Evening star., 1923-08-29
CHRISTIAN TO Join
LASKER BUSINESS
Harding's Secretary Will Be
: Connected With Strong
Johnson Supporter.
BI FREDERICK WILLIAM VILE.

George &. Christian. jr.. President
Harding's intimate friend and secre-
tary, has been invited to become iden-
tilted with the business interests of
Albert d. Lasker, former chairman of
the United States Shipping Board.
This writer understands that Mr..
Christian will accept the offer and
soon take up his residence in Chicago,
where the Lasker organization has
its headquarters.
In just what capacity Mr.. Christian
will function has not been made
known. Besides being president and
chief proprietor of Lord 4 Thomas,
Inc. the we'll known advertising
agency, Mr.. Lasker is a dominant fac
tor i'll number of large industrial
enterprises. One of his interests is
the Chicago National League base ball
team, the celebrated Cubs. LaSker is
also an extensive shareholder in the
W. Is. Wrigley. jr.. chewing gum bust
ncss and Mr.. Wrigley's closest COM
rade.
Laskcr MuIti-MiiIionaire.
In corporations manufacturing
canned goods. tooth paste, cereal
products. soap and toilet articles,
known far and wild. through national
advertising. Lasker is also heavily in
t"rtSted. Some Of these companies
are said to be under his control
I.aSker ranks as Il lti-millionairc.
There are two distinct angles to
Mr.. Christians identification with
l.asker'" far flung business concerns.
he first is Il manifest intent upon
LaskerS part to do Il good turn for
the bosom friend and long time help
mate of Lasker'S great friend. the
late Warren &. Harding. Christian
leaves the White House as he en-
tered it. by no means a rich man. He
was fifty years old last March.
Up to the time he became Mr.. Hard
ng'S secretary in the United States
Senate in 1915, Christian was gem
tral sales manager Of the White Sui
phur stone Company at Marion, Ohio.
\ As close associate of Albert ID.
i.aSker. Christian ought to be headed
;or competence. if not a fortune. in
re1a lively short order. Lasker has
spirit of loyalty to Mr.. Harding in
offering George Christian a lucrative
business opportunity.
Political. Angle Seen.
Politicians will read a political an
gle into the LaskerChristian affair.
TOO. Mr.. Christian. TO date. is the
only conspicuous member of the
Harding administration who has not
accepted President Coolidge's inri-
tation TO remain at Washington and
GO operate" in the furtherance of
Harding policies. 1t is customary
for Presidents t" have as their eX-
ccutiNc secretaries men who have
been ''Close" to them. hut Christian
could undoubtedly have had some
other important federal appointment
had he cared to retain public Office.
The fact that Albert u. Lasker is
senator Hiram W. Johnson's intimate
friend and political supporter is sure
10 be associated with George Chris
tian's future activities. At the Chi
cago convention in 1920. when John
son made his furious attempt to cap
ture the presidential nomination,
Messrs. Lasker, Wrigley and some
of their local friends were under
stood to have provided the SineWS
for "HiramS" spectacular efforts.
The great Chicago auditorium was
hired for a Johnson meeting on the
I'VE of the convention and the Cali
Tnrnian was welcomed to the city in
the midst of triumphal parade.
Iaskcr was for Johnson until Hard
ing was nominated. Thenceforward