Evening star., 1921-02-21
COMMERCE OFFICE
POST FOR HOOVER
Former Food Administrator
to Be Offered Position,
Definite Decision.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

ST. AUGUSTINE. Fla, February
21.-Herbert Hoover is to be offered
the post of Secretary of Commerce
In the Harding cabinet. There is
considerable doubt as to whether he
will accept the position, in view OF
the late hour at which it Is rendered
Nevertheless. Mr.. Harding has made
up his mind that Mr.. Hoover is need
ed in the cabinet, and II the former
food administrator should not ac-
cept it will be no fault Of the Presi-
dent-elect.
In making the decision to oner
cabinet post to Mr.. Hoover, Senator
Harding is going against the advice
of a number of his most intimate
friends. A few weeks ago these
that it would be inimical to his ad-
ministration to appoint Mr.. Hoover.
and word was sent forth from Marion
that Hoover had been eliminated from
consideration. Since that time. now.
ever, the pressure which has Deen
brought to bear upon the President
elect to include Mr.. Hoover In ms
offfciaI family has been tremendous
Few persons outside the intimate
Harding circle realize what tne de
Commerce to Mr.. Hoover has meant
to Mr.. Harding. In the first place.
it must be stated that the an-power-
full Senator Boies Penrose OF Pehh-
sylvania sent word to Mr.. Harqlng'
thumbs down on Mr.: Hoover Fur
ther than this. Mr.. Harding knows
the implacable opposition senator
Hiram Johnson of California has
to Mr. Hoover's appointment. MT,
Hoover contested CaHfornla las.
republican nomination at Chlcago.
and the bitterness of that campaign
will not soon be forgotten.
Country Wants Hoover.
II Gov. Lowden had accepted the
Navy portfolio in the Harding cabi-
net. il is almost a certainty that the
nortfolio of Commerce would not have
been offered to Mr.. Hoover. with
the elimination of Gov. Lowden, now
ever there came a great demand upon
the President to appoint some
one in the cabinet besides Gov. Hughes
with a national reputation. He was
told frankly, in letters and kilograms.
that the country was expecting great
things in the personnel OF the caDlhe.,
and. regardless of the professional
poIiticians, it must be stated tnat
most Of the kilograms declared that
: Mr.. Hoover was needed to make the
official family acceptable. or course.
it is realized there is no way IN "hlch
Mr.. Harding can force Mr. hoover
into the cabinet, but he can put the
offer up to him. in the same way ne
rendered the secretaryship OF state
to Mr.. Hughes. And Mr.. Hughes an
nounced on last Saturday that ne Ieit
a compelling obligation to accept tne
position.
Among Senator Harding's immediate
advisers there has been almost unanl-
NOUS dissent to the Hoover candidacy.
These advisers have attempted 10 con-
vince the President-elect that Mr..
Hoover was not needed in the cabinet.
and that he would not "go along
with the other members in the event
of a controversy.
, These intimate advisers have felt
that Mr. Harding should have no one
in his official family who would dare
to raise word Of controversy against
any policy the President might in
itiate. 1t is realized that Mr.. Hoover
would be more or less independent in
the cabinet. and this independence
/ has been fought by Harding's "inner
circle" Mr.. Harding himself, how
ever. is more farseeing than some OF
his advisers. and this is likely to be
one of the surprises of his admins
tration: that after listening to a lot
of advice and seeming to agree with
i it. he will go ahead and do what he
individually thinks is best for his
party and for his country.
Expects Storm From senate.
Mr. Harding is perfectly aware Of
the opposition the Hoover appoint
ment will provoke in the Senate, but
if M Hoover will accept. Mr.. Hard
ing is in a position to insure that his
nomination will be acted upon favor
ably. So this is the situation at the
/, moment: Mr.. Hoover can have the
! post Of Secretary of Commerce IL he
wants 1t.
There is no question but that Mr..
Hoover would readily have accepted
Mr. Harding decided to place that
pos<. in the hands of Senator Albert
/ Fall of New Mexico. Pending the
| decision of Mr.. Hoover. the Com
| merce portfolio remains empty. II
| Mr.. Hoover should not accept the
chances are the position will be
! offered to A. d. Lasker OF Chicago,
head Of the advertising firm of Lord
! e. Thomas. Mr.. Lasker has not want
| ed for friends from the very first,
| and Fred w. Upham of Chicago. who
| the President-elect. has let it be
/ known that Mr. Lasker would be a
| very desirable addition to the cab
| met circle.
| For the post of Secretary of Labor
| r V. OConnor of Buffalo, ~ Y. has
been growing daily in strength, and
| it is an even bet that he will beat
| out j. j. Davis of Pittsburgh for that
post. Mr.. OConnor has been indorsed
4 ~tI