Evening star., 1921-04-09

settlement of the factor in the
turbing today. 1t means reduction
in wages and operating expenses. but
also drop in freight rates.
The President has managed to tone
down the demand in the Senate for
the passage of the Knox resolution
and has, through Secretary OF state
Hughes. set forth the general princi-
pies of American foreign policy.
Mr.. Harding has not yet formulated
q definite program on tax revision or
tariff legislation but he has created
a favorable atmosphere among the
leaders-an atmosphere that probably
will lead to agreement rather than
diScord.
Cabinet Acts as Unit.
The cabinet has functfoned as
i'unit. Secretary Hughes has grasped
the problems of the State Department
with remarkable speed. He acts and
thinks quickly Notes do not lie un-
answered very long. And the Ian
guage Of the notes is not roundabout
or ambiguous, but plainspoken and un-
eQuivocaL
Secretary Hoover has laid the
groundwork for cooperation between
American business men and their gov
ernment, particularly in respect OF
foreign trade. He has. moreover. in
ltldteu d movement 10 save INC eoN
ernment money on its telegraph and
cable messages. and has taken steps
toward co-ordinating the communica-
tions services of the United States.
Secretary DENLY of the Navy De-
partment has visited the Atlantic
fleet and established a friendly and
cooperative spirit inside the Navy.
Secretary Weeks has slowly healed
up many of the sores in the War De-
partment growing out Of wartime
friction and personal jealousies among
the higher officers.
farmers of the country. through a
series OF public statements. that he is
their friend in the cabinet. He has re-
vealed himself as the principal cham
pion Of the farmers tariff.
Secretary Davis has had a measure
Of success in settling the packers
strike. but more significant than any
thing else is his manifest anxiety to
gain the confidence of union labor by
fair dealing.
Secretary Fall has busted himself
with the Alaskan problem and a null
titude Of other tasks in the Interior
Department which may not make in
teresting reading. but have a great
deal to do with the development Of
the west
Secretary Mellon has distinguished
himself by the splendid way in which
he has gotten the confidence of the
officials of his department. He has
said he would not turn out one Set OF
employees simply to make room for
others on political grounds. He has,
matters of taxation and fiscal policy.
He is a distinct asset to the Harding
administration.
Post once Problems.
Postmaster General Will Hays. with
characteristic zeal. has busted him
self with the huge organization of
the Post ONCE Department. He
public had been led to believe be-
cause of it's peculiar antipathy to-
ward Mr. Burleson. But. nevertheless.
he is going after the mail service
with an enthusiasm and energy
which ought to spell results pretty soon.
had the hardest job Of any one in the
cabinet Not only has he big ad-
ministrative task in running the De-
partment of Justice. but everybody
seems to have picked him out as the
man through whom the President can
been crowding the corridors of the
Department of Justice. Mr.. Daugher-
ty has had his hands full
Views OF Critics.
No analysis would be fair without
recording what the critics are say
ing Criticism centers mostly thus
far on the appointment 10 important
diplomatic posts of susf men as Col
Harvey. who is to be ambassador to
Great Britain. The argument is that
the republican party contains many
able men who were more deserving Of
selection. Another criticism heard is
that Mr.. Harding is making appoint
ments to ONCE too rapidly and with
out sufficient consideration. Perhaps
this is due to the pressure for ap-
pointments. and an impatience on the
part Of the executive to get rid Of
as much of that pressure as possible.
The only other criticisms of i'm
portance come from pro-league repub-
licans, who voted for Mr. Harding be-
cause they believed he would enter the
! present league of nations and ratify the
Versailles treaty with suitable reserva-
tions. Their disappointment is not yet
! as widespread as 1t will be when they
/ read Mr.. Harding's message of next
Tuesday. But Mr.. Harding and his as
| sociates interpret the last election as
having meant an overwhelming repudia-
tion Of the league and treaty. Many
millions Of people-not few murmur-
ing individuals-will have to express
themselves to the same effect before the
Harding administration will be con-
vinced that its Interpretation of the
election mandate is incorrect.