The Washington times., 1921-02-20
HUGHES PUTS
PEACE FIRST
Future Premier Will Take Up
Question OF German Truce
As Initial Duty.
BY W. b. MseNAMEE.
paiyerssI Service.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla, Feb. 90
The formal announcement that
Charles E. Hughes, leader Of the Re
publican party in 1916, would be
premier of the next administration
was made yesterday by President
elect Harding in the most matter-of-
fact manner. He simply called in the
dozen or more correspondents into
his suite at local hotel, and with
Mr.. Hughes standing at his side
said:
"You may have suspected some
thing about Mr.. Hughes. IL you
have, ! am very glad to confirm il
now. / have offered Mr.. Hughes the
Secretaryship Of State and am very
happy to say that he has accepted
HUGHES TO WELD POWER.
The Presiden mt ELECT was asked
whether he and Mr.. Hughes had dis
cussed matters relating to appoint
ments in the State Department and
the naming of men TO important
diplomatic posts abroad Senator Hard
ing replied:
You must ask Mr.. Hughes. That
| Is going to be another policy OF
the incoming Administration. From
the very beginning, the Secretary OF
the State will speak for the state
Department"
Mr.. Hughes admitted that the dis
| cussion had covered wide range OF
subjects. but declined to enter into
details. Speaking of his acceptance
of the State portfolio, Mr.. Hughes
said:
"Of course, appraise 1t very
high honor to be invited by Senator
| Harding to come into the Admins
tration. and l have regarded 1t as
an imperative obligation to accept
the offer he has made. / think it a
call nobody could refuse"
The next Secretary of State and
his chief consumed most OF the day
In discussing pressing matters OF
foreign policy which are to be taken
up by the incoming Administration.
PEACE QUESTIONS FIRST.
Among the first questions affect
ing the relations of the United
States abroad which will be infor-
mally considered by the next Secre-
tary Of State prior to his taking Of
fee are those relating to peace ne
gotiations with Germany and Aus
tria. following passage of a peace
resolution by the Senate and its
approval by President Harding, ne
gotfations with the debtor govern
ments of Europe for initial payments
OF the allied debt Of $4,000, ,000. 900.
ard third. selection of American
diplomatic representatives abroad.
together with appointments in the
State Department
The rise OF Charles Evans Hughes
to the most importan official position
outside the Presidency has taken
place in sixteen years. AS a rather
obscure lawyer in New York. Mr.
Hughes, in 1905, took charge OF the
Investigation of the combine of insur-
ance companies in that State. With
the prestige gained from this work
Mr.. Hughes entered politics and was
elected governor of New York. and at
the expiration of his term was ap-
pointed by President Taft an associate
justice Of the United States Supreme
Court, resigning this seat in 1916 &c
accept the Republican nomination for
the Presidency, being narrowly de-
| feated at the election by President
Wilson.
IS WORTH S2.OOO.OOe.
Since 1916 Mr.. Hughes has engaged
in the practice of law. specializing
in cases before the Supreme Court
This practice has been so lucrativ,
that friends of Mr.. Hughes are author.
ity for the statement that he is worth
in the neighborhood OF S2,OO0,OOO.
Shortly after the formal announce
ment of Mr.. Hughes as Secretary OF
State. the ,President-elect called DR.
Manuel Angulo. leader OF the Cuban
Liberal element, for an important
conference on political affairs in that
island.
DIR. Angulo has been in St Angus
tine for several days and had pre-
vious conference with the President
elect yesterday morning He was re-
called and had long talk with the
next Secretary of state.
DIR. Angulo described the present
government OF Cuba as monarchistic.
and asked that United States troops
be sent into the island during the
coming elections in March to insure
fairness at the polls. The Cuban
Liberal leader directly charged that
President Menocal, by the use of
native troops at the polling places
had prevented the just enumerat ton
of election returns, and that although
elections were held nearly a year ago.
no official announcement of the re-
suits has ever been made.
Joseph w. Fordney. chairman of the
House Ways and Means Committee.
concluded his conferences with Presi-
dent-elect Harding today and re-
turned to Washington.