Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-02-20

+ OruNey, Is tle man " "iioi'
destinies of the nation so far as ITS
financial situation is concerned, IS
depended upon to bring order out OF
the present chaotic condition IN
which the Republican party finds 1t
self.
It seems to be habit with some
people to offer large financial IN
ducements to members of President
Harding's cabinet to quit. First on
the list was Will II. Hays, Postmas-
ter General who goes to the moving
picture industry as its head at sal
ary reported to be Sl5O,O0O year.
Now comes the city of Philadelphia
with an offer to Secretary of Com
merce Hoover of $4,000 a year for
five years to take charge OF the
Sesqui- Centennial in that city. Hoo.
yer has not been officially notified OF
the offer made to him by this Phil.
adelphia organization. 1t is well
known in Washington that this par
ticular body has been flirting" with
the Secretary for some time but ne
said today that he had received no
official communication from Philadel-
phia which would make him consider
such an offer. He said that he had
read in the newspapers the details OF
the position to which the Phi!adel-
phia concern mentioned would like
to assign him to but III the absence
of direct invitation he could make
no comment.
There have been rumors that Sec
retary Of the Treasury Mellon, con-
sidered the second richest man IN
the United States, might be offered
the head of a powerful financial con-
Germ in New York. Mellon don't
care about money. He smokes
pittsburgh tobies" which retail for
3 for five cents. He can place his
hands upon at leas; 100000, 900 in
case of emergency. But he don't
have to. There is no firm or corpo-
ration, banking or financial. which
could offer Mr.. Mellon sufficient in
ducement to become their head.
Which all goes to show that
disruption in the present Harding
cabinet is not imminent but there IS
no telling when an earthquake may
break out.
There is a good deal of interest in
Washington at the present time over
the attitude which Southern Senator's
and Congressman will take as res
poets the bonus legislation. 1t is
conceded upon every hand that poll
tics is to be removed in the consldc>
ration of this rather difficult problem.
According to the judgment of some
of the best informed statesmen on
Capitol Hill the payment of the bonus
in lump sum would be the worst
thing that could happen to the South.
They view with alarm the situation
which might be created were several
hundred negroes given between $3.50
and $500 at once. knowing full we'll
that the money disseminated among
the colored population would be spent
in rioutous living. gambling. drink
ing. and other forms of amusement
which might portend difficulties with
the lawful and abiding citizens OF
this section of the country.
Senator John Sharp Williams, OF
Mississippi, who probably more than
other Senator from the southern
states knows the negro problem. is
opposed to the bonus. He says that
to place in the hands Of the soldiers
such great amount OF money at one
time might mean ruination of indus
try and would at least create sit
uation in the South which would en-
courage greater animosity between
the whites and the blacks south of
the Mason Dixon line.
Isaac Gregg.