Evening star., 1928-11-19
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC HfLLTAM VILE.

Speculation runs riot as to the per-
sonnet of the Hoover cabinet, but opin-
ion Is fairly unanimous as to what
its general character will be. 1t will
be a cabinet of specialists. The Presi-
dent-elect believes in experts. 1t is
this knowledge that gives substance to
the latest representation regarding the
Treasury portfolio. The man now
conspicuously mentioned as Hoover's
secretary of the treasury is S. Parker
Gilbert, agent general of reparations in
Europe. While Latin America Is likely
to be our most important diplomatic
field, European problems (Which means
reparations and debts) will draw us
promptly and deeply into Old World
affairs 1t would be exactly like Her
bert Hoover to select the greatest ex-
pert in the Nworld--as he happens to be
an American--as the cabinet officer who
will have to deal with those problems
on behalf of the United States. Gilbert
would be the youngest Secretary of the
Treasury since Alexander Hamilton. He
has just turned SO, and is native
of New Jersey, graduate of Rutgers and
an Ill. B., cum laude, of Harvard.
X X X X
1t was only a few days ago that
most remarkable tributes ever paid to
an American statesman abroad, M.
Poincare, whose cabinet had Just fallen
in France, announced that he had been
prevailed upon to resume the premier
ship by two mems. Parker Gilbert
and Winston Churchill, British chan
cellor of the eXchequer. 1t was in par
, ticular Gilberts representations about
| reparations, M. Poincare said, that in
! duced him to remain at the helm. Gill
| bert has had contact with the Amer
| ican- European financial situation since
! its Aception 10 years ago. He came
into the Treasury in 1918 as counsel
| on war loan matters, and during the
last year of the Wilson administration
| was Assistant Secretary in charge of
! fiscal affairs Soon after Mr. Mellon
| became Secretary Of the Treasury he
| recognized Gilbert's unusual talent and
| in June, 1921, made him Undersecre-
/ tary. Gilbert resumed his private law
practice in 1928, but when the Dawes
| plan came into existence he was the
logical choice for agent general of
| reparations. For the past four years he
has been about the most conspicuous
international figure in all Europe.
sally OF Lyndon Hall"-otherwise
| Mrs. Alvin T. Hert vice chairman of
| the Republican national committee
continues to be Dame Rumor's candi-
date for the woman member df any)
| of the Hoover cabinet. Her friends say
that no lady in the land did approxi-
mately as much as Mrs. Hert to mobi-
lize the Womens vote for the G. o. P.
in 1923. Deponents say further that if
the women did put Hoover over" as is
variouSly and more or less veraciouSly
alleged, Mrs. Hert is the logical bene-
ficiary of any cabinet recognition Mr.,
Hoover intends to bestoW upon her sex.
| The secretaryship of the interior Is the
post mentioned in connection with Mrs.
Hert'S name She Is a good deal more
than brilliant woman politician. She
| happens to be business executive of
the first rank, having succeeded to the
Craftsmanship Of the American Creosot-
ing Co. after the death of her husband,
''Tobe" Hert, Kentucky G. 0. p. wheel
| horse for many years. Mrs. Hert mas
one passion which runs politics close
as her favorite, viz, horses and riding.
At Lyndon Hail. her magnificent estate
outside of Louisville, she still main
tains stable of thoroughbredS. In days
| gone by some of her saddle horses
Pendennis, Patsy Palmer, Redberry and
| CaStro--were blue-r1bbon winners at
shows all over the country.
| u II 4
At least three Democratic Senators
will enter the Seventy-firSt Congress
with an enhanced political prestige
which may ka destined to vault them
into party leadership. They are Burton
K. Wheeler of Montana, Clarence G.
Dill OF Washington and Tom Connally
of Texas. They stand out amid the re-
cent Democratic wreckage because