Evening star., 1921-02-16
THREEPOSTS0PEN
IN CABINET SLATE
Navy, Commerce and Labor
Portfolios Still to Be Filled,
List DiscIoses.
By the Associa ted Press.


ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla, February 16.
As President-elect Harding contin-
ued his conferences with the ranking
leaders of his party today it was in
dicated that completion of the cabi-
net slate of the coming administration
waited only on definite selections for
the portfolios of Navy. Commerce and
Labor.
By all of those in close touch with
the situation it was conceded, how
ever. that these selections might not
only lead to considerable delay. but
might also involve some shifting of
the assignments already more or less
definitely fixed. It was considered un-
likely that any announcements would
be madel until day or two before
Inauguration. s
AS the list stood today. with Navy,
Commerce and Labor vacant, it was
understood to contemplate the appoint
ment of Charles Evans Hughes of
New York for Secretary Of State,
John w. Weeks Of Massachusetts, for
Secretary Of War. Andrew Mellon of
Pennsylvania for Secretary of the
Treasury. win H: Hays of Indiana
for Postmaster General. Harry M.
Daugherty of Ohio for Attorney Gen.
eral, Henry Wallace OF Iowa for Sec
retary OF Agriculture and A. b. Fall
of New Mexico for Secretary Of the
Interior.
Lowden Choice for Navy.
For the Navy portfolio Frank O.
Lowden Of Illinois is understood to be
Mr.. Harding's choice, but 1t is uncer-
tain whether he will accept, and there
has been talk of transferring Mr..
Weeks to the position if the Illinois
governor definitely declines. Several
names, including those Of John Hays
Hammond of New York and Herbert
Hoover of California, have been mem
toned for the Commerce portfolio.
white James J. Davis of Pennsylvania
and a number of others are being
urged for Secretary of Labor
This morning Mr.. Harding again
talked over the problem with Mr..
Hays and later in the day he ex-
pected to begin a series of confer
ences on the subject with Mr.. Daugh-
erty. Mr.. Hughes. Mr.. Mellon and
several others high in party councils
are expected here before the end of
the week. Another OF Mr.. Harding's
conferences today was with Arthur
Woods. former police commissioner
Of New York city. and a former Off
cial of the council of national de-
Tense. A. H. Smith. president of the
New York Central railway, also Is in
st. Augustine and will see Mr.. Hard
ing within the next few days.
Lamont Sees Harding.
Details Of what happened at Ver-
sailles in regard to cancellation of
the ten-billion-dollar war debt were
given to Mr.. Harding by Thomas w.
Lamont. member of the Morgan
banking firm and a fiscal attache of
the peace committee. In a statement
dent-elect he made fiat denial of re-
cent stories of a mysterious agree
ment to wipe the war debt off the
books. and said he had assured the
President-elect his administration
would be "as free and untrammeled
as air" in dealing with the question.
The statement of Mr.. Lamont. who
came here at Mr.. Harding's invita-
ton, follows, in part:
"I found that President elect Hard
phases of the international financial
situation which had come under my
observation during my attendance at
the peace conference at Paris in 1919.
/ found, too, that Senator Harding
has himself been giving very serious
I may say at once that his view Is
both sane and reassuring. He began
by disclaiming any ability as a
nnancier. but i must say that many
of his suggestions We're very prac-
tical and showed the result Of care
full cool and friendly analysis.
In my turn l was able to assure
the President-elect that there is abb
solutely no truth in the statement
being constantly repeated to the ef-
feet that at the peace conference in
Paris there was some secret under
standing between President Wilson
and his advisers. on the one hand,
and the French and British repre-
sentatives, on the other. to the ef-
feet that the allied indebtedness to
the United States should, in whole
or in part, be cancelled.
ut is only fair to say that from
start to finish of the peace confer
ence President Wilson and his ad-
visers. without exception, opposed
vigorously and friendly any such
suggestion of cancellation. To re-
peat. there was no commitment, ex-
pressed or implied. near or remote,
moral or otherwise, as to the ham
ding of the allies indebtedness to
the United States"
ATTEpcnN o. r0nAv