Evening star., 1921-05-26
TAFT T0BE NAMED
FOR CHIEF JUSTICE
Presidents Intention Dis
closed by Those With
Whom He Has Talked.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Harding will name for
mer President Taft as Chief Justice
OF the United States. That is his
present intention. as disclosed by
those who have discussed the matter
with him.
MIR. Harding is not likely to delay
an announcement. The more time
elapses, the more candidates appear
and the more hours must be given to
the consideration of appeals from
friends of the candidates. Mr.. Hard
ing Is having enough troubles filing
important positions without adding
to his cares. He has yet to find a
chairman OF the Shipping Board. He
has yet to name an ambassador to
Japan. He has dozens of appoint
ments to make.
Should Congress create a depart
ment of welfare, there are many can
didates for that job. but it is coming
to be understood that Brig. Gen.
Sawyer, the Presidents physician, in
whom he has the utmost confidence,
will be named for that place.
Aside, from appointments. the Presi-
dent finds himself with a complex
situation in Congress. The biggest
jobs are still undone-making a per-
manent tariff and enacting a new tax
law. He feels relieved that the Sen
ate hasn't crippled the American
though it is disquieting to see the
republican ranks divided so early in
the game. it is nevertheless comfort
ing for the President that the demo-
Gratis did not see fit to be petty parti-
sans, but contributed fourteen votes
sufficient to save the Navy program
from defeat.
Effect Of BOrah rPOposnl.
The unanimity with which Senator
Borahs proposal that the President
call a disarmament conference was
passed by the Senate may be per-
picking to the outsider who recalls
that the Borah measure met at first
with determined opposition which
later melted away. The answer is
that with the outcry for disarmament
as a means of reducing taxation the
administration saw no reason for op-
posing a mere request for disarma-
ment conference. 1t was feared that
il some concession were not made to
the advocates of a disarmament con-
ference they might go farther and
actually try to secure the passage of
legislation which did reduce Amer
action by other powers. The demo-
Gratis. of course. voted for the Borah
measure because 1t is identical with
a paragraph inserted by Representa-
tive Hensley in a naval appropria-
ton bill passed under the Wilson ad-
]
was authorized to call a disarma-
ment conference. There is nothing
in the old statute or the new law
which compels the President to call
a conference of powers to discuss
disarmament: 1t merely requests that
he do so and gives him the necessary
authority to spend money for the
expenses of such a conference.
The time of the conference is left
to Mr.. Harding's discretion. That
makes the Borah proposal harmless
from the viewpoint Of interfering
and that's why, when the admins
tration forces began 70 analyze the
true value of the Borah amendment.
it was decided that fighting energy
might better be reserved for another
and more worth while occasion.
Support of President in Congress.
Meanwhile the defeat of Borah's
Strength susse0f Of the Navy be cut down
indicates clearly that the admins
tration will be able to get through
the present session Of Congress at
least without serious injury being
done to the American Navy as a FIRST
istration wanted with respect to the
Army's size was not granted. and
II had been feared that similar
fate would be met by the naval pro-
gram.
republicans is something new. but it
proves that on many subjects at least
President Harding can count on sup
port from both sides of the political
aisle This would be particularly
true of foreign policy. Briefly. the
insurgency against President Hard
ing's policies thus far manifested Is
not strong enough to worry him.
(C0oyright 19nll