The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-02-04
THE SOUTH AND THE CABINET.

Reports from the south where Mr.. Harding
10 sojourning. arc to the effect that the prcs-
dont.clect has given over his original Intention
10 name southern man FOR place In his
cabinet. THAT such decision assuming 1t TO be
true ls contrary TO the real dspositon Of tho
president elect, is happily matter Of record.
for one of his first utteranccs. subsequent 20 his
election. included the promise that he would
place a southern republican in his cabinet.
n this promise should not bo made good there
will bo deep regret ana disappointment Not
only that. but political advantage gained viii be
deliberately thrown away Mr. Harding has
the proud distinction of being the first repub-
llcan to really break the south. In winning the
support Of Tennessee and Oklahoma he made
tho first breach in dcmocracy'a stronghold.
Ordinary political prudence would seem to
point the wisdom OF In some way showing Of
fetal appreciation OF that fact II IL one thing
to invclgh against an unreasoulng sccuonalism
such as has obtained In the southern states for
half n century but II Ia distinctly another
matter to prove that such secIonalism is without
some foundation in Justice and fact when the re-
publican party. after having been given sub
slantal vote OF confidence by that section
ignores 1t in making up 1t, official family.
The south. irrespective OF party. had earnestly
hoped that the position OF secretary OF ngricu-
turo would be given H. For reasons entirely
logical in both politics and economies. Agri-
culture s tho souths principal industry. just
as ihe south is the nations greatest agricultural
area, Notwithstanding this, the agricultural APP
pointment has always gone to the north or
northwest--filled by men who II not out OF
sympathy with the south and its problems
at least largely ignorant Of that section and its
problems.
The south has republican statesmen that would
confer distinction on any administration and
bring TO the agricultural bureau qualities OF In
estimablo worth to the entire nation Thes~
mon. while lifelong republicans. are devoted
to the south and It's interests. and thoroughly
acceptable to its people regardless OF their ponu-
cal predictions. Time and time again have they
been offered representing the type OF men
republican administrations should recognize and
by recognizing strengthen their party in that
section.
2 North Carolina has such n man, 40 has Ten
nesseo and 80 has Oklahoma. for that matter.
TO say nothing Of other states. II the president
elect has deliberately decided to fail the re-
publicans Of the south in this contingency. there
should be some with the courage to say to him
that he is doing himself and his party grave
injustice, throwing away an advantage already
gained and for the future strengthening II not
justifying the sectional prejudice which all good
citizens had hoped was fast disappcaring
The country will see In such decision the IN
evitablc consequence OF listening too freely to
minds that not best And we think this
verdict win be accurate. The selection OF a
genuine southern man for the cahinet-a gentle
man representing southern state OF good
sanding would not only confirm the lately
manifested political tendencies Of the south so
brilliantly eScmplted in the case Of Tennessee
and Oklahoma, but would provo a fertilizer that
would cause that tendency to grow ana wax cx.
ccedingy strong In the future.
To ignore the south can hardly be construed
other than as "A deliberate slap at that section and
a dlsheartening rebukc to the thousands W loyal
republicans who dared everything in order to
hold a brief for the republican cause
Every well-wisher of tho incoming adminl,
tration must hope that the reports are iuac.
curate or that the president elect will yet realize
the wisdom of courageously following his own
Asst thought In the matter. The republican
party cannot win the south by PROVING itself AS
much of n sectonalist as the south ever was II
has boasted its natonalism. Let Il prove &c.
.--