The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-11
UPTON CASE NOW
 CAUSING GRIEF
 TOREPUbL|CANS
Harding May Insist Upon Con- firmation of Appointment of Woman Party Lead-
 CTS Husband
By HUGH W. ROBERTS Washington Bureau, The Age Herald.
 800 Davidson Building.

w AaninEton buFSHut Ahc 800 Davidson Building.
 Washingtno. May 1o-tSpecial)- The President, it is understood, has notified the members of the inter state commerce committee of the Sem
 ate that he will insist on the con firmation of the appointment of
 George W. Upton of Ohio to be "a
 member of the federsls trade com
 mission.
 There is nothing from the stand point of human interest more lively in Washington than the now fa-
 nous Upton case" and nothing with features more embarrassing to the
 President, .he republican majority of the Senate. and the upton family it. self. Upton, the appointee, is best
 known as the husband of Harriet Taylot Upton. vice chairman of the republican national committee.
 Last December the President noni-
 mated Upton to the $10.000 per annum
 berth on the federal trade commis- sion. Senator Atlee Pomerene of Ohio protested before the committee against confirmation. He alleged that Upton had nothing to recommend
 him save the fact that he was hus-
 band to the republican woman who served so loyalty in the successful ef-
 fort to make Warren c. Harding President He declared that the Pres
 ident had no other motive in ap-
 pointing Upton than to reward Mrs.
 Upton. He brought openly in ques-
 ton the qualifications of Upton, and left the impression that it was gem
 erally known In Ohio that he was in- competent.
 The committee. though composed of a ms of
 with Senator Pomerene and turned its back on the President and the vice chairman of the republican commit tee. Upton was rejected insofar as the committee by refraining from re- porting the nomination, could reject an appointee. It is understood that Mrs. Upton then proceeded with her plaint to the President. and that the President refused to act in response to the request of Senator Cummins. chairman of the committee, that he
 withdraw the name of Upton.
 Tragedy of Administration Thus stands the situation today. The Upton family, Mrs. Upton and her husband has been involved in one
 of the real human interest tragedies
 of the Harding administration. In
 the beginning, as is recalled, the President stood for the creation of | another department of the govern ment. to be headed bv a secretary to sit as cabinet officer. This depart ment was to be known as the depart- | ment of1public welfare. It was to do with education, health and other topics of prime interest to women and children. It was the Presidents plan to name woman to this important
 berth. It was his plan. it Is under-
 stood, to make Mrs. Upton secretary of the department and thus the first
 woman cabinet officer in the history
 of the United States.
 But like some other plans of the
 President. this plan went awry. op-
 position developed among republicans in Congress. And then General Saw yer. the Presidents personal physi- clan and warm friend expressed a de- sire for the berth, and argued that by virtue of his calling and his admin istratiye duties, he was entitled to the position. The President, from one cause or another. perhaps his uncer- tainty that necessary legislation
 could be put through Congress, or his
 belief that the division of the spells would divide his party. dropped the scheme.
 Before 1t was definitely understood, however. that the plan would not go
 through, a London newspaper, ap-
 prised of the probability that Mrs. Upton would be made the first wom-
 an member of the cabinet. cabled for | her photograph. Mrs. Upton compiled with the request, it Is understood At any rate. the paper in question print ed the likeness of Mrs. Upton with
 the explanation that she had been ap- l pointed.
 l And now if the President fails to give MT. Upton job, or is unable to | do so because of senatorial opposition. | the tragedy will be complete. In
 view of the part that Senator Pom creme has played. the Uptons will 1 probably bitterly oppose him for re-
 election. This might result in the l uptons being made an issue in the 1 election.
 1 Senator Pomerene. 1t is indicated. would welcome such an issue.