Evening star., 1924-12-05
POST
IN CABINET SOUGHT
FORKANSASEXPERT
State Delegation in Congress
to Confer in Move to Unite
on Candidate.
IN G.. GOULD LINCOLN.


Kansas is making a strong bid for
the appointment of one of her sons
as Secretary of Agriculture. to sue
cced Secretary Gore when he steps
out of office to become Governor of
! West Virginia, the post to which he
was elected in November.
The Kansas delegation in Congress
will be called to meet in conference
next week by Senator Curtis. head of
the delegation and Republican leader
of the Senate, for the purpose of OBJ
tanning, if possible, united indorse
ment of Kansan for Secretary of
Agriculture.
The Sunflower State, one of the
great agricultural States in the
Union. has never been represented in
a Presidents cabinet in any capac-
ity. The nearest approach, it is said,
was an offer made years ago to a
Kansan to become Secretary of Agri-
culture, which he declined.
Require United Front.
The feeling is strongly developed
that if Kansas through its delega-
tion will solidly support a candidate
for Secretary OF Agriculture, select
ing a man satisfactory to President
Coolidge, he will be appointed. The
difficulty, so far, has been to show a
united front.
At least FIVE Kansans have been
suggested for the appointment
President William NJ. Jardine of the
State Agricultural College, J. H
Mohler, secretary of the State Board
of Agriculture; former State Senator
S. B. Haskins, former Representative
Scott and Bert Culp.
DR.. Jardine was recently appointed
by President Coolidge a member of
the agricultural conference which is
now at work formulating a report
on the agricultural situation and
what should be done to aid the
farmer. 1t is on the report of this
conference that the President expects
to base his recommendations to Con-
gress later in the session.
Jardine Has Good Backing.
While Senator Capper, head of the
farm bloc of the Senate, was Gov
ernor of Kansas, he appointed Dr.
Jardine president of the State Col
lege of Agriculture. 1t is understood
that the selection of DR.. Jardine for
the Cabinet post would meet the
ther, that Senator Curtis would not
take 1T amiss, although it's known
that Senator Curtis, on behalf of him
self and Senator Capper, several weeks
ago spoke to the President favorably
with regard to the appointment of
Mr.. Mohler.
DIR. JardiRe has reused the antago-
nism of some members of the Kansas
delegation, however, by his opposition
to the McNary Haugen bill, the farm
relief measure strongly advanced at
the last session of Congress. The en-
tire Republican membership of the
Kansas delegation voted for that bill
in the House, and some of them
based their campaign for reelection
on their stand on that measure.
On the other hand, it is entirely un-
likely, so unlikely that it may be set
down as fact, that President Cool
idge would appoint as his Secretary
of Agriculture any man who favors
such legislation as the McNary-
Haugen bill. The President made 1t
clear in his message to Congress
Wednesday that he was strongly op-
posed to any attempt at price fixing
by the Government.
some Want "Dirt" Farmer.
Some of the Kansans are inclined
to favor more particularly a dirt
farmer rather than college man.
But If a college president is to be
selected as Secretary of Agriculture,
then they believe they have the most
49, tja,,od on PAGE . Coluun