The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-12
SECRETARY DAVIS FIRST TO QUIT COOLIDGE CABINET Labor Department Chief Plans Return To Pri-
 vate Activities ROOSEVELT KIN
 GETS NAVY POST Theodore Douglas Robin
 son To Succeed
 Teddy, Jr.
Heased Wire to The Age.Herald.)

Heased Wire to The Age.Heraid.)
 WASHINGTON, Nov. H. The first step toward revamp- ing the cabinet are being taken. The initial announce ment was that of the ap- preaching retirement of Sec retary of Labor Davis, who has expressed to President Coolidge a desire to return to private activities.
 Theodore Douglas Robinson, nephew of the late President Roosevelt, was named assistant secretary of the navy succeeding his cousin, Theodore Roose- welt, who resigned in October to be the republican candidate for governor of New York. The last request of the late Senator Lodge was that Robinson be appointed and it was partly on this account and partly because of desire to continue the tradition of keeping a Roosevelt in the navy department that the appointment was made.
 Lewis Suggested
 Announcing the retirement of Davis the White House gave no intimation as to the next secretary of labor, but there have been suggestions that John l.. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers, is regarded with favor. T, V. O'Connor, formerly head of the Long shoremen's union, and now chairman of the United States shipping board, also is mentioned. Both are republi- cans and both have been aiding in the campaign. O'Connor organized the del egation which called on President Cool idge Labor Day. Lewis worked quietly among his union followers during the campaign, seeking to keep them from going to La Toilette.
 He is mentioned as one of the prom inent labor leaders who will be con sidered when the time comes to look for a successor to Gompers as head of the American Federation of Labor. The President will be urged by some of his advisors Sto appoint Lewis because of this fact and the probability that he could be influential in preventing or ganizized labor from aligning itself bod fly with democratic or third party can didates in the future.
 Davis Deficient
 
 Davis, although a capable business man and organizer, has been of little service in this direction because, de- spite his early occupation as an iron puddler in the Pittsburg steel mills, he has in later years had practically no contact with organized labor.
 Robinson, the new assistant secre- tary of the navy, conferred with the President Tuesday and his appointment was announced immediately afterward He has been a member of the New York state senate, but was defeated when he ran for re-nomination in the primary His defeat, it is said, was due to his wet leanings. Like his predecessor, he served in the army during the war, be- ing discharged with the grade of first lieutenant in the officers reserve corps
 Few Changes
 In connection with these announce ments, the White House indicated that it is the Preside. Us desire to change his cabinet as little as. possible at the be- ginning of his regular term. Should William NJ. Butler be appointed to sue ceed Lodge in the senate, the contem- plated shift that probably would have been made to provide cabinet berth for him will not be necessary. The va cancy caused by the death of Secre- tary of Agriculture Wallace is still to be filled. No other changes are cer- tain, though there may be one involving the interior department