Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-30
|DOAK IN POLITICS
| BIC AID TO HOOVER
Originally Headed List for
Labor Post, but Stepped
Aside for Harmony.
BY REX COLLIER.


William Nuckles Doak, who as plain
Bill Doak, used to shuttle box cars In
the freight yards at Bluefield, w. Va.
learned about his appointment as Sec
rotary of Labor from the newspapers.
II was just as surprise as any one
else when I learned the President had
announced my appointment" the genial
brown haired, 47-year-old Virginian de-
clared yesterday, in an interview
why, I guess haven't seen PreSi-
and we didn't talk about the Labor
secretaryship then. In fact, I believe
the last time that subject was discussed
was two years ago!"
Campaign Labors Recalled.
Two years ago, it is recalled, Doak
headed the list of men mentioned for
appointment as the Labor member OF
the new Hoover cabinet. Doak will not
discuss the situation at that time, but
his friends assert that he voluntarily
asked President Hoover to withdraw his
name from consideration in view OF
opposition which developed from the
ranks Of the American Federation Of
Labor
Doak had labored hard during the
Hoover campaign as director of the
Labor Bureau of the Republican Ma
tional Committee. 1t was a foregone
conclusion that he was to succeed
James J. Davis as Secretary.
Ancestry Is Distinguished.
That the friendship is reciprocal
there can be no doubt, in view of the
vigorous way in which Mr.. Hoover an
nounced the Doak appointment.
Doak comes Of distinguished Virginia
stock. One of his ancestors was the
first Presbyterian minister to come To
the virgin shores of the Colonial prov
ince. His father served on the Confed-
crate side In the Civil War as o member
Of Pickett'S division.
The new secretary was born in the
appropriately named town of Rural
Retreat, in Wythe County, Va, way
down near the Tennessee line. His
education was gained in high school
and in a business school.
Real Manhood Proved.
Yet in his teens, Doak decided to 60
railroading He went to Bluefleld,
where are located the big yards of the
Norfolk g. Western. He landed q job
as q Switchman.
WIl6u IlG 1ldO DSeU ChlS AOE
three years young Doak signed up as a
member of an organization that later
was to point the way for his elevation
to q place in the Presidents cabinet.
He joined the local lodge of the Broth
erhood of Railroad Trainmen at Blue
field in 1908.
Gains Dual Promotion.
His business training stood him in
good stead as q lodge member, and he
shortly afterward was made secretary.
In the meantime he had begun to climb
the RAILROAD ladder He was promoted
from switchman to yard foreman, with
crew Of sw1tchmen under his super
vision.
His executive ability was recognized
also by the brotherhood and he became
chairman of the legislative board Of the
organization for Virginia and West
Virginia. From that cffice he moved
forward to vice president of the Grand
Lodge, and thence to national legislative
representative, the position which he
now holds. AS national legislative rep
resentative he also served for a period
as assistant president of the brother
hood and could have been elected presi-
dent OF the organization at the last
convention, but declined.
Doak first met Hoover during the
World War. He is one of the group of
Hoover wartime associates who later
became ardent boosters Of 1.-THE CHER
for President Doak was a member OF
the committee which was appointed To
FIX wheat prices in 1917, and served
under Hoover on other war boards.
Secretary Is Democratic.
The new Secretary of Labor Is as
democratic and amiable as his pre-
deceSsor, Secretary. Davis. He counts
among his friends even William Green,
president Of the American Federation
OF Labor, who opposed the appointment
because Doak Is not afiliated with the
Federation. Friends of Doak do not
believe that Green viii press his objec-
tons very hard.
Doak is married and has a home in
Arlington County, Va, on the Potomac
palisades, just above Chain Bridge. II
Is understood he will take an apartment
In this city shortly, for the sake Of con-
venience, but will retain his home In
Virginia for Summer seclusion and rest.
Too exhausted to continue their over
II