New-York tribune., 1921-02-20
Choice Made at Confer
ence in Washington
December Is Official.
Announced i'm Florida
Begins TO Consider
Issues To Be Met
Open Diplomacy To Be
His Policy, He Declares:
No Secrets From People
BY Boyden r. Sparkes

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla, Feb. 19.
--President-eIect, Harding formally
rendered and Charles Evans Hughes
formally accepted here to-day the
post of Secretary of State In the
Harding Cabinet. Mr.. Hughes be-
gan to function as head of the Cabi-
net Immediately, participating with
his chief in important conferences
dealing with Cuba and policies in
the Far East. He departed later for
New York, expecting to pass a few
hours on the way in Washington.
By appointing Mr.. Hughes Mr..
Harding surprised no one. The for
mer Supreme Court Justice and 1915
Republican nominee was selected at
a conference at the home of Senator
Harry New, in Washington, early
last December, a few days after the
President-elect returned from va
cation in the tropics. At Senator
News home that night, besides the
President-elect, there were present
Senators Lodge and Knox and Harry
M. Daugherty. From that time, it
is understood, Mr.. Harding never
has deviated in his intention to make
Mr.. Hughes his Secretary of State.
The announcement was made by
Mr.. Harding to-day at his regular
morning chat with newspaper cor
respondents. Mr.. Hughes was in the
room with the President4eIect.
Harding Makes Announcement
"If didn't want to shoek YOU I'd tell
you something" began the President
elece. AS a newspaper editor he be-
lieved that he had good story to give
out and he wanted to enjoy his audi
tors, suspense. "You may have sus-
pected that invited Governor Hughes
here for purpose" There was
twinkle in his eyes. Governor Hughes
stood with his hands thrust into his
trousers pockets, an embarrassed smile
on his face.
"If you have" continued Mr.. Har-
ding, 81 will confirm it, / asked Gov.
ernor Hughes to come down to request
him to take the Secretaryship Of State.
am very happy to-day he has agreed
to do So"
Then in reply to question concern
ing some of the matters they had dis
cussed, Senator Harding said:
Governor Hughes can tell you him
self. That will be the policy of the new
administration. Department heads will
talk for their departments And the
President-elect walked into the next
room, leaving his Cabinet chief to finish
the interview. Mr.. Hughes said:
"Of course, I appreciate as I. very
high privilege being invited by Mr..
Harding to serve in his administra-
ton; also | regard it as an imperative
obligation to accept. Naturally. we
have talked over great many matters,
and will talk of more, but in the nature
Of things | cannot speak of them at
this time. l think it is a call to duty
which no one could refuse"
Secrecy To Be Avoided
Mr.. Hughes then explained that he
hoped to continue an e%lsting State De-
partment arrangement for frequent
and perhaps daily conferences with
newspaper representatives so that the
people may be kept informed concern
ing international affairs. He said that
he fully realized that it wasn't always
possible to permit publicity, but added.
ut is my desire that everything be
known that can be known
Mr. HaP2inu -
then and was questioned about the
Fordney emergency tariff He made it
clear that the incoming Executive is
going to be very anxious about ener-
gency tariff legislation, feeling that il
is essential to a resumption of the for
ward movement after the war.
The country can't survive indus
trlally, in my opinion" said Mr.. Rar.
ding, under the Underwood tariff law
In the early forenoon Mr.. Harding
and Governor Hughes received and
talked with Dr. and Sehorita Manuel
Angulo Of Cuba. DR.. Angulo came rs
u representative OF the Cuban Liberal
party, the principal opposition of
President Menocal. Senorita AnguIo
interpreted for her husband, who told
these two Americans who held the
destiny Of his country in their hands
that large part Of the Cuban people
ucoIicu american military supervision
Of Cuban elections. He told them that
President Menocal kept himself in Of
flee by controlling the elections with
his soldiers. Dr.. An9ulo declared that
until fairness was assured at the next
national election. in Cuba through the
presence of an American commission
with sufficient soldiers 10 keep order
at the polls there was danger Of civil
war In the little republic
Conference Delayed for Hughes
The Cuban has been in ST. Augustine
for more than week waiting to see
Mr.. Harding, but the President-eleet
delayed their conference until Mr..
Hughes arrived. There was no indics
tlon from either the President-elect or
mis- Cabinet chief as to how they fee,
concerning DR.. Angulo's proposals. bus
It is expected that they will rely on III.
report of Major General Eroe6 Cwnur.