The New York herald., 1922-06-25

taking I'm the line of party leadership.
This, too. has made a pronounced, inn
preston on the leaders of the various
blocs. who previously asserted their in
dependence of White House influences.
II is the opinion of those leaders who
have indorsed the attitude of the Presi-
dent that unless some unexpected de-
velopment intervenes the adjournment
Of Congress will find a closer degree of
cooperation between the White House
and Congress than existed up to a
short time ago.
Critics OF Mr.. Harding in his own party
who predicted he would permit the
squabbles OF various minority groups
In Congress to undermine the party
structure throughout the country are
now constrained to admit their error.
The fact is. instead Of resenting a per-
fectly logical concern on the part of
the President In Congressional ven-
lures, the leaders of both houses are
now seeking advice and suggestions
from that quarter.
The charges previously made by
some OF the party leaders that Secre-
tary OF State Hughes, Secretary of
Commerce Hoover. Secretary Of War
Weeks and Attorney General Daugh-
erty were individually influencing the
Presidents Judgment in specific mat
ters are rarely heard in Congressional
circles to-day.
Senator Edge OF New Jersey put his
finger on the chief reason for this
when In the Republican party confer
ence he said: What's the use Of
talking? The President Is our best
and almost only asset. AS between the
achievements OF the executive de-
partment and those of Congress the
people OF the country unanimously ap-
prove the former and condemn the
latter"
Most signincant Change.
Perhaps the most significant change
noted in the executive situation re-
lates TO the vast difference in the
treatment of patronage disputes. Un-
I'll couple OF months ago, when At
torney- General Daugherty became the
target for personal attacks involving
his political activities and professional
integrity. the politicians in and out of
patronage dispenser OF the Administra-
ton.
Tho Job now appears to be vacant.
with no volunteers in the Cabinet
seeking to take over the task of set
tling patronage disputes where Mr..
Daugherty left off. The Attorney
General is now devoting himself ex-
clusively to the law business Of the
Government.
Political leaders with candidates for
Federal jobs no longer jam his office
and command the larger part of his at
tention as they were in the habit of
doing five or six months ago. The re-
tirement of General Hays
probably doubled the cares and en-
barrassments confronting Mr.. Daugh-
erty as the undisputed arbiter of rows
among the Job hunters.
The task Of deciding among rival
candidates for places on the Govern
ment payroll was cheerfully awarded
to Mr.. Daugherty by all his associates
in the Cabinet. Secretaries Mellon.
Hughes. Hoover, Weeks and Fall, upon
whom patriotic citizens seeking Of
ficial bonuses fol party services TO-
cused their attention, displayed not the
slightest resentment over the prefer
ence shown for the friendly counsel of
Mr.. Daugherty.
Until official pressure became too
heavy to ignore Mr.. Daugherty dis
played energy. tact and sympathy for
the woes of the job hunters. 1t Is a
tribute to his political prescience and
personal solicitude for the success O
Mr. Harding's Administration that he
is not doing so any more. Politicians
have therefore turned their attention
away from the Department Of Justice
and are pouring their woes directly
into the White House under less agree
able conditions because the President
cannot grant them as many privileges
in the matter of time as they desire.
Another change noted in the policy
of the Administration Is in the refusal
{ the President to interfere with men,
bers of the Cabinet in the matter of
personnel. The President has fire.
quently, instanced his determination
of late to keep his hands off the con-
duct of the ten Cabinet posts. on which
the politicians have maintained a
steady fusillade of demands for recog-
milton Of favors.
No political incident connected with
the Harding Administration more
greatly excited the job hunters than
the refusal OF Secretary Mellon to be
stampeded into making Jobs for party
henchmen by the simple process Of re-
moving competent subordinates. Mr..
Mellon is not politician. but he is a
first rate business man. He has al
eady won the distinction with the peo-
pie of the country as one OF the ablest
Treasury Secretaries in the history OF
the country.
On taking ONCE he set about reor-
ganizlng 1t on a purely business basis,
with politics left out. He has the repu-
tation among officials OF his depart
ment of demanding but one thing-the
full measure OF business efficiency. He
refused to become excited over the de-
mands OF politicians that he throw this
or that official out OF ofiice merely be-
cause OF previous service under a
Democratic Administration.
The recent demand made by $50 Re-
publican Senators and Representatives
that the Secretary fire competent sub
ordinates merely 20 make places for
Republican henchmen did not make
the slightest impression on him. In
cidentally, some OF the officials de-
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