New-York tribune., 1921-01-25
The Three Leaders
lhe Spontaneous Naming of Root,
Wood and Hoover

ne Spontaneous Naming of Root,
Wood and Hoover
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: From the very day following
the election Of Mr.. Harding the names
of Root, Wood and Hoover have been
on the lips Of tens of thousands of our
citizens, thus indicating the first re-
action of an exasperated people when
they found themselves at last liberated
from the nightmare Of official stupidity,
incompetence and extravagance Al
most Immediately the press of the
country, in many an able editorial ar
tlcle, sounded the same feeling of re-
lief, and expressed the sanguine hope,
indeed the settled conviction, that now
we would have real Cabinet, Cabinet
composed of the great men of' the ma
ton, the best trained minds, the most
capable experts; a Cabinet, in Fact, that
would commend itself to the intelli-
gence of the nation and command the
respect and confidence of the civilized
world. Why was it that these three
names were so spontaneously selected
by such an overwhelming majority Of
cur best citizens and influential lead
ers without regard to party affilia-
tions? l take it that it was due to the
.fact that every one recognized that the
unprecedented majority received by
Mr.. Harding conclusively demonstrated
that party lines are weakening; that
the people arc weary and nspeakably
disgusted with incompetence and waste
and vacllation and offensive PARTISAN
ship; that our new President instinct
lively would seek the advice and coun-
sci of these great leaders.
No one will question for a. moment
the preeminent ability of Mr.. Root to
direct our foreign policy; no one can
suggest the name of single man in
public life who has the expert knowl-
edge, the sterling integrity or the
proved ability of Leonard Wood to
reorganize and conduct the affairs Of
our long mismanaged War Department;
and of Hoover, what leader in the
memory Of living man has proved him
self such a capable admin strator, has
demonstrated such efficiency or has
met with such unprecedented success
in an undertaking the magnitude, i'm
portance and difficulties of which may
be said to be the greatest in history?
These three peerless leaders Of
matchless ability, Of unquestioned in
tegrity, Of recognized superiority in
their individual lines of patriotic
be chosen? Will the new Cabinet be
made up of men of this type; men who
arc too big for partisanship, too lofty
iny their ideals for the advancement Of
measures leading only to personal or
party advantage, too courageous to be
stampeded into class legislation or un-
wise measures by popular clamor or
the demands of selfish and unthinking
groups? If so. our people will look for
ward with confidence to the satisfac-
tory solution of the many grave and
difficult problems which confront us,
and our new President will have the
:, gratitude and cordial support of the
people regardless of past or present
party affiliation.
Never before in the history of our
nation has a President had such an op-
portunity for conspicuous service to
the country.
Allow me, Mr.. Editor, to extend to
you my sincere personal thanks for
YOUR unanSWerable editorials on thi g
most important topic. | believe, more
over, that the views which you have SO
admirably advanced express the sincere
desires Of nine -tenths Of the Republ-
can party and an equal percentage of
intelligent and patriotic Democrats.
A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN,.
New York, JAN 81, 1921.