Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
CRISES GIVE CREDIT
TO LITTLE CABINET
Absence of Department
Heads Offers 0pportuni-
ties for Their Aides.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

Necessary absences by various men,
bers Of the cabinet of President Hoover
has given reaT opportunity to the
little cabinet" as the group of Assist
ant Secretaries have been characterized
There has been noticeable comment
lately on the efficiency and capacity of
some of the men who have bsen acting
as heads of departments. Indeed, It Is
safe assumption that II any vacancies
did occur in the cabinet. some of these
assistants would b. promoted. This
has been dream of men in the lesser
positions in the Government service for
many years. Mr.. Hoover followed the
custom whsn he elevated Assistant Sec
rotary Hurley to be Secretary Of War.
Crisis offered Chance.
The German crisis gave some of the
little cabinet their chance to demon
st-ats they knew how to handle their
respective departments. Thus an en-
tirely new irnprs ssion Of Ogden Mills,
Undersecretary of the Treasury. has
beer. obtained by the Washington CORE
spondents. Mr.. Mills has never ben
an unknown quantity, as he formerly
was A prominent member of the House
Ways and Means Committee and In his
work as Undersecrs tary for Mr.. Mellon
he always has played an important role.
But it remained for the German episode
to bring out fully his penetration and
ingenuity. H has been almost con-
stantly at the White House advising the
President.
Somewhat the same role in his field
has bsen occupied by William Castle.
Undersecretary Of State. Stories Of fric-
ton between him and Secretary Slim
son have subsidized as the transatlantic
fAIcnh0Yan hAc lofS
MISUNDERSTANDING There is every rea-
son to believe Mr.. Castle and his chief
viii continue to work harmoniously. But
IL is interesting that Mr.. Castles work
IN the crisis brought him into the lime
hight as a possible Secretary Of State in
the event a vacancy ever occurred.
over in the Department Of Justice Is
John Lord O.Brian, Assistant Attorney
General. who, 1t Is believed, would be
mace Attorney General If Mr.. Mitchell
were ever named to the Supreme Court
OF the United States, where vacancies
due to retirement this year may be ex-
pected. Mr.. O'Brian has acted as head
OF the department during the absence
OF Mr.. Mitchell and has been intr1isted
with large responsibilities right along.
ExceIlent Commerce Team.
Another Assistant Secretary In tbs
superior. Secretary Lamont, make an
excellent team in the Department OF
Commerce. While there is no thought
that Mr.. Lamont WIN leave his present
post unless his extensive business in
terests require It .~--s day. it is taken
for granted that :. =, Iament ever
retired Mr.. Klein wot / succeed him.
Some Of the other Assistant Secreta-
ries In the other departments stand
equally high, and the interesting thing
Is that Mr.. Hoover has a great deal to
do with The selection of these under
studies. Many of them made sacrifices
to come TO the public service, and II
vacancies occurred higher UP they
would feel entitled to them.
While the average Assistant Secre-
tary is more or less taken for granted
by Washington folks. the present group
is one Of the best ever assembled, and
recent events have made 1t a matter
OF general comment
tCopyright 1917