The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-01-06
WOMAN IN CABINET
NOW IS PROBABLE
PREsIDENT-ELEcT HARDING TO
ASK THE CREATION OF A NEW
WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
WIDE FIELD FOR ITS WORK
We'll Posted Persons Say q Woman
viii Certainly Be Put at Its Head
" the New Executive Has His
Way
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.

Washlngton.-Me Members of congress.
people generally. are deeply Interest,"
ed In President-elect Harding's evil
dent wish, and presumable intention,
to ask for the creation OF welfare
department in the national govern
ment with a woman at its head who Is
cabinet.
In recent speech the President
elect said:
81 believe the participation by wom-
on will presently bring the men bet
ter understanding of the necessities
Of women and children of the home,
the school and of other relations to
the social structure. Likewise. | be-
lieve IL will bring To women n larger
and more adequate conception of the
complex. difficult. inter-relationship
between the problems Of business. of
politics, of finance, and Of material
administration"
There are existing today bureaus
under different departments which are
undertaking welfare work for the gov
ernment II is probable that If the
new department is created by con
gress these bureaus will form the
nucleus Of the new and greater organi-
zation. Mr.. Harding has gone so far
as to speak directly of a new depart
ment and IL Is apparent from what he
has said that he thinks much great
or field will open for its work than
that now covered by the labors of the
different bureaus.
Wants Woman at Its Head.
Persons who ARE close to the next
President say there is no question at
all as To his wish that woman shall
be put in charge Of the new depart
ment of the federal government. If
there Is tO he one When the depart
ment Is created. If congress shall con
sent To create II. various social and
economic problems which have TO do
of course with the welfare of men, but
often directly with that of women and
children. will come within the scope
of its activities. Questions relating 10
child labor. TO education, to Ameri-
canizatiOn, to some extent sanitation,
working hours for women. social en-
deavor generally and many other mat
ters Of concern to the public. natural
ly will group themselves within the
circle of the departments endeavor.
II is nothing new 10 have woman
nt tI. ~
activities. although II is only recently
that woman has come into her own I'm
every part of the country as a voting
citizen.
For Il great many Years woman
Clara Barton-was NJ the head Of the
great Red Cross organization which in
a large sense was n government or
ganization. She was succeeded by
Mabel Boardman. who, now that the
war is over. has Just been appointed II
commissioner Of the District of Co
lumbia. the first woman ever 10 hold
that office
Women in High Offices.
Julia g. Lathrop, who was appoint
ed by President Taft ms chief of the
childrens bureau of the Department
Of Labor. still holds that office. The
assistant chief also is woman. Caro-
line Fleming. Miss Mary Van Kleek
is the director of the women In indus
try service. which also is an office
coming under the direction Of the De
pHrtment Of Labor
Other women hold high places I'm
the government service and Washing
ton believes that with the trend OF
events as they are, women more fire.
quently will be advanced TO high posi-
tiOn.
There Is u good deal of speculation
I'm Washington. mostly of n goSSipy
kind. as To whom Mr. Harding win
make the first woman cabinet officer
In the history of the United States.
Things being rs they are, the natural
SuppoSltion is that she will be II wom-
Nm who is known as Republican, hut
who also * known as a worker along
welfare lines.
Among those who are spoken OF as
possibilities I'm the case Is Harriet
Taylor Upton Of Ohio, who for many
years has been Interested IN welfare
work I'm the United States She has
worked increasingly for the cause of
women and children.
Julia G. Lathrop, head Of the chill
dren'S bureau, also Il mentioned ns "A
possibility. Miss Lathrop for years
was connected with Hun House IN
Chicago. sim another name is thai OF
Harriet T.. Nlttum ~ Chicago. who has
been social worker for years. She
was n member of the Progressive
party and was stanch supporter az
Theodore Roosevelt.
G. o. p. Conferences in WASHINGTON.
Marion is not the only place where
Republican conferences are the order
~ lak A.slE,..-s...