New-York tribune., 1921-01-14
Weeks as War
Head Satisfies
The'Oligarchy'
appointment of Ex-senator
to Cabinet, Now Regarded
Certain, Fulfills Campaign
Predictions of Democrats
He Wanted Another Job
Harding Said to Have Act
ed Only on Urgent Plea
Of Republican Colleagues

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-The ap-
nointment of John w. Weeks as Secre-
tsry Of War in the Harding Cabinet
and it is generally accepted here that
this will be the case-will be regard
Cd as at least one instance of the
aSenate oligarchy," as the Democrats
called it during the campaign, getting
what IT wanted.
Every one Of the Republican Sena-
tors whose name was mentioned by
Democratic orators prior to November
3 "A of the group which had dominated
the Chicago convention and nominated
warren L. Harding, was for Weeks
for War Secretary.
A curious phrase of the whole situa-
ton is that Senator Harding wanted
Mr.. Weeks to be Secretary OF the Navy,
and Mr.. Weeks wanted to be Secre-
tary Of the Treasury. So this is really
q remarkable case of the "oligarchy'
getting what it wanted, and neithe r
Harding nor Weeks being entirely
satisfied.
Weeks Strongly Indorsed
Man after man regarded as belong
;ne TO this oligarchy went out to
Marion and urged the President-elect
to put Mr.. Weeks in charge of this
War Department. Mr. Harding ex-
ulsinsd to several of them that he did
not think Mr.. Weeks wanted to go
into either of the service departments.
Bn. the Senators insisted that Mr..
Weekss objections to the Navy De
psrtnient would not apply to War De-
parsrhent, and that he would make an
ideal secretary.
The Massachusetts, man was con-
stantIy in Mr.. Harding's mind in con-
uection with the Navy Department.
because he knew Mr.. Weeks was a
graduate OF Annapolis and because il.
his contacts with Mr.. Weeks in the
Senate he had always found him keen
ly Interested in the navy.
As a matter of fact, Senator Weeks
would have been assigned to the Nava.
Affairs Committee on his entry in the
upper house, especially as he had
taken such an interest in naval affairs
while a member of the House of Rep
resentatives, had it not been that hi
colleague, Senator Lodge, was already
on that committee, and in such high
place on it that he served on the con-
ference committees between the two
houses.
Mr.. Lodge about that time came as
rear to running the Naval Affairs Com
mittee. due to the illness of the ther
chairman, Benjamin r. Tillman. anc
TO the fact that Senator Swanson. o.
Virginia, the ranking Democratic mem
Der. agreed as nearly with Mr. Lodge;
fotceful naval policies, as it is pos
sible for member OF a minority part.
ever to do.
Wadsworth Stepped in
So Mr.. Weeks was assigned to the
Military Committee. and it was ir
connect on with his work on that com
naittee, to very large extent, that
the high admiration of his colleagues
had its beginning. Mr.. Weeks woulc
have been chairman of the Militar!
elected in 1918, when the Republican
we're returned to control, had it no
been that he was defeated at the poll
by Senator David l. Walsh
This, and other political casualtie
brought about the remarkable situa
ton Of a first-term Senator, James "
Wadsworth, jr, of New York, becom
ing chairman of the Military Commit
tee.
Prior TO that Weeks and Wadswortl
were the two members of the commit
Tee who did the most work in supper
Of Chairman George E. Chamberlai
when President Wilson attacked Chan,
bsrlain for daring to criticize Secre
tary OF War Baker and the fall-dow1
Of tee War Department. II was thi
rigorous work by Chamberlain an
Hitchcock, on the Democratic side, an
Wadsworth and Weeks, on the Repub
lean. which forced what amounted t
en- entire reorganization of the Wa
Department, the bringing in of Genera
Goethals and other steps which led t
largely Increased efficiency in gettin
supplies TO the American soldiers i
France and in getting more soldier
overseas.
Another point which has commende