Evening star., 1928-12-12
Politics at Large
BY G.. Could Lincoln.

With President-elect Hoover several
thousand miles away, the cabinet
makers have opportunity to give their
imaginations full sway. Mr.. Hoover,
before he left the United States, made
it quite clear in private conversations
that he would make no selections, otter
no posts to any one, prior to his return
to this country. On the other hand, he
has apparently left behind him num-
Der of listening posts, friends who tur-
nish him with information about certain
cabinet possibilities and even with sug-
gestionS Of men for these important
posts.
Mr.. Hoover may have made up his
mind with regard to certain cabinet
Offices. But it is likely that when he
comes to naming the new cabinet. he
will find he has to take into consldera-
ton number of factors. There is
the geographical factor, with the East
and West, the North and the South to
be considered-particula the last,
which, for the first time, gave a large
group of electoral votes to Republican
candidate for President. Mr.. Hoover
may know and respect the qualities OF
large number of men who have not
in the past been in public life or been
particularly in the public eye. He might
visualize them as able, fearless admin
istrators we'll able to handle the great
departments of the Government. But
will Mr.. Hoover undertake to appoint
a cabinet not known to the country and
for that reason not highly regarded
His immediate predecessors, the late
President Harding and President Cool
idge, placed in their cabinets men wide
ly known and of tried usefulness, among
them Charles Evans Hughes. Andrew
w. Mellon, the, late John w. Weeks,
Mr.. Hoover himself. The present Sec
retary of State was formerly Senator
and more Immediately Ambassador to
Great Britain.
X Il X X
The political factor must have its
bearing, unless Mr.. Hoover is to dis
regard the services rendered him dur
ing the national campaign and in the
preconvention campaign. Most things
in this country sooner or later resolve
themselves into terms of politics.
1t is quite possible that when the
Hoover cabinet is sent to the Senate for
confirmation next March it will con-
tain the names of several business men,
engineers or lawyers not hitherto wide
ly known to the public. But 1t is also
possible, and quite probable, that these
appointments will be balanced with the
names of men who have been before
the public eye. Mr.. Hoover had oppor-
tunity to know and try men during his
experience in the World War. He has
been in contact with the great leaders
of industry during his long tenure of
the Office of Secretary of Commerce.
1t seems reasonable that some of these
men will be considered seriously for
the cabinet. 1t has been rumored by
some of Mr.. Hoover's friends that he
wants an organizer" for head of
the State Department, SO that there
may be better coordination of the
foreign services; that he wants "busi-
ness man" at the head of the Navy
Department, and that generally there
is to be drive for efficiency experts
Of one kind or another to fill up the
cabinet. 1t is not likely, however, that
Mr.. Hoover will pick a man because
he is an organizer to head the State
Department if at the same time he is
unacquainted with foreign relations of
this country, unless, indeed, Mr. Hoover
intends to handle all the country's
foreign relations personally.
X \ \
Delaware Is soon to make a complete
change in its senatorial representation
Senator Bayard, Democrat, was defeat
ed in the recent elections, and Senator
du Pont has submitted his resignation
and Daniel O. Hastings, former Secre-
tary of State and former Judge of the
State Supreme Court, has been appoint
ed to fill the vacancy. Mr.. Hastings
has been very close to Senator du Pont,
and during the last campaign acted
as Republican national committeeman
from Delaware, in place of Senator du
Pont, who was too III to play an active
part. Senator Bayard's defeat has been
a matter OF regret. not only to Demo-
Gratis, but also to many Republicans in
his own State. The hope had been ex-
pressed that Senator Bayard would
pull through" even though in the
closing weeks of the campaign it was
well understood that the State was ir-
revocably lost to Gov. Smith in the ma
tional election. But the Hoover sweep
was too great, and Bayard went down
before 1t.
Anti-Smith Democrats in Alabama
have been preparing to contest the
Claim Of victory in that State by the
Smith Democrats. Smiths plurality
In the election was 7,017. Charges have
been made that some 1900 Hoover
votes were Illegally thrown out. If these
were counted, Mr.. Hoover would have
the IL electoral votes of Alabama, CIV
Ing him total of 456 in the electoral
college and reducing the Smith electoral
vote from 81 to rs.
The whole matter has been under
investigation by anti-Smith Democrats,
with view to challenging the validity
or the Smith electoral votes at the
proper time, perhaps at the time the
votes are canvassed at a joint session
OF the Senate and House next February.
The investigation has been made under
the direction Of Judge Hugh Locke of
birmingham, Horace Wilkinson of the
same city, and Ira Champion of the
Anu-Saloon League of America. They
nave collected much data, showing that
the votes of Hoover Democrats were
thrown out In large numbers. The
Wnole matter has been put up to
Senator Thomas Heflin, who opposed
the nomination and election of Gov.
smith, and 1t Is understood that his
decision Will be final as to whether the
matter will be pressed.
Inc form Of the ballot used in Ala
Dama has much to do with the throw
ing out OF the Hoover ballots, it Is said
Many voters placed a single mark op-
posite the names of the Hoover cleo
tors, all OF whom were Democrats, and
tnen proceeded to vote for Democratic
candidates for State and county officers.
Ballots so marked were rejected, it is
said, on the theory that the voters had
committed themselves to the whole Re-
publican ticket, because they made a
single mark in the circle opposite the
Hoover electors.
n X X
chairman John j. Raskob's plan for
meeting of Democratic leaders in
New York. including members of the
national committee and Senators and
Representatives, has met with cold
shoulder here in Washington. Too
many OF the Democrats, especially
those from the South, fear that some