New-York tribune., 1921-02-25
Cabinet Place Taken ON
Understanding Depart
ment of Commerce Is
To Be Reconstructed
His Work as Relief
Chief to Continue
Announcement Made AZ
ter Harding Communi-
Gates With Appointee

Herbert Hoover at 10 O'Clock last
hight announced in the following
statement his acceptance of the post
of Secretary of Commerce in the
Harding Cabinet:
"President-elect Harding this eve
ming asked me to state that he has in
cluded myself in his nominations for
the Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce,
Mr.. Harding enters Fundamentally
into plans for upbuilding the depart
ment aiad wishes that continue TO di-
rect the policies of the European
relief"
Earlier in the day Mr., Hoover said
concerning his attitude toward the
offer of the Cabinet post:
81 have had some discussion with SEN
ator Harding as to the future policies
with respect to the Department of Com
merce. The Senator is anxious that the
should be strengthened and
built UP more nearly TO meet the needs
OF the American business public than
it does at the present time, and I have
made some suggestions to him OF con-
structive order in this direction. AS
the department stands now. it is, with
the exception OF one bureau, composed
almost wholly of scientific and statisti-
cal bureaus, and it is the Department
of Commerce rather in name than in
fact.
Large Obligations
cone of the difficulties in the per
sonal situation is that l have taken
large obligations in public service. for
instance, in respect to the $30,000,00o
subscribed by the American public for
the relief OF children in Europe and in
various educational and research insti~
tutions, where have been elected a
trustee, regent or president. In some
OF these cases I have a responsibility
ausing cut of considerable sums ef
money that have been provided at nay
request.
Il have informed Senator Harding
that / stand ready to accept the Sec
retaryship of Connerce5 bat Isfid
not believe unless the department is
to be built up on the lines that ws
have discussed that / could be- of as
much service TO the public as if con-
tinued III my present activities, and
have left the matter to the Senator's
Judgment. ! feel it is essential in any
event that / should continue for the
time being also to direct the policies
of children's relief, for indeed the
care of this great mass of waif chill
dren in Europe is q material factor in
maintaining and building up good viii
TO the United States"
Hundreds of Telegrams
Mr.. Hoover in ten days has received
literally hundreds Of kilograms from
all parts Of thes country urging him,
on grounds of public service, to 20 into
the Harding Cabinet and help make the
Harding Administration a success.
Some of his friends advised him to
stay out of the Cabinet, but these were
in very striking minority.
Some of the activities with which Mr..
Hoover has been associated and which
make constant calls on his time are
the following: Chairman of the Ameri-
can Relief Association, European Chill
dren's Fund, trustee of Leland Stanford
Junior University, trustee Of the Car
negie Institution, Washington: presi-
dent of the American Institute Of
Mining Engineers, president of the
American Federated Engineering So
ciety, president-eiect OF the American
Child Hygiene Association, chairman
OF the European Relief Council, vice
president of the Child Welfare Asso-
citation, president OF the Educational
Inc, and chairman Of the
advisory board of the Institution for
Food Research.
Mr.. Hoover had begun to give great
deal of attention to the comprehensive
plans Of the American Federated En-
Society, organized with a
staff. to extend free ex-
pert service to the Federal and state
Nearly 100000 engineers.
led by Mr.. Hoover, have Joined in this
enterprise. which, MIR. Hoover believes,
means much TO the government in sue
cessfully meeting national and inter-
national problems.
He does not want to drop this work,
and it is understood that President
elect Harding is inclined to leave him
free TO Go as ne see fit about continu-
ing in an advisory capacity with any
organization with which he is identi-
fed