Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-19
SENATORS MOVE TO
FORCE SELECTION OF
ROOT FOR CABINET
Effort to Induce Harding to Re-
consider Choice for Sec
retary of State.
PENROSE OPPOSES HOOVER

Washington, Jan. 19.-It is said here
that sentiment among some Repupn-
cans In the Senate. which apparently
had been anti-Root so far as a place
in the Cabinet is concerned. has under
gone some change. and that there lis
now n wcll-defned effort TO induce
l,resident-eiect Harding TO give him the
posi in the state Department instead
uf hughes
In the opnion of these Republicans
the selection of Mr.. Hughes as Secre-
tarv of state would be an error of 1udg-
mcnt on the part of the president-elect.
They contend that it would not
strengthen the party and would lay the
foundation of clashes between the state
Department and the Senate, for the idea
is widespread that the Senate ana Mr.
Hughes will not be able to work I'm har-
mony In the conduct of the foreign re-
Istions of the United States.
II has become evident that while
many Republican Senators. particular
liz those of the irreConcilable group, are
not anxious to have Mr. Root take the
portfolio of Foreign Affairs, they prefer
him to Hughes. and are convinced that
Root is the only man who would nave
any chance of consideration FOR head
of the Cabinet as against Hughes.
The most interesting phase of the eff
for, now under way in Mr.. Roots be-
half is that IT has the sympathy of some
of the hitterest of the btter-end ir-
reconcilables Their opposition to Mr..
Root hss been based on his friendly
attitude toward the League OF Nations.
They have a great personal liking LOT
the distinguished lawyer and states
man, but this has been outweighed In
their minds by his sympathetic ati-
tude toward preserving the structure OF
tho League in a revision of the Cove
nsnt TO meet American sentiment.
NIr. Harding has been aware of the
feeling among his old friends In the
Senate. and this has influenced him 70
eliminate Mr. Root in making UP his
Cabinet slate With Mir. Roots name
erased from the tentative Cabinet list,
II II ever was there. MIR. Harding began
making inquiries concerning Mr.
Hughes fairness and availability Tor
the Secretaryship OF State.
MIR. Hughes may have one or two
hackers in the Senate. but they have
not been in evidence. and II is asserted
that discussion among the Republican
members Of that body has shown that
an overwhelming sentiment exists
against his selection.
None of the prominent Republicans
in Washington who have discussed
issues and Cabinet personalities with
the President-elect has any doubt that
Nlr Hughes name heads all the rest on
Nfr Harding's tentative slate. Some Of
,her, particularly the irreconcilabies,
would like 10 have DR.. David Jayne
ian chosen for the State Department,
hut they think that his name is not
now under consideration. They be-
Hevc that the only man who could be
mt forward with any chance Of dis
placing MIR Hughes in the President
elects preference ia Mr.. Root. and Ia
that belief the drive for Mr.. Roots ap-
continent is on.
Rolnctant as the irreconciiables are
10 recommend that a man Of Mr.. Root 8
attitude toward the League be chosen
Secretary Of State they prefer him 70
MIR. Hughes. Their only comfort in this
situation is the thought that with Mr..
Root in the Cabinet the Administra- :
ton would be strengthened among
people.
Senator Penrose has written to Presi-
dant-eiect Harding. protesting strongly
against the appointment of Mr. hughes
TO the Cabinet. He has included Herb
ert Hoover in the protest. This action
has the sympathy of many Repuolican
Senators and has encouraged them to
undertake the effort to induDe Mf
Harding not to offer Cabinet port
folio to Mr. Hughes.
The feeling against Mr.. Hoover Is not
80 strong as that against Mr. Hughes
In fact many Senators feel that with
Mr. Hoover in the Cabinet the people
would be inclined to think that Mr.
Harding was anxious TO give the coun-
rv the best administration possible