The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-05-27
{ Special Dispatch to The Iteformer.
Copyright 1921.

Ry DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Dispatch to 1.-The Reformer.1
Copyright 1927.
WASHINGTON. May 27.-President
Harding will name former President Taft
as chief Justice of the United States That
is his present intentions as disclosed by
those who have discussed the matter with
him. Mr. Harding is not likely TO delay
an announcement. The more time
elapses the more candidates appear, and
the more hours must be given to the con-
sideration of appeals from friends "a the
candidates. Mr.. Harding is having enough
troubles filling important positions With
out adding to his cares. He has yet TO
find a chairman of the shipping board.
He has yet to name an ambassador to
Japan He has dozens of appointments
TO make. Should congress create a de
partment of welfare. there are many can
didates for that job. but it is coming to
be understood that Brigadier General
Sawyer. the Presidents physician. in
whom he has the utmost confidence. will
be named for that place.
Aside from appointments, the President
finds himself with a complex situation in
congress. The biggest jobs are still UNI
Edonc-making a permanent tariff and en-
acting a new tax law. He feels relieved
Il
can navy by reducing the personnel and
though it is di>quietiug to see the Repub-
lican ranks divided so early in the game, it
Is nevertheless comforting for the prcsi-
dent that the Democrats did not see tit To
be petty partisans, but contributed II
votes-sufhcient to save the navy pro-
gram from defeat.
The Uuanmity which Senator Rorah's
proposal that the President call a diSarma-
ment conference was passed by the senate
may be perpleXing to the outsider who
| recalls that the Borah measure met at
/ first with determined opposition which
later melted away. The answer is that
| with the cutlery for disarmament a. 81
means Of reducing taxation the admins
tration saw no reason for opposing a
/ mere request for g disarmament confer
ence. 1t was feared that if some conceS-
/ sions were not made to- the advocates of
! disarmament conferences, they might 90
I further and actually try to secure the
| passage of legislation which did reduce
/ American armament even in advance of
action by the other powers. The Demo
! Gratis voted for BOrah'S measure because
lit Is Identical with paragraph inserted
/ by Representative Hpu>lcy in a naval APP
/ propriation bin passed under the Wilson
administration which authorized the PreSI-
den, to call disarmament conference.
There is nothing IN the old statute or
the new law which campcls the President
to call conference of powers to discuss
disarmament. 1t merely requests that he
do 50. and gives him the necessary al-
thority to spend money for the expenses
for such q conference.
The time for the conference is left Ia
Mr.. Iarding'S discretion. Meanwhile
Borah's suggestion that the personnel
strength of the navy be cut down indicates
Iclearly that the administration will De
liable To get through the present session Of
congress at least without serious injury
being done to the American navy as a first
line Of defense All that the adniniStra.
ton wanted with respect to the army.
size was not granted and it had been
feared that similar fate would be met
by the naval program, The coalition OF
Democrats and Republicans is something
new. but it proves that ON many subject,
at least President Harding can count OF
support from both sides of the politica
aisle. This would be particularly true o.
foreign policy. Briefly. the insurgeuc,
against President Harding'S policies thu.
far manifested is not strong enough t,
worry him.