Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-21
A STRONG MAN IN THE
STATE DEPARTMENT
The Appointment Of Mr.. Hughes Means
That the Senate viii Not Dictate
tho Eoreian Policleh

1NHE selection of Charles Evans Hughes
L TO be secretary OF state Is Mr. Harding !
answer 70 Senator Penrose and those other
senator's who have been saving that II did
not matter much who presided in the state
department. az the foreign policy Of the
goyernment would be managed by the for
"ign Affairs committee Of the Senats
II ~ an assurance TO the nation that Mr.
Harding meant what he said when he told
the Senate last January that he would re.
spect its prerosatives, but that he would also
insist on tho prerogatives OF the executive.
The initiative in foreign policy lies with
the President. He conducts all negotiations
with other nations. and the Senate cannot
interfere with him during the progress Of
those negotiations II may ask him for in
formation II it desires. but il cannot dema nd
it. Whether the President shall give the
Information sought Or not rests within his
own discretion.
The Senate asked for Information the
other day regarding the progress Of nrgo-
ttGtions with Japan over the immi igration
Of Japanese, but Secretary Colby declined
to give it what il sought. And The Senate
bad to BE- content.
Mr.. Harding could not have found man
better qualified than Mv. Hughes to main
tain the rights Of the executive in the
Of frmucss OF purpose who cannot be brow
beaten or bufed into the surrender of his
powers into th" hands Of any congressional
committee. So long as he holds the Office
the initiative in foreign affairs will remain
with the eve"utve branch OF the govern
mcur.
But Mr. Hughes is something NOR" than
. man with backbone. He has q record
for ms Sterins every problem that has come
before him. Il was his skill in uDraveling
the tangled details Of the insurance com.
nan;"S during q legislative inves; cation in
New York that first brought him into prom
incnce. And it was his sterling integrity in
the pres nce Of great temptation that led
the people Of the state TO make him gov
-rnor twice and that ultimately secured for
him the nOmina. .on for the presidency.
II may be argued that he is not an CE
pert on either foreign relations or on inter
pational law. Eut he Was not an expert
on insurance COMPANY management when
IL was summoned 20 conduct the investi-
CATION. He did have those intellectual
qualities which ftt"d him for comprChNndinS
auv sub ject 10 which he brought his trained
attention. His knowledge Of internationa,
affairs is that Of an educated sud public
spirited citizen. The mastery oi the details
is merely u matter of directing his attention
70 them. He will not be in the State De
ru-tment long before tho permanent stan
there will discover that he knows more
about the relations Of the t'uitcd States with
other nations thsn they have ever learned.
We have had International lawyers a.
rhc head OF tbe department. but these tech
meal experts have not shope with tn" dis
tiDrtiOu that has '0me 10 men with
broader training John W Foster, vino
served under BENJAMIN Harrison. was sucG
o man but he made no impression on inter
national afairs. Aud Robert Lansing. his
son in law is distinguished chiefly sN
man who was Mr. Wilson's executive "l"rE
IN tho conduct Of foreign relations