Daily Kennebec journal., 1924-03-14
Duly Conscious of Honor And
Willing to Make Any Sacri-
fee for Real Public Service,
But Does Not Possess Quail
ficati0ns - Berth Will Be
rendered California Chief
Justice

washington. March 13.-President
Co6lioge's tender of the navy secreta-
ryship was declined today by Federal
Judge William S. Kenyon. and the chief
executive prepared to offer the portfo-
lilo TO Chief Justice Curtis D. Wilbur
of the California supreme court.
Judge Kenyon himself announced the
dechnation. declaring in a formal state
mont that he could not escape the con-
ciuslon that he did not possess "the es-
sentlaI qualifications or training for
the office"
Ine statement was issued after
Judge Kenyon had indicated early in
the DAY to the president that his reply
10 the tender would have to be a decli-
nation and then had reconsidered his
declslon at the earnest request of Mr.
courage. The reconsideration brought
the former Iowa senator to the Same
concluslon, and after comforting again
Win the president late in the day he
ISSUED this statement:
man in judicial position ac-
lures the hablt OF looking at all sides
y, question before arriving at a con-
ciuslon. am appreciative of the honor
conferred and confidence shown in .nn.
dering me the position of secretary
of the navy.
1T is difficult not to respond TO n
supposed call to duty from the presi.
uent or the United States. especiallv
president OF the type of Calvin Cool
idge. wv
nave not considered my personal
preferences in the matter, as l would
pe wiling to make any sacrin.e for
real pubic service. I cannot. however
escape the conclusion that l do NOT mas.
sess the qualifications or training r,r
the office.
Hence 1t seems very clear that /
should go no further in its consider3-
tior. 1t would have been a pleasure
ana privilege to serve with President
Cooildge, whom l esteem as one of .he
flncst representatives of our real
american life and one imbued in public
NE with the same high ideals of hon
esty and clean government as was
Abraham Lincoln"
Chief Justice Wilbur. although ident-
ifed with the legal profession practi-
caily all his life. as Judge Kenyon has
been, would. in the opinion of the pres
ident' be able to>adapt himself to the
taSk or administering naval affairs be-
ocaPse or his acquaintance with the
na8y resulting from his course at the
naval academy. from which he was
graduated in 1883. He is understood
to be the presidents first choice for
attorney general should that place be
vacated by Harry NJ. Daugherty, and
Tor that reason was not first consid-
cred for the navy position.
Whether Chief Justice Wilbur will
take the naval sccretaryship is ques-
tion his friends here could not an
swer tonight, but it was recalled that
he had declared several days ago in
Los Angeles that inasmuch as he was
trained in the naval academy to serve
his country he should have to accept
If the opportunity was offered to serve
in the cabinet. He said at that time
that he had discussed the matter of a
cabinet position with President Cool
idge during a visit he made at the
White House while in Washington at
tending an American Institute of Law
convention two weeks ago. The under
standing here has been. however. that
the discussion related to the attorney
generalship.
Should Chief Justice Wilbur accept
the naval portfolio and the office of
attorney general becomes vacant with
in the next few months. it is believed
here that Judge Kenyon will be ten
dered the latter place. Some of his
close friends feel that he would accept
the attorney generalship.
In addition to Chief Justice Wilbur.
President Coolidge also has on his list
of those being considered for the navy
place james L. Davidson, Republican
national committeeman from Michigan,
and George f. Foss. former repre-
sentative from Illinois.