The Washington herald., 1921-03-06
LEADS
new REGIME IN
BUSY FIRST DAY
President and Cabinet
Lose No Time Taking Up
Duties of Office.
By ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.

BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
President Harding and the mem-
bers of his Cabinet were busy men
yesterday.
The President reached the execu-
tive Offices Of the White House be-
fore 0 o'clock yesterday and re-
manned there uutii nearly Z O'Clock
in the evening, with 9, brief respite
from work during the luncheon
hour.
Much of the new Presidents busy
day was devoted to conferences with
Secretaries Hughes. Weeks and Dem
by over renewed hostifities between
Panama and Costa Rica which led
to quick resolve upon a vigorous
policy to force the Central American
boundary dispute to an end.
Callers on Job.
While the new Cabinet members
were being sworn in to office. the
White House was beseiged by call
ers eager to greet the new Execu-
tive. Many were content to learn
that he was engaged upon impor-
.tant affairs of government and SO
busy that he could not pause for
social exchanges such as had made
Inauguration day a happy one. A
few who came on important busi-
ness were admitted. They found the
President alert and decisive, and
none remained longer than the
termination of the business at hand
required.
When President Harding reached
his ONCE, he found Secretary Chris
tian with a huge pile of correspon-
dence awaiting him. Mr.. Harding
announced that he was ready to
tackle the job
He yeas accompanied by his
father, DIR. George T. Harding, sr.,
and his brother, DIR. George T.
Haddipg, jr., and the latter's two
sons. His secretary, George B.
Christian, jr.. was waiting his ar
rival to make the schedule of the
days appointments.
Sees Cabinet Members.
After going over some of his mail,
President Harding received Henry
c. Wallace. Secretary Of Agricul-
ture. the first member Of his Cab
met to call on him. Shortly after
noon Herbert Hoover, Secretary of
Commerce. arrived and was closeted
with the President for half an hour,
Then came a conference with the
three secretaries on the Central
American situation. On leaving the
White House, Secretary DENLY said
the President had approved his de-
sire to retain Maj. Gen. John A. Le-
-jeune. as commandant of the Marine
Corps.
Senator Lodge. majority leader of
the Senate, and Representative Mon
dell. majority leader of the House.
had a twenty-minute talk with the
President on the date Of the extra
ordinary session Of the sixty-sev-
enth Congress. soon to be called.
Mrs. Harding appeared at the ex-
ecutive ofi1ces a few minutes before
I o'clock. the Presidents lunch hour.
She shook hands with the employees
Of the once, and hooking into the
little room set aside for press cor
respondents, remarked sit is alto
gether big enough to make trouble" I"
Then she told the correspondents
that 1--WE want to know all of you
personally. just as well as the news
paper men we had with us at Mar
ION" -
Secretary MeIls. Calls.
Then came another Cabinet mem
of the Treasury Mel
lon-who slipped In quietly through
the east entrance and had a few
minutes talk with his chief. The
President lunched with his family
and spent most of the afternoon
shaking hands with numerous dele
cations In the, East Room. At 4
o'clock he received the Republican
National comrnittee.
It looked 1ike "old home week;
throushout the day In and about
the white House. Thousands OF
people stroiled through the grounds
on the north side Of the Executive
Mansion, which had been reopened
rs one Of the first acts Of the new
administration, after being closed to
the public for four years.
At one time the East Room was
ooNTrNUEp ON pAou rwo