The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-17
WILBUR RECALL LAID TO TALK
 AND NO WORK
Incident Has Had Electri- cal Effect On High
 Officials
Rx Raymond Clapper

(By Leased Wire to The Ago-Heralot
 WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.-Secre.. tary of the Navy Wilbur was summoned back to Washington because President Coolidge though he was gailivanting around the country, doing too much talking and not enough woIsz.
 This is the, real explanation of the White House orders which cut short the secretary's .'inspection" and speaking tour in the far west. It is obtained from one who knew all of the inside facts in the incident. The White House explanation that Wilbur was recalled to discuss departmental matters and the budget was prompted by charit- able desire to shield Wilbur from as much embarrassment as possible.
 There is no thought of asking for the secretary's resignation. He was Cool idge's first cabinet choice, filling the first vacancy that occurred after the death of President Harding. Personal relations between the Coolidges and the Wilburs are most cordial. In fact Mrs. Coolidge and Mrs. Wilbur motored to- gether to Annapolis Tuesday to have lunchen with Mrs. Wilson, wife of the commandant, there.
 Three Considerations
 Three considerations led Coolidge to 1 call Wilbur back to his desk:
 ! II There has been some criticism 0f speeches made by Wilbur on the Pacific coast in which he attacked the principle of the abatement and injunction clauses of the Volstead act, and discussed the Japanese question. Ordinarily cabinet speeches regarding debatable questions of policy, especially those affecting other branches of the government, are submitted in advance to the President. 2. Political conditions in California are causing concern to the administra- tion. Various cross currents at work there have created an unfavorable sit uation. Johnson is said to be working hard to get control of the legislature and Is fighting the state administration. As Wilbur has been prominently iden- tified with California state politics in the past, it was thought best to avoid furher complications that might arise out of his, continued presence in the state.
 8. After Denby's difficulties in the navy department, due to his tendency to leave everything in the hands of tn professional officers, and in view of the budget controversy, the President thought it best that Wilbur should be on the job where he could assume per sonal conrol of affairs. He does not want another incident like the Teapot Dome affair; of which Denby was bliss fully ignorant as far as it's real import was copcerned.
 Believes In Work
 Coolidge is a strong believer in stick ing on the job and expects that rule to apply to his cabinet members as well as himself. Wilbur has been no worse an offender in this respect than good many other cabinet members in the past, for junketing long has been the favorite outdoor sport of cabinet officers. It has been the custom for cabinet of- ficer, whenever he grew weary of his drudgery at his desk, to assign himself to a tour of inspection" Such tours usually consist of travelling around the continent in a Pullman drawing room, stopping off at various points and meeting the "boys." To make such junkets official for purposes of the gov ernment expense account, the official takes trips through establishments un- der his jurisdiction, usually consisting of hurried sightseeing tour around the grounds, a luncheon or dinner by the subordinate in charge, who gets in a brief talk about the next years ap- propriations, which he always insists, should be larger. Legitimate trips for some specific purpose are, of course, often necessary and President Coolidge is the last one to complain about them. Effect Is Electrical ,t This Wilbur incident already has had an electrical effect on the morale of the higher officials here. There will be tendency among these officials now to take literally Coolidge's advice to do the days work"
 Perhaps for the sake of further ex- ample, the President made it known Tuesday that he has little intention of going out on a campaign trip. He ex- poets to say on the job with the excep- tiOn of an occasional speech. But he | will waste no time travelling He has even cut down his Philadelphia, sched- ule for September 9 so that he will miss only half a days work.
 II never yet heard of candidate l who hurt himself by not making speeches." Coolidge told some friends Tuesday, which remark he no doubt hoped would be applied to cabinet off cers as well as candidates.
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