The Washington herald., 1921-03-04
PLACE REJECTED
BY TUMULTY GOES
TO W. B. WILSON
Retiring Labor Secretary
To Succeed Gardner on
Joint Commission.

Developments came rapidly, yes.
terdays in the situation regarding q
successor to Obadiah Gardner OF
Maine, recently deposed as chair.
manSof the American section OF the
International Joint Commission.
William B. Wilson. whose term as
Secretary of Labor expires at noon
today. was rendered the vacated
post and was declared at the White
House to have accepted it. follow
ing an announcement by Joseph p
Tumulty. President Wilson's secre-
tary. that he had declined the office
Would Reinstate Gardner.
Charles p. Craig. executive direc-
tor of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence
Tidewater Association, sent a lette-
to Senators from States favorins
the development fostered by the as
sociation requesting that they do all
In their power to have Gardner re-
instated by Warren c. Harding until
the joint commissions report ON the
great canal project Is completed
This. he believes. Will be SIX months
from now.
A powerful group of Senators are
being enlisted in the cause of Gard
iner's continuance as chairman, tenn
porarily at least. Among them are
Nelson of Minnesota, Walsh of Mont
ana Kellogg of Minnesota, Lenroot
of Wisconsin, Townsend of Michi-
TA(N TT -
minis of Iowa
Craig. in his letter received al
the Capitol yesterday. stated the be-
lief that though Gardner is a Demo-
crat, he should be returped to the
post for which he was summarily
ousted last Monday, because the
preparation Of the Great Lakes-St.
Lawrence canal investigation report
transcends politics in Importance.
Notice Served By Colby.
Gardner's term Of ofice was
abruptly ended by Secretary of
State Colby after he had written
Wilson desired to make another ap-
to the post and had re-
ceived letter in reply in which
Gardner requested chat the tender
Of his resignation be deferred until
he had time to wind up the affairs
of his Office in an orderly manner.
Tumulty had been proffered the
post on February 90. and Gardner's
ousting was to make room for him.
publication of the facts
Of the case in The Herald last Tues
day. the appointment was rendered
to Secretary Wilson.
Should President Harding be pre-
vailed upon to reinstatc Gardner. a
mere request for Wilson's resigna-
tion would be sufficient to vacate
the Office a second time. II is a pure
ly Presidential appointment. there
being no provision for confirmation
by the Senate Secretary Tumulty
refused the Office on the ground
that because of professional en-
he did not/feel'he would
be able to devote the time to the
work that II required.
Con.idered Logical Chairman.
That Gardner is looked upon as
the logical man to head the Ameri-
can section of the joint commission,
at least until the Great Lakes-St.
Lawrence project is reported upon,
Is shown by the flood of protests
against hisyremoval received at the
Capitol prior to yesterdays devel-
opments.
Senator Cummins received a tele-
gram from General Secretary Ralph
H Faxon, of the Chamber of Com
merce, Des Moines. Iowa, which
said:
I'VE are informed that the admin
istration is making eleventh hour
plans for replacing Senator Gardner
On the International Joint Commits
sion. We must protest against this.