The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-27
HARDING WILL
APPOINT TAFT
CHIEF JUSTICE
Why Borah's DisaYyn-
ing Proposal Was
Passed.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial to The Argus.)

washington, May 26.-President
Harding will name former Presi-
dent Taft as chief justice Of the
United States. That is his present
intention as disclosed by those who
have discussed the matter with
him.
Mr.. 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..
Harding is having enough trouble
filling important positions without
adding to his cares. He has yet to
find a chairman OF the shipping
board. He has yet to name an am
bassadOr to Japan. He has dozens
Of appointments to make.
Should congress create a depart
ment OF welfare, there are many
candidates for that job. but it is
coming to be understood that Briga-
der General Sawyer, the presi-
dents physician, in whom he has
the utmost confidence, will be
named for that place.
Aside from appointments, the
president finds himself with a COM
plex situation in congress. The
biggest jobs are still undone-mak-
ing a permanent tariff and enacting
a new tax law. He feels relieved
that the senate hasn't crippled the
American navy by reducing the per-
sonnel and though it is disquieting
to see the Republican ranks divid-
ed so early in the game, it is never
theless comforting for the presi-
dent that the Democrats did not see
fit to be petty partisans, but con-
tributed IA votes-sufficient to save
the navy program from defeat.
Why 1t Passed.
The unanimity with which Sena-
tor Borah's proposal that the presi-
dent call disarmament conference
was passed by the senate may be
perplexing to the outsider who re-
calls that the Borah measure met at
first with determined opposition
which later melted away. The an
swer is that with the outcry for dis
armament as q means of reducing
taxation, the administration saw no
reason for opposing mere request
for a disarmament conference. 1t
was feared that If some concession
were not made to the advocates OF
a disarmament conference, they
might 60 further and actually try
to secure the passage of legisla-
tion which did reduce American ar
mament even in advance of action
by other powers. The Democrats,
OF course, voted for the BOrah meas
ure because it is identical with q
paragraph inserted by Representa-
tive Hensley in a noval appropria-
ton bill passed under the Wilson
administration whereby the presi.
dent was authorized to call q dis
armament conference. There il
nothing in the old statute or the
new law which compels the presi,
dent to call a conference Of powers
to discuss disarmament. 1t merely
requests that he do so and gives
him the necessary authority tc
spend money for the expenses o1
such conference.
Left to Harding.
The time Of the conference il
left to Mr.. Harding's discretion
That makes the Borah proposal
harmless from the viewpoint of in.
terfering with the freedom Of the
executive and that's why when the
administration forces began to an.
alyze the true value Of the Borat
amendment it was decided tina,
fighting energy might better be re-
served for another and more worth.
while occasion.