Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-21
ROY 0. WEST GETS
PLACE IN CABINET
Chicago Lawyer Succeeds
DR.. Work as Secretary
+ of Interior.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.
STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.

CEDAR ISLAND LODGE, Brule
River. Wis, July 21.-President Coolidge
has chosen Roy o. West, Republican
national committeeman from Illinois,
and who has been prominent for years
! in the higher councils of his party's
| leadership, to succeed DR.. Hubert Work
as Secretary of the Interior, who is
resigning to devote himself to his new
| duties as chairman of the Republican
national committee.
| In making this announcement 1t was
| explained that the formal appointment
will be made as soon as the President
signs Mr.. Vests commission. which will
probably be sometime today or Monday.
| At that time the resignation of DR..
Work, which was presented by him in
person to the President more than two
weeks ago, automatically will become
effective.
/ MIR. Vests appointment was offered
to him during his recent visit to Cedar
/ Island Lodge but he is known to have.
asked the President to give him little
| time to consider it. His letter of ac-
ceptance reached the President early
yesterday morning.
Holds &. o. r. Positions.
| Appointment of Mr. West, who, be-
sides being national committeeman,
Is vice chairman of the finance COM
mittee of the Republican national COM
mittee, and member of the executive
committee of that body, Is considered
q distinctly personal one. It Is looked
upon as recognition by the President
Of MIR. Vests capable and faithful
services to him personally. and to the
Republican party.
! He served as secretary Of the national
| committee during the past four years
and was prominent during the Coolidge
| campaign in 1924 Mr.. West became
prominently identified then with the
so-called New England crowd" that
replaced the Ohio group leftover from
the Harding leadership. Mr.. West is
practicing lawyer OF Chicago, and his
political activities in Illinois for more
than 30 years have been conducted in
accordance with Coolidge ideals.
/ During the past four years Mr.. West
has been q frequent visitor to Wash
! ington. and on those occasions he
/ usually stayed at the White House as
MIR. Coolidge's guest.
Hsovcr's Views Stated.
It is recognized that MIR. Coolidge has
shown marked independence in making
his appointments to major Offices. 1t
| is understood. however. that the PreSi-
dent did discuss the West appointment
with Herbert Hoover during the latter's
| recent visit. 1t Is explained that one
/ of the reasons was that Mr.. Vests
/ appointment to the cabinet will in all
| probability deprive Mr. Hoover of the
i political services of Mr. West in the
| forthcoming campaign.
/ Another reason why Mr.. Coolidge is
| understood to have discussed the ap-
pointment with Mr.. Hoover was to as
sure the latter that Mr.. West was Of
| fered the portfolio with the understand
ing that he is to retire on March 1
next. without any expectancy of being
kept ON as the head OF the Interior
| Department by Mr.. Hoover in the event
he is elected next November.
| The chances of fight in the Senate
against Mr.. West came to mind when
the appointment was announced. His
name must be sent for confirmation to
the Senate, where there is always the
opportunity of conflict with the Presi-
dent. The elections will have been
| completed month before the Senate
meets In December. and there now
seems no special count against Mr..
West, and, inasmuch as he would have
only three months to serve. 1t is not be-
lieved here that he will face any con-
sequential opposition.
May Still Aid Hoover.
! Mr.. West may not be required to APP
| ply himself to any great extent in alb
sorbing the routine of his new post as
head of the Interior Department be-
cause of the short period he will likely
serve. This may make 1t possible for
MIR. West to give more of his personal
attention to Herbert Hoover's campaign.
In line with the same complimentary
terms by which h, selected Mr.. West
| for the cabinet. 1t is the understanding
here that former Senator William M
Butler of Massachusetts,. personal friend
of the President. and. who. as chairman
of the Republican national committee
managed his campaign In 1924. has
been offered the cabinet post to be soon
vacat d by Secretary Hoover. The I'M
preston here, however. is that MIR. But
| Ter has declined the friendly offer.
In that event 1t is thought likely that
Secretary Hoover's cabinet post will go
| to President Coolidge's college chum
and personal friend and adviser, Dwight
W. Morrow. Ambassador to Mexico,
where his success has been very crafty
! ing to the President