Evening star., 1921-04-02
PRESIDENT ISPROUD
OF PICKING HARVEY
Published Stories Stiffen Mr.
Harding in Selection of
Ambassador to Britain.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

selection of Col. George Harvey as
ambassador to Great Britain. When
he authorized the Washington CORE
send the nomination to the Senate
soon there was a note of defiance in
his voice against all who had pre-
sumed to doubt that the distinguished d
editor of Harper's Weekly would be
finally chosen.
The President was eager to have ii
known that the So-called drive
against the Harvey appointment had
failed to move him. and from the de-
cisive manner in which he spoke il
was evident that, having made up his
mind to appoint Col. Harvey. he was
trying to discourage any effort to dis
suade him.
There is no doubt about 1.-THE MUIR
murs of opposition. as well as the
published stories of a drive" agains,
Col. Harvey. have only served to
stiffen the determination of President
Harding to go through with his origi
nal plan.
Resentment Noted.
Those who observed Mr.. Harding's
eagerness to- have the press record his
choice of Col. HarveH thought they
detected the same resentment against
woodrow Wilson used to exhibit
whenever any one made so bold as to
suggest that possibly the posts held
by Albert Sidney Burleson or George
Creel might have been filled by others
Just why the selection of Col. Har-
vey to go to the court of ST. Jame es
should be the object of criticism and
produce an undercurrent of protest
in republican circles ever since his
name was first mentioned for the
post may be somewhat of a mystery
to the outsider.
Indeed, there has been very little
question raised about the brilliancy
of Col. Harvey's mind and his ready
wit. Rather has the opposition CEN
tered upon Col. Harvey's alleged atti-
tude toward prohibition, which is not
especially pleasing to the dry" ele-
ment here.
1t has been pointed out, however
that Great Britain is not a prohibi-
tion country and that presumably
sentiment in London would favor the
selection of man like Col. Harvey
instead of one of 'Pussyfoot" John
sons disciples. Indeed, the British
government in response to an in
quiry from the United states govern
ment, said promptly that Col. Har-
vey was persona grata."
Lifelong Ambition.
When Col. Harvey goes abroad as
ambassador to Great Britain, he will
have achieved a lifelong ambition. 1t
is not generally known that the colo
mel was anxious to have President
Wilson appoint him to the same am
bassadorship. Long after Mr.. VIII
son and George Harvey had their SEN
sational controversy in which tn.
then candidate for the presidency
asked his editorial friend to cease his
support on the ground that it was
more harmful than helpful. the am
bition of the colonel to become am
bassador to Great Britain did not
wane.
When Mr.. Wilson hesitated for some
weeks before appointing Walter Hines
Page, the friends of Col. Harvey be-
seeched Mr.. Wilson to let bygone be
bygones. and appoint the man who
had been SO instrumental in bring
ing the name of Woodrow Wilson
into the limeHght.
Wilson Was Obdurate.
But Woodrow Wilson was obdurate
The same reasons which actuate6
him in declining Col. Harvey's edi-
toriai support-namely. an apprehen
sion that support by Harvey would
be construed out west as the back
ing Of WALTZ Street : sinterests--were
potent in :. the subsequent decision
against the sending of the colone
to Great Britain.
Ever since tHat eplSOOe, SOl 11dT
vey's pen has been employed in ar
incessant attack upon Mr.. Wilson and
his policiesa 50 much SO. that man,
republicans believe he owes his Sc.
lection by Mr.. Harding to the re.
markabfe way in which he exposed
to satire. the ills Of the Wilson ad'
ministration.
Traditionally he is not repub.
lican, though after his break will
! Mr.. Wilson he supported the national
republican ticket in 1915 and 1920.
The fact that Mr.. Wilson was in
clined to select Col. Harvey for the
Enthusiastically and was merely
afraid Of the colonels supposed Wal
! street connections is seized upon al
confirmatory. at least. of the editors
ability and capacity. for, if fate haf
brushed aside these circumstances, he
might have served in the same posi-
| under a democratic instead of re-
publican administration.
copyright, 1921