce Department. the President-eiect
replied:
what the department ought to be
made. l wouldn't want Mr.. Hoover or
partment unless he intended to do
things with it,"
He added that he saw nothing out
of the ordinary about the case except
the publicity given it. Every other
prospective cabinet appoiptee, he said,
had discussed with him the matter
OF permanent department policies.
Has any other laid down stipula-
tions as Mr.. Hoover hasT' he was
asked.
Il don't like the form sef your ques-
tion." was the reply. Iwoufdn't call
them stipulations."
Surprised by Statement.
In the course of his comment, Mr..
Harding also expressed surprise that
Mr.. Hoover had made a statement on
the subject in New York last night
1..c President-elect said he had in
tended to announce the appoint
ment here today. but that his pros
pective Secretary had acted entirely
within his privileges In taking the
initiative.
The reference to Mr.. waIlace's ap-
pointment came in reply to a chance
question relative to an article the
Iowa editor recently published on
policies he might pursue as Secre-
tary of Agriculture.
Unless there shall be some un-
looked-for Development was Mr.
Harding's only comment, II have a
strong suspicion that Mr. Wallace
viii be serving ins that capacity"
Guest at jacksonville.
Mr.. Harding took holiday from
cabinet making and motored to jack
sonvil1e today for a visit OF courtesy.
He will return here tonight
In Jacksonville today, Mr.. Harding
was to be a guest of the city at a pub
lie luncheon early in the afternoon.
and was to spend several hours after
ward at Masonic meeting. He will
make no formal addresses.
The s. II. .. sign did not deter Pres
ident-elect Harding last night when
he determined to make what will
probably be his last visit to the thea
ter before inauguration, accompanied
by George E Christian, his secretary.
and DIR. G. E. Sawyer. his physician.
he showed his way into a crowded lit
tie st. Augustine playhouse and stood
for more than an hour laughing at the
minstrel show. in which one of the
features was take-or of the front :
porch campaign. During intermission
many people recognized him and
came back to offer him their places.
but he declined and remained standine
until the show was over.