26 FEBRUARY 1921, Page 2

Mr. Harding, the President-elect: of the United - States, announced- on

- Saturday last that Mr: Charles E: Hughes Would be his Secretary of State. We should -like to• congratulate -Mr. 'Harding and -his 'country -on his ailinirsible-cliace. ;lir:Hughes is one of the ablest men in the Republican-Party: He made his -name in politics by defeating Mr. Hearst in the election of 190e for the Governorship of New YorkState, and he was the Repub. lican Candidate for the Presidency in -1916, When;.bet for fora few votes in California, he would I have -defeated Mr. Wilson- and 'perhaps changed the' history of the -world. But we know and respect Mr-. - Hughes not as a politician,"but as an accomplished • jurist and a good Ameriean. As a Judge of-the Supreme Court 'from 1910 to 1916 • he commanded universal esteem, • and his -speeches-and -writings shoW him to be a Wise and moderate man. The Secretary • Of 'gtate is the President's• chief 'adviser, and it is well that so important anoffice is to be filled by a man of ,isterling- character who is-popular' On both' Sides Of the Atlantic.