New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-01-14
WOMAN CABINET
NOW IS PROBABLE
PRESiDENT-ElECT HARDING TO
ASK THE CREATION OF A NEW
WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
WIDE FIELD FOR ITS WORK
Well Posted Persons Say a Woman
VIII Certainly Be Put at Its Head
II the New Executive Has His
Way.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.
Observation-Disclosures of congress,
Irrespective of party, and probably the
people generally, are deeply interest
ed In P~resident-elect Harding's evil
dent wish. and presumable intention.
to ask for the creation of Il welfare
department In the national govern
ment with q at its head who Is
TO be a member of the Presidents
cabinet.
In IA recent speech the President
elect said:
81 believe the participation by wom-
en- will presently bring the men a 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 1t will bring to women a 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
eminent. 1t is probable that If the
new department is created by con-
gress these bureaus will form the
nucleus OF the new and greater organi-
cation. Mr.. Harding has gone so far
as to speak directly of a new depart
ment and it is apparent from what he
has said that he thinks a much great
er field will open for Its work than
that now covered by the labors of the
different bureaus.
Wants Woman at lts Head.
Persons who are close to the next
President say there Is no question at
all as to his wish that n woman shall
be put In charge of the new depart
ment of the federal government, If
there Is to be one. When the depart
ment Is created, If congress shall con-
sent TO create IT. 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 to
child labor, to education, to Ameri-
canization, to some extent sanitation,
working hours for women, social en-
deavor generally and many other mat
tiers of concern to the public, natural
ly will group themselves within the
circle of the departments endeavor.
1t is nothing new to have n woman
at the head of national government
activities, although II is only recently
every part Of the country rs n voting
citizen.
For a great many years a woman
Clara BartOn-was at the head of the
great Red Cross organization which In
a large sense was a government or
ganiZation. She was succeeded by
Mabel Boardman, who, now that the
war is over, has Just been appointed n
commissioner of the District Of Co
lumbia, the first woman ever to hold
that office.
Women In High Offices.
Julia G. Lathrop, who was appoint
ed by President Taft as chief of the
children's bureau of the Department
of Labor, still holds that Office. The
assistant chief also Is a woman, Caro-
line Fleming. Miss Mary Van Kleek
Is the director of the women In indus
try service. which also Is an office
aan,in., upIar tho Attraction Of tla H..
partment 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-
ton.
There is a good deal Of speculation
In Washington, mostly Of a gossipy
kind, as to whom Mr.. Harding will
make the first woman cabinet officer
in the history of the United States.
Things being as they are. the natural
supposition is that she will be a wom-
an who is known as a Republican, but
who also is known as a worker along
welfare lines.
Among those who are spoken Of as
possibilities in the case Is Harriet
Taylor Upton OF Ohio, who for many
years has been interested In welfare
work in the United States. She has
worked increasingly for the cause of
women and children.
Julia C. Lathrop. head Of the chill
dren's bureau, also Is mentioned ms a
possibility. Miss Lathrop for years
was connected with Hull House in
Chicago. Still another name Is that of
Harriet E. Vittum Of Chicago, who has
been a social worker for years. She
was a member of the Progressive
party and was a stanch supporter of
Theodore Roosevelt.
@. o. p. Conferences In Washington.
Marion is not the only place where
Republican conferences are the order
Of the day. Washington has had a