Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-17
LABOR
AND COMMERCE
STILL VACANT
In Tentative Makeup
Of Harding's
Cabinet
Frank o. Lowden, Former
Governor of Illinois Can
Have Navy Post Secretary
of Commerce Probably a
S0utherner - Favored Four
For Labor Portfolio all I'm
ion Men

st. Augustine, Fla, Feb. 16-Hav-
ing virtually determined seven of his
ten cabinet appointments, President
elect Harding and his chief political
advisers finally are sitting over the
available matter for the portforios
of navy. commerce and labor.
For the navy post, Frank o. Low
den, of Illinois, is still considered a
possibility, with several others hold
ing an even chance should he finally
decide not to enter the cabinet. Half
a dozen names are in the hat for the
secretaryship of commerce, with the
odds seeming to favor southern Re-
publican. The list of availables for
head of the labor department is un-
derstood to have narrowed to four
men: James J. Davis, of Pennsyl-
vania; James Duncan of Massachu-
sets; T. ". O'Conner, of New York,
and Representative John I. Nolan of
California.
Of the three vacant places, the
navy secretaryship is proving the
most troublesome to fill. In his
original cabinet slate, Mr.. Harding
is understood to have allotted this
post to John w. Weeks of Massachu-
sets, but various considerations later
led to his transfer to the war port
folio. 1t is now regarded as certain
that Mr.. Lowden can have the navy
appointment if he wants it, and there
are many indications of strong pres
sure to induce him to accept In
the event of failure. the whole field
of candidates for The position will
have to be opened again. though it
is believed to be very unlikely that
Mr.. Weeks will be among those con-
sidered.
The growing agitation for south
ern representation in the cabinet may
land a secretary of the navy from
south Of Mason and Dixons line, but
the general impression here is that
it will be likely to be felt in the
choice of secretary of commerce.
All four of those now in front for
consideration of thelabor secretary
ship are union men. Mr.. Davis is a
former steel worker. Mr.. Duncan
has been an official of the granite
cutters union and of the American
Federation of Labor
Mr.. O'Conner is a leader of, the
longshoremen's union, and Mr.. Nolan
is an iron moulder by trade.
Particular interest in the labor APP
pointment was aroused today by a
VISIT of Mr.. O'Conner to the presi-
dent-elect and an announcement la
ter that they would hold another con-
ference here next week. / a state
ment, Mr.. O'Connor said labor condi-
tions generally had been talked over
with Mr.. Harding and predicted that
the next four years would see a
square deal from the White House
for American workers. Neither the
president-elect nor his visitor would
comment on the possibility of Mr.
O'Conner's appointment to the cab
met.
Many prospective appointments
outside the cabinet are being consid-
cred in the conferences here and it
developed today that one selection
seriously thought of is that of Ma
jor General Leonard Wood for COVER
nor general of the Philippine Islands.
This position is now vacant and a
selection is expected very soon after
Inauguration.
A committee of the German Amer
lean citizens league headed by George
Sylvester Vierick, who during the
war served as editor of the Father
land, presented to Mr.. Harding to-
day memorandum setting forth GER
tain views on issues confronting the
next administration. After the con-
ference, Mr.. Vierick issued a state
ment saying the committee had been
received in the most cordial manner
and had gone away satisfied that
there would be just peace with Ger
many. The statement also predicted
that Mr.. Harding would do every
thing in his power to allay the racial
hatreds and prejudices created by
the war.
Tonight the president-elect and
Mrs. Harding held a reception to sew
eralthousand people on the, rotunda
of their hotel, their first social func-
ton since they came to st. Angus
tine.