The Washington herald., 1921-02-25
Former Food Administra-
tor Announces Acceptance
of Portfolio i'm N. Y.
AIMS TO UPBUILD
THIS DEPARTMENT.
President-elect Wishes
AppOintee to ContinUe
Relief Work.

NEW YORK. Feb. 24-Herbert
Hoover has accepted the post Of.
Secretary Of Commerce in Prosi-
dent-elect Harding's Cabinet
Mr.. Hoover tonight made the fol-
lowing statement:
President elect Harding this
evening asked me to state that hc
has included me in his nominations
for the Cabinet as Secretary OF
Commerce.
Senator Harding enters whole
heartedly into plans for upbuiIdin=
the department and wishes that
continue to direct the policy Of the
European Relief"
By FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
ST. AUGUSTINE. Fla. Feb. "a
In language and style at times
Rooseveltian Warren q. Harding
today assailed the back-biters and
back-stabbers who are trying 20 dis
credit his administration in ad-
vance. The President-elect hit
straight out and hit hard. He did
not mincc words. The, man who a
week hence viii be the First Citizen
OF the Republic termed his traduc-
ers and their methods "A menace To-
popular government" Their "impu-
tations in advance Of action" were
denounced as a malicious attempt
to undermine public confidence"
! STN1
spoken with more punch" He said
he had no comment on the Daugh-
erty opposition in itself. but pro-
ceeded TO unbosom himself general
ly on the subject Of unfair" tao
tics. Il suppose its our way OF do
ing things" Mr.. Harding proceed
ed. but that doesn't make IL right
don't mind being jumped on Tor
something I've done. It's being
judged before performance that
object to-that all fair-minded pee
pie have a right to object to. This
sort OF thing goes deeper than its
effect on any one man. IL strikes
at the root OF popular government.
and strikes dangerously. II thcrr
II malfeasanco in Office don't
mind having the guns turned on
the malefactors. But is there rhyme
or reason or common honesty in
subjectinC people 10 bombardment
bef>re they've had the ghost of
show to prove their Inettlc7"
4 Keynote Episode.
The impression left upop US rIosa-
range students Of Warren C. Hard
ing in these. his last gasps Of private
citizenship for at least four years.
was that today's outburst was =
Keynote" episode. Unless all its
signs were deceptive the Harding
Presidency will not be disposed TO
tolerate unjustifiable criticism bland
ly. IL will fight back. After divest-
ing himself of his views on prema-
ture criticism. Mr.. Harding discussed
the status OF his Cabinet He as
serted in precisely those words that
1T is not yet complete" Indeed. he
added. except for two places" by
which he meant the Secretaryship
Of State and the Attorney General
ship. adjustments are possible all
along the line. The president-elcct
specifically emphasized the Navy,
Commerce and Labor portfolios stin
are open" Undoubtedly he is more
technical than literal in making that
statement for Il is taken generally
for granted Edwin DENLY will head
the Navy Department Herbert
Hoover the Commerce Department.
and James J. Davis tho Department
| of Labor.
Mr.. ncnby is expected TO con-
/ fer with Mr.. Harding in St An
Gustino on Saturday. have excel
lent reason for suggesting tho
/ Dcnby appointment is conspicuousIy
associated with prospective intcrna-
tional negotiations regarding naval
ornaments. Mr.. DENLY has enjoyed
unique contact abroad nthese
spheres Of influence within which
naval discussions will fall.
>aggests Reconstrsction.
Mr.. HooVer's suggestion Of a re-
construction of the Department of
Commerce will encounter no hoStil-
| ity from Mr.. Harding. The Presi-
dent-elect is disposed TO give his
Cabinet officers unprccedentedly
free hands in the conduct OF their
departments. Hitherto the Depart
ment of Commerce. while usefuIly
administered. has not. in the opinion
of the business community, begun
to exhaust its possibilities. IL has
not. in particular. risen TO its fun
height OF the domain of foreign
trade. In that realm unquestion-
ably, Herbert Hoover would strive
to infuse new ideas. There is not
business man in Florida at the
moment-and the winter colony Is
full of eminent captains Of industry
who does not welcome the pros
pect of a Hoover administration In
the business department OF the
government.
Tomorrow the Presirent-elect ana
Mrs. Harding are motoring TO Jack
sonville. to attend a luncheon ten
dered by the city. Later Mr.. Hard
ing will participate in some Scot
tish Rites ceremonials.
(copyright. isai, BY Public Ledger oe.)