South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-01
STRIKING FEATURES OF THE HARDING
GARNET

CABINET.
Nothing could more emphatically give the lie to
the smelling committees of the congress- with
reference 70 its criticisms OF the supply de-
partment. than the announcement that Charles G.
Dawes Of Chicago. is to have a place in "Pres't"
Hardings cabinet-secretary of the treasury. Mr.
Dawes. Chicago banker was Pres't wilson's chief
Of supplies sort OF buying agent for the
army. and whatever was wrong with those supplies
clothing shoes food, ammunition etc. comes with
in his jurisdiction. If the criticism that from
inside the ranks and that came from the smell
ing committees-hinting at If not charging graft"
deplorinG extravaganza asserting insuficiency,
oversulply and inferior quaity.-have any basis IN
fact let Mr.. Dawes future secretary of the treas
ury take his share Of the responsibility
or is he to be rewarded in this way for his dol
lar year" service in balling everything up .Aat ne
could-as a reward for Pres't Wilson's misplaced
confidence in his political faith, whom
he elevated to positions of high authority in the
war management? We do not believe it of Mr..
Dawes but It is queer indeed that president
who made his campaign criticism the
administration, a minor issue, should want
to turn the governments finances over to a
largely responsible for whatever justification
there in that criticism.
It sheds just that much more light on the in
sincerity and deliberate prevarication INDUCED by
the party of Sen. Harding in the recent campaign.
the scope Of the false pretenses under which he
his election; the ease with which the Ameri-
can people can be humbugged. and then be made
to swallow the source of their humbuggery, really
liking it.
Mr.. Dawes is very fit man for secretary OF tn
treasury. He a very fit man too for the conf
dence that Pres't Wilson reposed in him. We have
doubt but that lie did his work honestly and pa
triotically. chief of supplies; well as any
other American could have done It; yes could
have done it. had the been Tough out
under political Larty other than the that it
was We are not criticising Mr.. Harding for the ap-
pointment, the chicanery INDUCED in obtain
ing his election confessed by the appointment He
has in the main picked a very good cabinet; a
publican cabinet We would even congratulate him.
We wish the progressives, socalIed; the ancient
bull moosers who huddled back into the republican
help elect him belied their former prin-
ciples might feel IS much like congratuating him
we do.
But there isn't known progressive anywhere
list. The stand patters" still the
die; cabinet built for party service and for the
rebuilding of a party machine. all the way from
Hughes down to Hoover, and Hoover back TO
Hughes Mr.. Hoover is to be secretary of labor well
shall see what shall The party of MT
Harding very strong for coalition cabinet for
Mr.. Wilson but in the saddle itself. il declines to
"coaIite" even with its own progressive wing.
And why should there be any such coalition?
Haven't the 1912 progressives proven themselves as
unfaithful to principle anyone could; that they
mere worshippers of idol disgruntled tag
tails in quest of political power and peIf-individua-
ly selfish their leader? The party of Pres't
Wilson has. during its incumbency written prac-
ticay the entire progressive platform Of 1912 into
law. and progressive leaders have been literally
recognized for positions OF honor and trust at
the present time being secretary of state. There Is
old saying that one way to get and hold the good
will some dogs-and women.-is treat 'em
rough" and maybe Mr.. Harding taking note of the
ungratefuness of the proeressives toward Pres't
Wilson, has taken his hunch
Anyhow. Mr.. Harding told during the cam
paign that ne intended surrounding himself with
the best minds his party" and he doesn't seem
to have listed any OF the socalled progressives
among those "best minds" He picked republicans.
They republicans in 1912; republicans who
never roamed the bull jungle. And among
them ne seems 10 have PICKED three whom PresI
Wilson thought possessed of pretty good minds; who
held appointive positions under him part of the
recent war adminisratiOn,-Hughes, Dawes and
Hoover. 1t is a republican cabinet Let bull
mOOsers moose.