Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-23
Politics at Large
By G.. Could Lincoln.

cabinet may never have an opportunity
to seek to block his confirmation by the
Senate. Not because Mr.. Mellon will
fail to continue on in his present Office,
but simply because there is no limit by
law to the term of office of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, and II Mr.. Hoover
desires to keep Mr.. Mellon at the head
of the Treasury Department he may do
so without sending his name to the Sem
ate. The only member of the cabinet
whose term of Office is fixed by law is
the Postmaster General. 1t will be re-
called that when President Coolidge
was inaugurated President in 1925. sue
ceeding himself, he sent to the Senate
only the names of Postmaster General
New to succeed himself and of Charles
Beecher Warren of Michigan to be At
torney General Mr. Warren had never
been confirmed by the Senate, and 1t
was necessary to submit his name. But
the names of the other members of the
cabinet, who were continued in Office
by the President, were not reappointed.
X X
Should Mr. Hoover desire to retain
other members of the Coolidge cabinet
against whom protest might be made
in the Senate, it will be possible for
him to do so without asking the Sen
ate again to confirm them, except in
the case of Postmaster General New.
whose name, under the law, would
have to go to the Senate, since he is
completing his second four-year term
as Postmaster General. MIR. New, for
merly member of the Senate, Is
popular with his old colleagues and so
far there has been no suggestion that
his reappointment would be followed
Lx1, ErIa onotrlct him in tho Senate
But there have been threats among the
Senators to oppose the reappointment
of Secretary Mellon. Senator Nye of
North Dakota has expressed his oppo-
sition to the reappointment of Mr.
Mellon and so has Senator Brookhart
of Iowa, and the reappointment, 1t Is
said, would be diSpleasing to Senator
Couzens of Michigan, all of them sup
porters of Mr.. Hoover during the recent
campaign.
Postmaster General News appoint
ment was confirmed without difficulty
in the special session of the Senate
which began March 4, 1925, after Presi-
dent Coolidge's Inauguration. But the
of Charles Beecher Warren
to be Attorney General was rejected
after long debate, on a tie vote.
President-elect Hoover Is mulling
over the recommendations for cabinet
positions which have. been made to him
in large numbers. Putting together a
cabinet of ten members is far more
difficult task than would appear on the
surface. Much as q President may de-
sire to select as his official family men
known to him personally and believed
by him to have the proper qualifica-
tions, there are other considerations
which must be taken into account. The
various sections Of the country expect
representation in the cabinet. Various
groups in the Republican party are
looking for recognition. The selection
of the cabinet, therefore, has to be con-
sidered largely as whole, and not
from the point of view of individuals.
Here in Washington there is strong
opinion that Mr.. Hoover will place in
his cabinet Walter F. Brown of Ohio,
at present Assistant Secretary of Com
merce. Just which department Mr.
Brown will head, however, is still puE-
cling the cabinet prognosticators. 1t IS
suggested that Mr.. Brown might fill any
one of three-Secretary of Commerce,
Postmaster General or Attorney General.
Mr.. Brown, it is said, is highly regarded
by Mr. Hoover, under whom he served
as Assistant Secretary OF Commerce. 1t
had been supposed in some quarters
that when Mr. Hoover resigned from the
office of Secretary of Commerce to enter
the campaign for President last Sum-
mer Mr.. Brown would be his successor,
but Secretary Whiting was picked by
President Coolidge. for the position. Mr.:
Whiting is an old friend and admirer OF
the President, one OF the original Cool
idge MIN in Massachusetts,. Mr.. Whit
ing, it Us rumored. Is not at all averse
to remaining in the cabinet after Marcn
4 in h1 present position. It has even
neen suggested that he has the backing
of Preskient Coolidge In this matter.
Rut tn Use who know President Coolidge
scout the idea that he would seek to In
f1uence the President-ele in the selec-
tion of the cabinet which must serve
under him.
lust how many of the members Of the
Coolidge cabinet Mr.. Hoover Will re-
tain is still a question. One theory is
that he will retain one only, Secretary
Mellon. Another holds that besides Mr..
Mellon. Mr.. Hoover will continue In
their present offices Secretary Jardme
of the Department of Agriculture, Sec
retary wilbur of the Navy Department
and Postmaster General New. Some OF
the we'll informed Republican Leaders
are inclined, however, to believe there
will be a clean sweep, with the eXcep-
ton of Mr.. Mellon. AS a matter OF TACT
there Is a great deal of uncertainty
as to inst whom Mr.. Hoover will ap-
point to his cabinet. 1t is this uncer-
fafI1tv which gave Senator Pat Harrison
of Mississippi an opportunity to rise IN
the Senate yesterday and hold up TO
ridicule the possible anXieties of Leading
Republicans regarding their Official po-
sitions after March 4.
X X y r
Following the conference OF Presi-
dent-elect Hoover with Republican lead
ers from New York last week, 1t was
widely heralded that new deal mad
been put over in the Empire State,
deal which practically eliminated
Charles D. Hilles. Republican natlonai
committeeman, from the picture. A
triumvirate, it was said, had been es-
tablished. composed of Republican state
Chairman Machold. William n. Hill,
who headed the Hoover forces In New
York during the preconvention cam
IL.
Gentlemen. it was said, would handle
the Federal patronage in New York
State, and undertake to run the party.
AS Mr.. Hilles has been recently sthe
arbiter in Republican politics in New
York, it was broadcasted that Mr..
Hilles was "out," because he was one OF
the irreconcilableS in the Republican
preconvention campaign against the
of Mr.. Hoover for President.
But if Mr.. Hilles was intended to pass
completely out of the picture, why was
he given place in the powerful trium-
virate? Not only has Mr.. Hilles been
a power as New York member OF the
national committee, but he
has the reputation of being able to
raise funds for Republican campaigns
in New York City. with great ease and
A man who can do that
is not to be lightly considered. There
are other campaigns to come in New
X0rk There iS an awakening Sis