New-York tribune., 1921-03-01
Chances of Mellon for
Treasury Position in
Cabinet Are s'Not Bad"
President-Eiect Admits
Speeds Homeward
For Big Farewell
Will Meet Gen. Wood
To-day and May Offer
Him Philippines Post
From a sta0 Correspondep,

LEXINGTON, KY, Feb. 90 Con board
President-elec. Harding's special train>
After travelling all day through the
mountains OF Tennessee and Kentucky
Fresldent-elect and Mrs Harding were
back in their native Ohio tonight.
speeding toward Marion for a farewell
visit to the home folks.
Nlsh such interrcgnum tasks as
Cabinet making, inaugural speech writ
ing and some phases of patronage dis
trlbution virtually settled, Senator Har.
ding had time this afternoon for a
le1surely chat with the newspaper men
aboard his train. The most important
thing he said confirmed the contem-
plated appointment Of j ohm Weeks. for
mer Senator from Massachusetts. to
be Secretary of War
At the same time the President-elecf
announced that he has an engagement
at Marion tomorrow with Major Cen
eral Leonard Wood 1t is generally un-
derstood that the army officer is COM
Ing to discuss the question of his going
to the Philippines as Governor General.
However, there is one excellent reason
for believing that the Far Eastern post
Will not appeal to General Wood in
view OF better opportunity that re-
Gently has been offered. The Univer-
slty of Pennsylvania has invited him to
become its provost at a salary larger
than any he is likely to receive in the
public service. Moreover, this post
would not isolate him as would the
Philippines appointment.
Melons Chances "Not Bad"
The President-elect also confirmed in
an informal way reports that. he would
appoint Andrew Mellon, Pittsburgh
banker. to be Secretary Of the Treas
ury. In response to question con-
corning the Treasury, Mr.. Harding.
smiling broadly, said:
"Mr. MELONS chances aren'6 bad"
The President-elect gave an .mpres-
sion of relaxation to-day, such as he
exhibited as the Republican nominee
for few days after the convention, be-
fore settling down to the work cf the
campaign. Similarly he relaxed the
perched himself on the edge of a.
flower-laden table in the Observable n
compartment Of the private car in
which he was travelling, and with one
leg swinging and the other braced
against the swaying of the car talked
freely.
81 can tell you now without fear Of
startling any one" he said, chat the
Secretary of War is going to be John
Weeks" There was moments pause
while the President-elect contem-
plated the uptilted end of thin unlit
stogie held between his teeth. 81 have
an engagement in the morning with
General Wood. There are several mat
ters we want to talk about and YOU
have my full permission to guess your
heads off"
Originally Senator Harding wanted
Mr.. Weeks to be Secretary of the NAVY.
He had that idea during the campaign,
for Weeks is a graduate of Annapolis
and for time was an officer in the
navy MIR. Weeks, however, made it
very clear that he fell himself dis
qualified for the navy post because of
his close friendship for some of the
officers with whom he went through
the Naval Academy. His personal pref
erence was to be Secretary Of the
Treasury and he did not give up hope
of getting this post until quite re-
Gently.
The President-elect said that his in
augural address was practically COM
pleted and that by tomorrow he hopes
to turn 1t over to the Harding Print
ing Company (the publishers of The
Marion Daily Starr to be set in type
for advance distribution to the other
newspapers Of the country.
''It is only going to take about
twenty minutes to deliver" said Mr..
Harding. Everybody has to stand, you
know, and that is long enough. Be-
sides, don't want to say everything
then, for within a few weeks I'll be
addressing Congress. l rather like
the idea of addressing Congress in per-
son. You get a closer contact and
sometimes you can stress a point"
"This brought to the fore another ar
rangement inaugurated by President
Wilson, but an arrangement that did
not continue for long period-that of
regular interviews with newspaper cor
respondents. Mr.. Harding said to-
day that he desires to see the CORE
spondents at least once and perhaps
twice q week after he gets into the
White House.
The Harding train is due in Marion
before daylight. The President-elect
and Mrs. Harding are to be the guests
of his father, Dr.. George T. Harding
ST.. who is seventy-six years of age.