The Washington times., 1902-08-01
Friends of Creed ", Full
ton Ina! gurate an Active
Campaign.
A POPULAR YOUNG LAWYER
Names of NJ. !. Weller and Gen. S. S.
Yoder Put Forward - Dominic I.
Murphy Held to Be Citizen of Wash
ingtOn by Local Courts.

The campaign for the Commissioner
shin made vacant by the death Of the
late John W Ross is now full on, and
candidates are springing up like mush-
rooms after q rainy night.
All of them bear the stamp of Dem
ocracy. although Gu some the ink with
which the imprint was made is scarcely
dry. so new are they as converts to
tets political faith.
q is taken for granted that the Presi-
dent will appoint a Democrat as sue
cessOr TO Mr.. Ross. It has been the
custom ever since the triumvirate was
established to appoint one Democrat
and one Republican to the civil Com
missioncrships.
II is hardly probable however, that
the President will go to the trouble of
weighing an applicants political con-
victions or considering the brand Of
Democracy which he bears. Much less
will he be Influenced by any faction
to which 4 candidate may belong.
The Presidents Selection.
The President is interested in the
welfare OF the District and his choice
Will be first Of all a man who is well
qualified for the position. and who is
desired by a sufficient number of rep
resentative citizens to make him pop
ular Commissioner
Il viii not be difficult for him to find
such man among the large number
OF citizens OF the District of Columbia
who, although having no vote and not
taking interest in politics except in i
general way. are nevertheless tlassed
Us Democrats.
The Republicans, in fact, have MT
considered that the vacancy should be
filed by member OF their party, in
view Of the fact that Commissioner
Macfarlaud is Republican. They are
willing that the Office should go to a
Democrat Of ability. and concede that
the President has large field from
which to make his selection. although,
as already stated. politics viii not fig
ure much in the selection
So seldom is it that there is anything
in the way of political preferment in
the District that there is now a tend
ency 20 turn the race for the Commis-
sionership into a political affair
Mr. Norris Talked Of.
The principal entry in the field yes
terday vas Nj Greed N. Fulton, a
lawyer and q member of the firm OF
Fulton & Leckie. He is a young man,
agrees -ye and full of energy. and gen
orally looked upon as a hustler" Mr.
FuIton is a lawyer Of ability and is not
only popular with his associates of the
bar, but with the public generally. He
is also a large real estate holder, and
is interested in the development OF
Washington, and it is conceded that he
would make Z worthy successor to Mr..
Ross
Els candidacy took big boom yester-
day when announced by his friends
They declare that he is 2 bona hde res
idcnt Of the District. with no legal kite
residence elsewhere for voting pur-
poses. He is connected with a number
CT business enterprises, and has all OF
the qualifications requisite for the Com
Iniszioncrship.
His friends yesterday began an active
canvass Jo secure his appointment, and
met with marked encoura cement in the
way Of popular Endorsement. He is a
conservative hut consistent Democrat,
and is not allied with any faction.
Mr.. Fulton's Statement.
Concerning his candidacy. Mr. Fulton
yesterday made the following state
ment:
u have had it pressed upon me BY
friends to permit my name TO be pre-
senled to the President as q candidate
to succeed the late and much-lameHted
Commissioner. l have had the subject
under consideration, and have not fully
decided whether ! shall consent 10 the
request Of my friends in this matter.
While I appreciate their manifest in
terest in as well as friendship for ne.
which has prompted them to approach
me on this subject. and to urge upon
ne to become L candidate. I nevertheless
feel considerable hesitancy in yielding
TO their oyertures.
To give up q business entirely in
which ! have become established to ac-
cept temporary position is q ques-
tion that ordinarily does not appeal to q
man. II practically means the starting
OF life anew when the temporary po-
sltion has been ended But to be a /
Commissioner Of the District OF CoIum-
bla is rather inviting TO most any man.
and an office tha- a man does not care
TO thrust aside as though It were in
significant.
But whoever succeeds the late Com
missioner Ross n the true sense. and 10
the iuil measure Of the public desire. |
viii find it far more difficult than simply |
TO be q Commissioner.
4 have not. therefore, decided what
position l shall take in the matter Nv /
friends, however, insist upon pressing
M name. That is all care 10 saw
at this time"
Mr. Norris Talked Of.
Mr. james L. Norris is being talked
Of Yery'strongiy. and many leading citi- /
zens have urged him to become a can
didate. But for his large business in
forests, which demand his attention, Mr..
Norris would doubtless accece 10 the
requests o. his friends and become a
candidate
lie had declared hinself in favor of
the appointment of Mr. Henry l. West
whoso friends are very aggressive Mr.
West has wide circle OF political ac-
Qraintances, men OF influence in na-
tional affairs. and they are giving him
strong support Tor the nomination. In
addition. TIE newspaper correspondents.
10 whom the President has al'rays given
2 listcninT car, are aiding Mr. West in
re race, and his friends arc feeling
very confident.
The candidacy OF Mr. William " frr,