Evening star., 1952-11-22
HumphreyEnthusiastic
Over Treasury Post;
Coming Here Soon
By the Associated Press

CLEVELAND, NOV. 22.-An
on-steel-coal industrialist, voiced
both humility and enthusiasm yes
terday over becoming Secretary OF
the Treasury in Gen. Eisenhower's S
cabinet.
George Magof1in Humphrey, g.
year-old board chairman of the
Giant M. A. Hanna Co., said of
his prospective job: II had no
idea of having it, didn't want it,
but now I've got it and am en-
thusiastic about it"
He said he will sever all his
business connections Immediately
begin selecting people to work
under him and plans to go to
Washington in few days to start
acquainting himself with his fu-
ture job.
In a news conference in the
Hanna Co. directors room, Mr.
Humphrey-big, ruddy, and bald
iSh-refused to discuss any plans
or policies in connection with his
new job.
IT want to get my feet on the
ground before I say anything
about what I'm going to do," he
told queStioners.
Never Held Political Office.
He distributed a statement in
which he said he never held or
sought a political Office of any
kind and never have had any per-
sonal relations with the general
(EisenhoWer until this invitation
was extended to me-"
For three hours on Wednesday
he said, he discussed the surprise
appointment with Gen. Eisenhower
in New York.
Mr. Humphrey said he had
been "a supporter of Taft and on
his committees from the first
time he ever ran for office" But
since Senator Taft lost the nomi-
nation to Gen. Eisenhower at the
Republican convention, II have
been a strong supporter of Gen
Eisenhower, MI. Humphrey said
Even though Mr.. Humphrey
said he supported Senator Taft
until he was defeated for the
nomination, there were reports in
Washington that Senator Taft
was not consulted on this APP
pointment. Senator Taft re-
portedly had recommended SEN
ator Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia
for the job.
/ The Cleveland News said yes
terday it learned the appointment
resulted from recommendation
to Gen. Eisenhower from Gen
Lucius B. Clay, former Allied
Commissioner in Germany. Gen
Clay was close friend of Mr.
Humphrey when the industrialist
was in Berlin in 1948 as chair
man of the Economic Co-opera-
ton Administrations Industrial
Advisory Committee. The News
said Senator Taft suggested Sen
ator Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia,
but approved Mr.. Humphrey after
Senator Byrd repeatedly declined
Sacrifice to Duty.
/ Mr.. Humphrey said duty COM
PEELED him to take the cabinet
post at very definite financial
loss. business sacrifice and fam
lily sacrifice"
/ Il felt l couldn't sleep nights
If I didn't take it" he said. In
his statement, he declared he
accepted appointment with deep
humility and in the hope I may
be helpful to him (Gen. Eisen-
howe) in carrying forward his
great crusade to keep America
strong and free and thereby assist
in bringing lasting peace to the
world"
/ Mr.. Humphreys industrial ca
reer started with the Hanna Co.
in 1917, when he became it's gen.
eral counsel. He was the firm S
executive vice president from
1925-29. when he became presi-
dent. Last May, he was elevated
to the post of chairman of the
board.
He also is chairman of the board
of the Pittsburgh Consolidation
Coal Co., the worlds largest pro-
ducer of bituminous coal. He
heads the executive committees of
National Steel Corp. and Indus
trial Rayon Corp, is president of
the Iron Ore. Co. of Canada and
holds directorships in several 9TH
er large concerns.
Negotiated With Lewis.
In 1947, he took a major role
in negotiating the coal - 3ustry's
contract with United M Work.
ers' Chief John L. Lew.s. After
the miners won a $1.20-a-day pay
raise. Mr.. Humphrey replied to
critics who called it inf1ationary
by terming the increase entirely
justified"
A native of Cheboygan, Mich,
Mr.. Humphrey grew up in Sagi-
nav, Mich, where his father,
Watts S. Humphrey, had practiced
law. He played halfback on the
Michigan State. champion football
team Saginaw produced in 1907
The year after his graduation
from the University of Michigan
in 1912, he was married to Miss
Pamela Stark of Saginaw. They
lived there during the next four
years, while he got started in law
practice.
The Humphreys now live at Hol-
liday Hill Farm near Mentor
about 80 miles east of here. They
have three children, all Cleveland
residents: Mrs. Caroline Bitler
Mrs. Pamela Firman and Gilbert
w., now a Hanna vice president
lond former Vale University