The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-03-03
HOOVER ACCEPTS
Place IN Cabinet
Announces After Another Talk
With Harding That He Will
Be Secretary of Commerce.
EXPANSION PLAN ACCEPTED
President-Elect for Widening Depart
ment-HooVer Sees enormous
Field"-Most of Formal
Tenders Wait.

New York.-Following a telephone
call from President-Elect Harding,
Herbert Hoover announced that he had
decided to accept the post of secretary
of commerce.
Mr. Hoover, who has been busy wind
ing up his private affairs, issued this
statement:
"President-Elect Harding asked me
to state that he has included myself
in his nominations for the cabinet as
secretary of commerce. Senator Hard
ing enters whole-heartedly into plans
Tor upbuilding this department, and
wishes that 1 continue to direct the
policies of European relief"
Earlier in the day Mr. Hoover an
nounced the terms under which he
would accept the position of secretary
of commerce. He submitted his pro-
posal to President-Elect Harding and
left it with Mr.. Harding to decide
whether he would go into the cabinet.
A complete reorganization of the de-
part2ent Of commerce, making it of
more importance tfdn it has ever been
before, with the addition of new bu-
reaus and new activities, was the basis
Of the terms laid down by Mr. Hoover.
Il have outlined to Senator Hard
ing" Mr.. Hoover said, several con-
structive proposals for the department
Of commerce, and it remains for him
to make the decision. l believe that a
reorganization is vital for the future of
the department of commerce. That de-
partment has been a department Of
commerce in name only and is COM
posed of scientific and semi-scientific
bureaus of uncOrrelated nature.
IF take the post it will be only be-
cause 1 believe that Senator Harding
will stand behind me in making a real
department of commerce. There is an
enormous field for a proper govern
ment bureau. It can be made Il de-
partment of the first importance with
the support of the administration and
Congress. Unless this is done I am not
warranted in shifting my responsible
ties for relief work.
No special legislation is necessary
for the moment. There must however
be reallOcatiOn of government bu-
reaus, and we must bring into the de-
partment Of commerce bureaus which
belong there. The department can ma
terially assist in the economic settle
ment of our foreign relations and must
do more than engage in the mere ex-
ploitation of our goods.
Having taken the responsibility to
the American people for thirty or forty
million dollars for relief work, l can
not abandon this by resignation. l dis
cussed that with Mr. Harding, and |
feel that l must continue to take the
responsibility for the general direction
of the relief work.
II have no right to ask the public
to give money and then shed all re-
sponsibility of administering it at once.
Another difficulty is that l have under
taken the trusteeship of eight or ten
public Institutions of importance. Sew
eral have enlarged their activities at
my inspiration, and l must not aban-
don them entirely.
Il have informed Senator Harding
that l stand ready to accept the sec
retaryship of commerce, but l do not
believe, unless the department is to be
built up on the lines that we have dis
cussed, that 1 could be of as much
service to the public as if l continued
in my present activities, and 1 leave
the matter to the senator's Judgment.
| feel that it is essential in any event
that I should continue for the time be-
ing also to direct the policies of chill
dren's relief, for, indeed, the care of
this great mass of walt children in
Europe is a material factor in main
tanning and building up good will to the
United States"
Mr.. Hoover said that in his discus
sions with Mr.. Harding the latter had
agreed with him that the department
Of commerce should be built up so as
more nearly to meet the needs of the
American business public than it does
at present.