Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-15
COOLIDGE To RETAIN
CABINET OFFICIALS
WHO WISH TO STAY
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

Especial Leased w ire To l nc JouGuHi NopN
right, 1924
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-Reshap-
ing the cabinet of President Cool
idce is becoming the chief diversion
of the politicians who fought the
campaign. And it is becoming at the
same time the chief source of worry
to some of the incumbents who do
not know whether they ought to in
sist on retiring or stay on.
President Coolidge is not likely to
ask any man who has done an efficient
Job to step out simply to meet the
needs of political custom. 1t is doubt
full whether he incurred any impel-
ling obligation to any individual. lie
is, on the other hand, inclined to
give recognition for party service for
he believes in the stimulus of party
organization Republican admlnlStfa-
lions have felt that way in the past
and have kept the party all-poWerfu!
by SO doing. Mr.. Coolidge knows the
practical side.
Throughout the country are men
who did yeoman service in the cam
pai2n: some who contributed funds
and actively worked to collect con-
tributions from others; some who
worked untiringly in the districts
and precincts and counties ana
states and who have been doing the
same for the Republican party, cam
paign after campaign. They VINO
want cabinet portfolios naturally
feel that those who hold the JonS
at present ought to give others III
the party an opportunity.
The pressure on the incumpehI
cabinet officers to retire Will NOT
come from President Coolidge but
from inside the party. MIR. Coolidge
feels satisfied with the work OF ms
entire cabinet. He knows the loss
Of momentum in changes. He IS
likely therefore to act only on the
designations which indicate Clearly
a desire to leave office
Wants Three to Stay
There are two or three CABINET
officers particularly who Would DE
urged A. second time to stay if they
were disposed to leave. NOR IS
there likely to be any drive for thelr
DortfOlios by the politicians. TheSe
positions are held by Charles Evans
Hughes. Herbert Hoover, and An
drew w. Mellon. In the department
of state, the treasury, and the de-
partment of commerce the policies
of the administration have been es-
sentially developed by these three
cabinet secretaries. The success OF
those policies depends to ma small
extent on continued vigilance by the
men now in charge. Mr.. sHughes
has the details of foreign policy at
his finger tips and knows better
than anyone else just now how far
America can go in the direction OF
international cooperation without re
yiVing past controversies and dead
locking American action. In the
treasury, the biggest problem be
fore the country today-ecOnOmy of
expenditure and reduction of tax
ation-is being worked out. Mr..
Melons ideas on tax reform have
not been given as careful treatment
by the present congress as theT
might be in the new congress. Mr..
Mellon is advanced in years but
monument to his administration
would be a simplification of the tax
system and a further development
of his refunding policies.
The attorney general, Harlan
Stone, is a personal choice of Presi-
dent Coolidge. Mr. Stones legal
ability is unquestiOned and he will
stay indefinitely, in fact, until some
vacancy on the supreme court bench
occurs when he may be expected to
receive a promotion, though there IS
a chief justice in Massachusetts who
is close to the presidents favor for
high judicial hOnors
The work of the Department of
commerce has been so closely inter
woven with American business that
Mr.. HOoVer'S transfer even to the
department of interior, where it is
believed there will be a vacancy is
hardly likely to occur. Mr.. Hoover
has a freer hand in present day
problems in the department of com
merce than he would have in the in
terror department.
Dr. Work Anxious to Retire
DR.. Work, secretary of the interior.
is said to be anxious to retire. The
OttcIal announcement has been made
that James j. Davis will leave the
department of labor on March 4 as
I" lN'oiL VI HIS OWu I6Qu6 L ne
secretary of war, John w. Weeks,
is one of the ablest of President
Coolidge's advisers. If he decides to
return to private life or to run for
the senate in Massachusetts. it might
mean the appointment of William r.
Butler. chairman of the Republican
national committee, to the cabinet
There is q vacancy in the agricul-
tural department due to the death of
Henry {. Wallace. Harry G.. New,
at the head of the postoffice depart.
ment, may be regarded as fixture
II he desires to stay. He has served
his party through three decades end
from political viewpoint would not
find opposition. It's all a question
of whether he wants to continue on
and there is reason to believe he
does
The secretary of the navy, Mr..
Wilbur, is a recent appointee He
IS being talked of for a federal Judge.
ship of Importance. His long ju-
dlclal training was called into play
when the Teapot Dome controversy
began. When the cases are CON-
pleted he may wish to return to the
bench. 1t is not considered probable
that he will leave the navy portfolio
very soon.
The foregoing gives the few places
IN which changes may be expected.
They are not many and the principal
portfolios are not affected.