The New York herald., 1921-03-06

official connection with the White House
came In later. President Harding wor,
a navy blue sack suit and radiated gooS
health. He shook hands with each o
the party.
Secretary of state Calls.
Secretary Hughes. who few nintuei
before had taken the oath over in hi
office In the State Department, was Mr.
Harding's first important caller The,
remained In conference for some littl,
time. IL was understood Mr.. Hueh~i
talked over the Panama-Costa Rican sit
uation with the President. but he de
clined to discuss the matter
Secretary Wallace OF Agriculture came
next. He spent only few minutes viii
the President and afterward announced
that he had decided to reappoint tenn
porarily u. ID. Ball as Assistant Secre
tary OF the department
Secretary Weeks OF the War Depart
nent and Secretary DENLY OF the Navy
came within few minutes OF eacI
other, Secretary Weeks brought LAS
minute dispatches telling OF the Panama
affair. but declined to discuss it pub.
lfcly. His only announcement was tha,
he had temporarily reappointed Major.
Gen. Peyton c. March as Chief OF staff
of the Army and William Il. Williams
as Assistant Secretary OF War. The lat
ter appointment also is temporary.
Secretary DENLY, who had not yel
been sworn In, said President Harding
had approved of his intention to recon-
mend MIajor-Gen. John A. Lejeune as
Commandant OF the Marine Corps and
also that the permanent rank Of Major
General should be given to Brig-Gen.
George A. Barnett. former Commandant
of the corps. who was reduced by order
OF Secretary Daniels and who at present
is stationed on the Pacific coast.
Secretary Hoover OF the Commerce
Department was another early caller.
His talk with the President was brief
and he made no statement concerning
It's nature. Secretary Mellon also saw
Mr.. Harding for few minutes, but said
he had no comment to make. He said
he had not yet acquainted himself with
the geography of the White House and
the Treasury Department and was just
learning his way about.
Fred w. Upham. treasurer of the Re-
publican National Committee, called
with Mrs. Upham. but their visit was
purely congratulatory one.
Senator Lodge, Republican leader OF
the Senate, and Frank W. Mondell. Of
the House, called to discuss with Mr.
Harding the date for convening Con-
gress in special session. Senator Lodge
also brought TO the President the re-
quest of Senator Oscar W. Underwood
the minority leader. for brief vacation
before calling the session. II was an
nounccd that another conference would
be held on Monday, and the date OF
the session announced early next week.
April seems to be likely. After his
talk with the President, Senator Lodge
visited the executive offices for the
first time in several years, an incident
that served to emphasize the changed
atmosphere of tho place
Luncheon was a simple affair, at
tended by only members Of the Iresi-
dents family party.
AT three o'clock the members OF the
National Committee began TO gather In
front OF the executive offices. and o
short time later, piloted by Postmaster
General VIII II. Hays, who. incidently,
is to relinquish the chairmanship at
the next meeting OF the committee, IN
June, marched into the main entrance
of the White House. The committee
members, with their ladies, ranged
themselves In large circle IN the
Gold Room to the left OF the entrance.
President and Mrs. Harding entered
through the folding doors opening Into
the main hallway.
Mrs. Harding wore smart black
gown and hat and seemed TO reIlect
her husbands good health and happi-
ness.
AS the line filed past each visitor was
introduced and shook hands with the
President and the new First Lady. Tne
affair took perhaps half an hour ano
the word that a reception, however IN.
formal, was in progress Kept croWc
OF 80 or 800 persons gathered about ths
porte cochere and the north windows
Some few Of the more venturesome, TAX
ing advantage of the relaxed vigilance
nAnased toward tho end to get In line
ana Ia their everlasting satisfaction re-
ceived a handshake and smile from tn'
President and his wife.
Att o'clock Secretary Hughes. accom-
panied by Under Secretary designate
Henry p. Fletcher. arrived with lat
reports on the Panama situation ant
were In conference with Mr.. Harding
for some time.
Attends winter Garden show.
Dinner. like tho luncheon. was ;
When IL was over and Mr.. Harding hat
enjoyed his customary cigarette. VIII
Mrs. Harding and his brother and sister
IN Jaw he entered a White House auto
mobile and drove 10 the Belasco Theatre
where Al Jolson Is playing IN 'Slnbad.
when the Pr residential party arrived
at the theatre entrance on Lafayette
Square a crowd OF several thousand ha'
gathered. A cheer went up, Presiden
Harding raised his hat and Mrs. Har
ding waved her hand and smiled as the!
made their way across the sidewalk ant
through the foyer. Their entrance wat
the signal for the national anthem b!
the orchestra. and when the last strain
had died away President and Mrs. Har
ding walked down the aisle 10 tn
Presider tial box. Both appeared TO en-
10y the performance greatly. and be
tween acts President and Mrs Hardini
we're forced several times to rise In &C
acknowledgement OF greetings and cheer
from the audience.
wnen the performance ended the au
dience remained standing while tn,
party made i.s exit. The trip back q
the White House was uncventful wheI
the entrance doors closed behind them I