Evening star., 1921-01-28
Editorial Digest
Who Picks the Cabinet7

Who Picks the Cabinet7
One Of the "real battles in American
political history" is now going on over
Mr.. Harding's cabinet appointments. ac-
ent), and the wide comment on the oppo-
Sition Of the Senate to the choice OF
Charles Evans Hughes as head Of the
State Department seems to justify this
statement. The editorial writer's. while
they are not all sure that Mr. Harding
viii be left free to make his own choice
agree that the President-elect and not
the Senate should choose the cabinet
and II the latter triumphs. it will be q
humiliating defeat for the incoming
Chief Executive
The Evansville Courier (democratic)
while it hopes that Mr. Harding viii
"emerge victorious, his soul unseared,' u
cial test to which he will be subjected,
declares that IF he surrenders now his
usefulness will have suffered and he will
be whipped before he makes begin
ming" Tne New York World tdemocrai ic)
believes that Mr.. Harding's "trou-
BILE" is Of his own making. but grants
that public opinion is with him. and
urges him to accept the "Senate's chal-
lenge' if the issue must be fought out
and the sooner he does 1t ''the better Tor
him and the country"
That the President-elect will again
change his cabinet plans under press
ure" Of certain senator's appears
hardly conceivable to the Syracuse
Herald (independent), which holds
that 'if the President elect has really
decided to make Charles E. Hughes
the premier of the next administra-
ton he should stick to that purpose
with leech-like tenacity.'
A similar view is expressed by the
Louisville Post (independenD. which
considers it incredible that NJ: Hard
ing would allow himself TO be bull
doZed on such a matter and is still
of the opinion that Mr.. Hughes will
be appointed. The Sioux,Cit uowa)
Journal republican), likewise mas
faith to believe that the President
elect will not be guided" by q de-
sire to let the Senate control the
State Department.
Without going into the question OF
senatorial control the New York Trib-
une (republican) supports the view
point supposed to coincide with that
of the leading senators, that Mr. hoot
and not Mr.. Hughes should be award :
ed the Secretaryship of State. though
it urges the latter for the office OF
Attorney General. On the other hand,
the Utica Press independently thinks
that both men are eminent, excep-
tionally we'll thought of and either
would be acceptable to the country,
but the issue at stake is whether
President ELECT Harding will stand
up" and choose his man or whether
"he will let Senator Penrose and his
associates dictate his cabinet appoint
ments."
There is no doubt in the mind of
the Springfield Union (republican)
that "one rule will hold" in Harding's g
~f to off 81
though it will be party organiza-
ton It will not be selected because
of party obliga tions without consid-
Grafton of the best service to the
country"
Writers with democratic leaningss
are not SO sure that the senatorial
oligarchy." as the Philadelphia Record
Independent democratic) refers to
the objectors to Hughes, will be go
lightly put aside. The Record nnds
the present situation strangely sug-
gestive Of a similar situation In the
days Of Mckinley" when Senator
Sherman. though suffering from
Of State to give place in the Senate
to Mark Hanna. ~
The Lynchburg News (democratic). }.
citing the frequent remarks OF Hard
ing during the campaign to the effect
that It was his PURPOSE 1arseiy TO
C0ly upon CVM6I OooAVneA
his policies" feels justified in stating
that it would not be 1t all surprised
'if, despite the humiliation involved.
Mr. Harding will yield to the soma
torial onslaught involving Hr'
The Knoxville Sentinel findependent
democraticlo however, while it holds
the "tmpression'' that the President
elect would Hike to please the senA-
tors" neverthe1ess feels that he 70
now too deeply. committed 70
l6uskegon Chronicle tindependent)
expresses the fear that 'Mr. Harding
does not seem to have CONFIDENCE
enough In himself to 60 ahead ana
select his cabinet"
Discussing frank1y the motives OF
the senators who have found that Oy
lrst opposing Root. they 1umped
from the frying pan into tho Mre." the
Detroit Free Press Independently de-
claroo that they are now backing the
least Questionable "of two undesired
men,"
The Rochester Tines Union (inde-
pendsnt) grants that '1t IL not at all
discreditabls that Mr. Harding take
into account the views Of those with
whom he must cooperate In the
course Of the next four years" and
ito ignore the Senate would be I'M
polite. but the paper concludes with
the sentiment that seems to represent
'he majority Of editorial opinion; II
Mr.. Harding bends to the Senate now
he must DO % with the sacrifice OF
his personal dignity.