The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-06
HARDING FORGED
 ID ABANDON HIS SUPERMAN CABINET
Johnson and Borah Routed Root-Hoover Antics Put Taboo on Food Chieftain.
 Dawes Question Mark
Fly HUGH w. ROBERTS Washington Bureau The Age Herald
 800 Davidson Ruildinu


 500 Davidson Building Washington, February 5.--(Special)-- Warren c. Harding has found it so diff ficult to please the several very strong factions in the republican party, that he has abandoned his original idea, based on a promise to the American public, to fill his cabinet with "supermen."
 It has so happened that just as soon as he put his fingers on first-class in- dividual, some man who aided in secur- ing his nominations or some man who might be able to impede his pro- gress towards a nomination in 1924, filed objection. And the "superman' im- mediately went into the discards.
 In the beginning, Harding mentally se- lected Elihu Root, Herbert Hoover, Gen. eral Pershing, General Wood, General Dawes, Governor Lowden and few oth- CTS of that type. And then, under pres- sure, he eliminated them all. lto now begins to appear that Senator Panrose will select the majority of the members of the cabinet
 PASSAGE OF ROOT
 In the first riace Root was sacrificed as result of the demands of the irrecon- clables in the Senate respecting the League of Nations. The eminent New York jurist favors a League of Nations. Senators Borah and Johnson would be mortaly offended were such a man
  no question but that Senators Borah and Johnson, if they be determined, can either prevent the renomination of Hard ing, or conduct themselves in such wise that split in the republican party would develop with the result that a democrat would be chosen President. So Root was forced to walk the plank.
 Charles E. Hughes was chosen to suc- ceed Root on the mental slate. MT. Hughes, despite his admitted ability, is one of the most agreeable and plastic individuals in the United States. There was no objection to him on the part of either of the powerful factors who de- sire to control the next administration. Hughes before the people in 1916, proved beyond all question that he is not "superman'
 HOOVER WALKS PLANK
 The fate of Herbert Hoover was sealed when Penrose filed objections. The for n1er food administrator, who admitted ly dalied with both political parties when it appeared that both considered him fav- orably for the nomination, demonstrated q political weakness that disgusted the big boss of the republican organization. He was declared by Penrose to be any thing other than party man. Nat urally, Harding would not name any enc of whom Penrose could make com plaint For whereas in all probability the Pennsylvanian will have disappeared from the field of the living before the passage of four years, he will be the most powerful republican until he does s'go across.'
 As result of the process of elimination, MT. Harding has unquestionably given offense. He sacrificed Governor I.owden following the insistence of Mayor William Thompson Of Chicago, a man whose al legged pro-Germanism in time of war as- founded the country. He then consid- "a WNS army officer. when testfying before a congressional committee this week, de- clared with unnatural heat that he was not in politics. and that he would not be in politics. Unquestionably he has been eliminated for some unknown cause. General Pershing, and the army circles. are said to be grievously offended thereby.
 A PENROSE MAN
 For the position of Secretary Of the Treasury, Harding now considers A. w. Mellon of Pennsylvania. MT Mellon is banker and an erstwhile railroad mag nate. He has the support of Penrose, without which there is nothing" It is very safe to predict that because of the support of Penrose, Mellon will be made either Secretary of the Treasury or gov ernor of the federal reserve board to succeed w. P. G. Harding
 Another Pennsylvanian on whose head penrose has placed his hands, is now resident of Illinois. His name is Davis. Hc is a member of a labor union. and' judging from the repeated declaration of the virile republican press, his strongest point lies in the fact of his connection with the Loyal Order of Moose. While the members of that organization have always boasted that they were gentlemen of many outstanding virtues, even the most enthusiastic have not contended that they are .tsupermen." MT. Davis may D. Secretary of Labor.
 It is practically agreed that Senator Fall, who has spent the last few years of his life in an effort further to estrange the United States and Mexico, will be made Secretary of the Interior. H. c. Wallace of Iowa, editor of farm journal, will be Secretary of Agricul- ture. H. N. Daugherty, whose fame un- til recent days never emerged beyond the boundary of Ohio, will be Attorney General and Will s. Hayes. an astute politician, will be Postmaster General.
 WEEKS THE ABLEST
 And yet Harding might preserve hts cabinet in the appointment of one man. He Is John w. Weeks of Massachusetts. He is not ''superman." He is not even an idealist. He is not an 'uplifter." He is very practical politician of great wealth. and a man who has never given < offense even to his opponents. He is
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