The Washington times., 1905-04-23
Gordon-Cumming Turn
ed Down as Chief
Clerk of Bureau.
WIN. c. WELLS SELECTED
Successful Candidate Used
No influence in Securing
Position.

A candidate whom both President
Roosevelt and Secretary Hay had in
dorsed for the position of chief clerk
of the Bureau of American Republics,
Nh. Gordon-C Cumming, was yesterday
afternoon turned down by the South
and Central American ministers. COM
posing the governing board Of this
bureau, and by a vote of eight to five
the place was given to William G. Wells.
young lawyer of this city, who, it is
said had no influential backing.
One of the votes for the Administra
tons candidate was cast by the United
States representative on the board, the
director. and the other four votes in ais
favor were those cast by the ministers
OF Peru. Guatemala, Brazil, and Bolivia.
Those who voted for Mr.. Wells were
the ministers from Chile. Costa Rica,
Haiti. Nicaragua. the charge d'affaires
OF Mexico. Ecuador and Colombia, and
the representative of Honduras.
Election a Surprise.
The election was q surprise to officials
Of the Administration. II had been con-
fdently expected that with Gordon
Cummings backing and with the fact
weh known that his election would be
pleasing to the President and Secretary
Hay the majority of the ministers would
see fit to give him the appointment.
The election took place at meeting
of the South and Central American min
listers at the State Department yesterday
afternoon. After the meeting one of the
members of the governing board said
.Mr. Wells was one of five candidates
who appeared before an ve7Rn: fling com
mittee of the board. They were all put
through a series of questions with q
view of testing their familiarity with
Latin-Ameriean conditions and their fit
ness for the position of chief clerk OF
the bureau. All OF the candidates pass
ed most creditable examinations The
examination was conducted by the con.
yersational method. the committee being
of the opinion that the qualifications OF
the candidate could best be determined
in this way. Mr.. Wells made a most
excellent impression. He was thorough.
ly conversant with Latin-American af-
fairs and in addition to French and
German spoke Spanish with pro.
ficiency"
Wells Used No Influence.
Mr. Wells, who resides at 123 Eleventh
appointment by reporter for The
Times. He expressed qualification over
the result. He used no influence what.
ever in seeking the place but went be-
fore the examining committee with the
hope that his knowledge of Spanish and
OF South America would help him. Mr.
Wells has never lived in South
America. but has made a brief tri1
Yy1 xgysl NJ lf Ia f.
Suffolk. Va, is a law graduate of Wash
ington and Lee University and has prac
tIsed at the bar in the District Of Co
lumbia He has never been in Govern,
ment service. He travelled abroad exten
sively for pleasure.
Mr.. Gordon-Curnming, the defeatet
candidate for the position Of chief clerk
Is prominent in social circles here. H,
comes of an English family. his uncl'
being baronet- He now has position
In the Census Office.
1t is said that one reason why tn
South American ministers would no
agree on his appointment was the fac
that ne is not a native American.
Election a Precedent.
This is the first time in the histor
OF the Bureau of American Republic
that the directors have had voice IL
the selection Of their officers.
1t IS said that the ministers are no
particularly pleased that they We're no
allowed to officially elect the chief o
the bureau, as well as the chief clerk
though the appointment of Mr.. Fox b.
the Administration has been thorough
satisfactory to all, in view OF the fac
that he was formerly chief clerk o
the bureau.