A Sanders for a Slemp

The announcement was made officially; it remains only for the change to be made. C. Bascom Slemp gave his resignation to the President and it was accepted. That there was discord between the President and his Secretary was a well-credited rumor more than six months ago. Mr. Slemp and the President's campaign manager, William M. Butler, clashed at the Cleveland Convention last June over the selection of the vice presidential candidate. Afterwards, Mr. Slemp would have resigned (TIME, June 30) had not the President succeeded in pacifying him.

It is presumed that friction or perhaps "discordance" began because C. Bascom Slemp hoped to graduate from the position of Secretary to the President to that of Chairman of the Republican National Committee and campaign manager. Instead, William M. Butler was given the post. Some time later the above mentioned clash occurred. But Mr. Slemp stayed on through the campaign and election. He stayed on some time further. It was rumored that he hoped for a seat in the Cabinet--for the office of Postmaster General in particular.

Last week, it was announced that Postmaster General New would continue in office. Whether or not there was any connection, it was coincidentally announced that Mr. Slemp would retire. So the tall man with high forehead, prominent eyes, long nose, large chin, he who stalked through the corridors of the White House Office so swingingly with silk hat, cutaway and cane, will depart thence--but not to a great distance. He is to resume law practice with the firm of Good, Childs, Bobb & Westcott of Washington and Chicago (James W. Good, head of the firm, is a onetime Congressman from Iowa, and Vice Chairman of the Republican National Committee).

Who after Slemp? The question was answered at once, for the same announcement that told of Mr. Slemp's retirement told of his successor chosen: Representative Everett Sanders of Terre Haute, Indiana.

When Mr. Coolidge went into office, he wanted a secretary who knew the ins and outs of the political game, a man who was at home in it. He consulted with Senator Curtis, Republican Floor Leader Longworth, Speaker Gillett. They suggested Mr. Slemp of Virginia, who had retired from Congress shortly before. It is assumed that Mr. Sanders was chosen rather in the same fashion and for the same purposes.

Mr. Sanders, who is only 42, is also about to retire from Congress. He did not stand for re-election in November, intending to resume his law practice. Unlike Mr. Slemp, he is not a man of independent means. He worked his way through college (the University of Indiana), then got into law, finally into Congress, where he has been for eight years, an enthusiastic follower of Nicholas Longworth and the other Republican leaders. He was considered as a nominee for Vice President at the Cleveland Convention but complications in Indiana politics--where Senator James Watson was ambitious--overturned his chances. Now he goes forth upon another task.