The Washington herald., 1921-01-20
Denies He Plans to Settle
Political Debts in His
Selections.
REAFFIRMS FAITH
IN PARTISAN RULE
President-elect Quits the
Helm of Marion News
Y paper for 4 Years.
By SAMUEL w. BELL.

By SAMUEL W. BELL.
MARION. Ohio, Jan. 1s.-Presi-
dent-eIect Harding, as a firm believ-
er in party government, today an
nounced that lie will appoint a Re-
publican Cabinet, but he made It
plain at the same time that no man
will be given a place in the official
family of the next administrators
wholly as a partisan or because Of
party obligation. Ability to serve
the country during the next :,ur
years is the final test to which those
under consideration are being SUD-
mitted, Harding said.
The declaration of the President
elect was made today in conn sctiOn
with the definite announcement thal
no Cabinet appointments will be
made public until the complete or
ganizatiOn had been perfected, a
decision the President-elect has
reached within the past two days.
The difficulties which have prevent
cd Harding from fitting in the en-
tire Cabinet have been responsible
for abandonment Of his original
plan to appoint a Secretary of State
and a Secretary of the Treasury
Immediately, SO that the appointees
might acquaint themselves with in
ternationaI and financial problems
as soon as possible.
Doesn't Lose Sleep.
In discussing the Cabinet situa-
ton with newspaper men today,
Harding indicated that he was
frankly amused at reports that he
vas kept awake nights" trying to
solve the Cabinet puzzle, but he did
not attempt to conceal the vast
amount Of trouble he is experience
ing in working out a slate which
will satisfy his ideal of what Cab
met should be.
In reference to recent reports
that unusual pressure had been
brought to bear to force the ap-
pointment of ElIhu Root as Secre-
tary Of State, Harding asserted that
at no time had be been made the
objective OF any desperate drive in
behalf OF any me man.
Harding SAFE: Il am thinking all
the time Of getting an organization
best fitted to serve this country.
am a partisan. I believe in party
government. 1 am going to have a
Republican Cabinet, but no selection
will be made because of party obli-
CATION without considering for the
best service Of the country"
Refers to Criticism
In a measure, 1t is presumed, the
unqualified statements Of the Presi-
dent-eIect that he intends to name
a Republican Cabinet because he is
a party man and believes in the
party form of government, refers
directly to the criticism which is
said to have been leveled at the pro-
pOsal to name as Cabinet members
VIII H. Hays, Harry NJ. Daugherty,
John W. Weeks and possibly A T
Hert, all -<epublicans closely identi-
fed VIII the organization which
conducted the presidential cam
paign.
on the basis of Harding's asser-
tions today these four men are to
be regarded as more than mere pol
iticians II they are named as mem
bers Of the Harding Cabinet.
Copyright, 1891. Public Ledger Co..
Gives Up Business.
MAhlONp w. jan lJ.-lne HT6Sl-
dent-elect is no longer an active
newspaper publisher At the an
nual meeting of the stockholders of
the Marion Star Publishing Com
pany today Senator Harding retired
as it's president, and relinquished
active control of his paper. George
II. Van Fleet. for many years man
aging editor Of the Star, was elected
nj
chairman Of the board of directors,
which is an honorary position.
Although still retaining owner
ship Of his interests in the paper.
the President-elect today renounced
all connection with the actual man
agement, and this four years, at
least. he will give up the newspaper
business for the bigger business of
running the government
Has Noted Record.
Under the direct MANAGEMENT or
Harding. the Marion Star has
emerged from the class of two
sheet, small town papers, to that Of
a publication widely read through
out this section of the State, with a
daily circulation of about 1900.
The President elects retirement
from active association with his
paper was not without its sentiment
tai side, for the publication was his
pet hobby as well as a substantial
source Of revenue. Even while
serving as United States Senator
Harding frequently took time from
his legislative duties while in
Washington to write editorials for
the Star on questions of the mo-
rnsnt and at the meeting ~ stock
holders today he expressed his
genuine sorrow over abandoning
his personal contact with his daily.
His determination to withdraw was
solely Influenced by the fact that
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