New-York tribune., 1921-06-04
Place as Head
OF Ship Board
Goes Begging g
Teagle's Declination After
Several Others Have Re-
fused Post Starts the
President on New Hunt
Lasker Now Mentioned
Persons of Caliber Listed
for the Job Fear Attack
From Men in Congress
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, June President
Harding began over again to-day his
hunt ter man to be chairman Of the
United States Shipping Board. H.
hopes TO send nominations Of seven
men to the Senate next week for the
board. He has been hoping to do the
same thing every week for nearly two
months. But each time. when he
thought everything was set, the slate
c. Teagle. of the Standard Oil Com
pany of New Jersey. declined an ap-
pointment.
1t is rumored that Mr.. Harding will
invite A. d. Lasker, of Chicago, mem
ber of the Lord & T8homas adve rtis-
ing firm, to become chairman. In the
event this Is done another shift prob
ably Will be necessary, as the shipping
law does not permit more than one
man from the Great Lakes region to
be member of the board
There are three chief reasons why
President Harding has found the Ship
ping Board the real patronage problem
OF his administration. Finding seven
men for this job has given the Presi-
dent more worry and trouble than
handling all other patronage questions.
Here are the three reasons:
Many Opposed to Policy
1-Shipping Board affairs are in such
state Of disorganization that the
thought of failure naturally would
drive away any politician looking for
the JOB and most business men of ma
tional standing.
2-Many of the caliber sought by
President Harding are not in sympathy
with the government policy on shipping
and do not want the new law to
succeed
Big men who came to Washington
during the war to help out found them
selves the victims of politicians who
criticized and accused and then inves-
tlgated. Several men, it is said, have
shied at public service because they
refused to take a chance of being be-
smirched by some two-by four politi
clan on Capitol Hill.
When he started to pick the Shipping
Board, President Harding announced
he would select only men competent to
.ill the job. The kind Of men he is look
ing for are not available because of the
three reasons given. Charles NJ Schwab
and Bernard M. Baruch are two men
who probably suffered more for their
part during the war than any of the
others who came here at their own ex-
government positions to further their
own personal ends. Those who watche ed
THESE two men in action here do not be
lleve such charges. Official denials have
been issued, but som mething comes, up
every lew weeks requiring Mr. Baruch
or Mr.. Schwab to enter denial
There can be no doubt that fear OF
havlng a good name spotted by enter
ing government service has added seri-
ously to the Presidents troubles in
finding a Shipping Board chairman.
Farrell Declined Post
James A. Farrell, of the United
States Steel Corporation, is one of the
men the President is understood to
nave invited to accept the chairmanshir
OF the board. But like Mr.. Teagle. he
found it impossible to get away from
his business
There has been some talk that
| Charles Piez, head OF the Emereenc,
Fleet Corporation during the war
might be named. But it is understood
Inat ne is not anxious to serve again
IN ADDITION, there is criticism of the
appointment of any man who has ha6
any connection with the board.
he law itself has caused the Presj.
dent great deal of trouble in fndino
the seven men. To insure that ali ser.
tions OF the country are represented
the lawmakers provided that the Allan
TIC and Pacific coasts should be repre.
sented by two men each and the Gulf
Great Lakes and interior one man each
In addition, four must be members ~
the don'nant party and three of the