Evening star., 1925-03-07
CHARLES D, H|LLES
REPORTED CHOSEN
ENVOY TO BERLIN
Rumor of New York G. 0. P.
Chiefs Selection Confirmed
by Party Leaders.
CHOICE WINS APPROVAL
OF REPUBLICAN HEADS
Ambassador Is Business Man of
Wide Experience-Was
Taft's Aide.

Charles d. Hilles, Republican ma
tional committeeman from New York,
has been selected by President Cool
idge as Ambassador to Germany, ac-
cording to a report current in official
circles in Washington today.
While the White House gave no
confirmation to this report, ii was
said by one person very close to the
President that the President had told
him that he had made up his mind
about filing ambassadors vacant post
at Berlin, and that public announce
ment of the appointment would be
made within the next few days.
This same authority stated that he
had every reason to feel that the
President had settled on Mr.. Hilles.
Another person who is in a position
to speak authoritatively expressed
himself in a like manner. The lat
ter went so far as to say that he
knew that Senator Wadsworth. Rep
resentative Smell, chairman of the
House rules committee, and other Re-
publican leaders in New York had
been sounded out by the President re-
garding the appointment of Mr.. Hilles,
and that they had cheerfully given
1t their approval
While Mr. Hills name was the
only one mentioned at the White
House today, there were reports
from elsewhere that the President
still had under consideration the name
of Jacob Gould Schurman. now min
lister to China. This was taken as
n indication that the President, if
he has not made the decision, has
at least narrowed the field of candi-
dates down to two-Mr. Hills and
Mr. Schurman. Mr.. Schurman's name
has been mentioned in connection
with the post ever since the vacancy
caused when Ambassador Houghton
was transferred to London.
Smoot Is Too Late.
Substantial confirmation also was
added to the report later when Sena-
tor Smoot of Utah, chairman of the
Senate finance committee, called on
the President today to urge the ap-
pointment of one of his constituents
TO the Berlin post. Senator S,noot
said afterward that when he brought
up the subject of his conference the
President very politely but firmly in
formed him that he was too late. The
appointment had already been made
At least, the President said his mind
was made up and that his choice Tor
the place had accepted, and that an
nouncement would be forthcoming
shortly.
Senator Smoot' was taken into the
confidence of the President even to
the extent of being given the name
of his selection, but to newspaper men
he said he could only Identify the
latter for them to the extent of say
ing that the new German ambassa dor
will come from New York and that
he is well known nationally. Secre-
tary of War Weeks was to have ac-
companied the Utah Senator on this
call and to have given his support 10
the latter's candidate, but at the last
moment was prevented from keeping
his engagement. 1t is thought that
Secretary Weeks learned previously
that President Coolidge had made his
selection and that it would De vast
Ing time to press the matter further
oK'd by Other Oficials.
1t is known that State Department
officials look upon the choice of Mr.
Hilles as very logical one.
Mr. Hilles, aside from years of
prominence in Republican politics,
has been long associated with large
business concerns of a national and
international character and it is
thought by those discussing the
matter today that it probably was
because of the latter that Mr.. Hilles
Coolidge. The latter has repeatedly
said, when asked about filing this
vacancy, that he wanted first of all a
man experienced in business and
finance, because of the peculiar ma
ture of the work the American Am
bassador to Germany is called upon to
perform.
Was Tafts Secretary.
r.
prominence when he was appointed
by President Taft to be his secretary
He served in that capacity for more
than two years and was then made
chairman of the Republican national
committee.
In that capacity he personally di-
erected the memorable and Inflated
1912 national campaign which result
ed in the election of Woodrow Wilson
After that campaign Mr.. Hilles be-
came associated with business and
financial interests, and although he
was not reelected chairman of the
national committee, he became ma
tional committeeman from New York,
and in all campaigns has taken a
leading part and has occupied a place
in the high councils of his party
leadership. He has been a frequent
visitor to the White House since Mr.
Coolidge has been President. He has
generally stayed at the White House
during his visits to Washington and
several times has been among the
guests aboard Mayfower cruises
During the last campaign Mr.. Hilles
was elected vice chairman of the Re-
publican national committee, which
position he still holds.
He was in Washington for the in
augural and conferred with President
Coolidge at luncheon at the White
House yesterday.
There have been comparatively few
names mentioned in connection with
the Enthusiastically to Germany. SEN
ator Edge of New Jersey saw the
President twice during the week in
the interest of Ogden Hammond of
New Jersey, but he admitted after
ward that he received no intimation
as to the chances of his candidate or
of any one else.
There has been some mention of
James T. Williams, jr., prominent
writer and former editor of the Bos-
ton Transcript, in connection with
this post. Mr.. Williams is well known
to the President and is recognized
. authority on international matters
ard is known to have been frequently
consulted by the late Senator Lodge
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