Evening star., 1921-03-09
DR.SAWYER TO HAVE
IMPORTANT ROLE
Presidents Physician Also to
Advance Interests of Pub
lie Health and Welfare.

DIR. Charles Sawyer of Marion, Ohio.
the Harding family physician. was to-
day named by the President to be a
brigadier general medical section,
Officers Reserve Corps, L. s. A.. and
Will be detailed to public welfare work
His nomina tion was sent to the-SSnate
at noon.
An official statement from the White
House concerning this appointment
follows:
President Harding has long since
been convinced that the affairs relating
to pubic welfare, such as public
health. education and social justice,
are SO intimately related and SO vital
to the nations perpetuity that he has
decided to begin at once a careful sur
vey of all matters pertaining to these
subjects.
That there may be no delay, he
has nominated Dr. Sawyer of Marion,
ONO, man of long and practical ex-
perience in such matters. to a briga-
dier generalcy in the Medical Corps
Of the United States Army. thereby
not only securing the services of DR..
Sawyer as physician at the White
House when professional attention is
necessary, but also giving him direct
authority to make a thorough investi-
CATION of the needs of these subjects
and to present the accumulated facts,
with such suggestions as his observa-
tions may warrant in bringing about
d concrete plan of coordination and
most efficient and economic operation
of these affairs. DR.. Sawyer's duties
are to begin Immediately.
During the war DR.. Sawyer served
H.
of National Defense. serving about a
year in Washington. His SON and
business associate. DIR. Carl Sawyer,
was then called to active service. and
DR.. Sawyer was compelled to resign
and return to Marion.
The appointment was the subject of
much comment at the Capitol today.
II was intimated in some quarters that
fight against the confirmation might
be waged. On the other hand, some
of the democratic senator's expressed
the belief that the nomination would
go through without difficulty.
cites the Grayson Case
They called attention to the fact
that former President Wilson had
raised Rear Admiral Grayson, his per-
Ecnal physician. to that rank, and the
mocrats of the Senate had supported
the appointment. They could hardly,
In view Of that fact, oppose the con-
flrmation Of President Hardings per-
nonal physician now.
The appointment of DR.. Sawyer and
assignment to active duty will mean
that he will receive from the govern
ment salary of $4,000. and the al
lowances for quarters. light. etc. will
bring his total compensation up to
s7,512.
Assigned to Reserve Corps.
Republican senators were not slow
to point out today that the appoint
ment of DR.. Sawyer "A brigadier gen
eral in the reserve corps would not
have the effect of the boosting the
appointee over the heads OF other
Regular Army offcers-as was the
| case with the appointment Of Rear
Admiral Grayson. who was jumped
ahead of number of medical officers
of the Navy who had higher rank
and much longer service.
DR.. Sawyer is sixty-tWo years old.
The age of retirement in the Army
is sixty four but the President or
the Secretary OF War may continue
an officer in active service beyond
| that age, if desired. DR.. Sawyer's son
| DR. Carl Sawyer. served in the Army
during the world war.
The failure of former President
Wilson to sign the Army appropria-
for President Harding to give this
| appointment to his old friend and
| physician. That bill limited the mum
her Of reserve officers that might be
! appointed. and provided that they
| should be assigned to duty only at
| Army service schools.
| Senate Action Required
! Members of the military affairs
committee of the Senate said that un
der the existing law the President an
! points to the Reserve Corps officers
ranking as high as colonel wi,hon,
l fiy-fr, M nf No
essary. But the appointment of a
| brigadier general in the Reserve
Corps must be confirmed by the SEN
ate.