Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-05-08

uUCIl ABOUT bODrudFy ZOs 4uCACAOAC
there was no collision as to any acts
TO be performed by Mccullough even
6lat insinuation has been made"
1t Was Wholly Unexpected.
The writer Of this is able to say
something definite about this matter.
Mr.. DENLY could have gone further
10 his statement than he did and told
che exact truth. He said that his APP
pointment was somewhat unexpect-
ed" This way of putting it was a
mere matter Of the phrasing of the
incident. He could have said wholly
unexpected" for he had absolutely no
knowledge that he was even being con-
sidered for the post until he was asked
to go to Florida to consult with Pres1-
dent-elect Harding, and this invitation
southwark was not extended until ten
days or possibly less before Mr.. Hard
ing took Office as president.
There was definite knowledge in
Washington ten days prior to the inau-
guration Of Harding March 4, 1921, OF
the names of all Of the men who were
to hold cabinet positions except the
name of him who was to be chosen to
the navy post. A dozen men had been
mentioned as possible appOintees to
that secretaryship, but there was no
definite information concerning the
man likely to be chosen. DENLY had
NIT been so much as mentioned even
in the press, excepting in one or two
Michigan papers, which for local pride
considerations had said editorially
that he would be good man for the
place. Not one word had come from
the president-elect nor from anyone
close to him which gave a hint as to
the possible selection Of DENLY. His
name was not given consideration in
the news sent out by any of the Wash
ington correspondents. He was aloof
from the field of thought and even of
speculation.
Just two weeks before the inaugu-
ration of President Harding called
on man who already had been named
for a position in the Harding cabinel
and who still Is a member Of the cabi-
net I said to this man, who it was
known was to sit in the cabinet:
Everybody knows the names of all
the new Presidents cabinet officers ex-
cept the man who is to head the Navy
department. The names of dozen
men have been suggested and seem
ingly one Of them is to get the job,
but which one nobody knows"
First lntimation of DENLY.
In response this was said to me by
the man on whom was calling:
Eyes, it is true that the names Of a
dozen men have been mentioned as
possible appointees to the navy job,
but there is one name that has not
been mentioned. 1t is that of Edwin
DENLY of Detroit"
I didn't wait to prolong the CONVEX
sation, but made quick trip to my
office and in newspaper dispatch /
said that Edwin DENLY Of Detroit. one
time member Of the house committee
on naval affairs and one-time member
of the Marine corps of the United
States, would in all human probability
be the next secretary Of the navy. This
was the first intimation that the coun-
try had that none of the men publicly
named as possible appointees was to
get the job and that 1t almost as
suredly was to go to DENLY of Detroit.
TO be exact in dates, that pronounce
ment of DENLY and the navy port
folio was made by me February p,
1921. AS memory has it, it was on
the night of that day, or certainly
not later than the next day, that DENLY
received his invitation to go to Florida
to consult with President-elect Hard
ing.
When Edwin DENLY came to Wash
ington to take his place as secretary
of the navy he said to me: "You knew
that was to be offered the secretary
ship Of the navy before knew 1t N.Y.