Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-09
FIGHT CONFIRMATION MET BWANA TUMB(
Contra! Committee Wants
Democrat to Succeed West.
PRECEDENT is CITED
Delegation to Call on Senate District
Committee-Minority in Congress
to Get Letters in Mail About It.

The democratic central committee o.
the District of Columbia will make an ei-
fort to sec the members of the nate Dis-
trict committee tomorrow and cndcavor
to block the confirmation of the appoint
ment Of any but a democrat as successor
Of Commissioner West.
a committee of nine has been appointed
to cal! at the Capitol Letters otestins
against the appointment of two reHubii
cans will be mailed today or tomorrow to
every member of Congress y separate
letter will he mailed to every ds uocrat
in the senate and House.
This course of action was dete mined
on after a long meeting ut the agles
Club last night at which sixteen mea Nbers
of the democratic central COMMITTEES were
present.
No mention was made In writing the
draft OF the formal letter of either Gra
is distinctly nothing personal in the
sentiments of the committee. A resolu-
ton embracing Il specific protest against
Gen. Johnston was turned down.
The meeting was behind closed doors
After it was over copy of the letter
which will be sent to all democratic
members of Congress, was handed out
1t read as follows:
Letter to Congressman.
When the organic act creating a per-
manent form of government for the
District of Columbia was passed In
1878 the original draft contained a
provision that, of the two civilian Com
missioners to be appointed, one should
be member of the republican party
ana one a member of the democratic
party.
This provision was omitted when the
bill was put upon its final passage, but
only upon the distinct and pos I've as
surance, made then upon the floor OF
Congress. that the President would OBJ
serve the spirit OF the act and the in
tent of its trainers and appoint one re-
publican and one democrat to the Offices
crea ed.
This President Hayes did. and each
ana every one OF his successors in office,
namely, Presidents Garfield. Arthur,
Cleveland, Harrison. Mckinley I'D
Roosevelt. consistently and faithfully
followed the precedent set, until. after
thirty years of UNMARRIED and unbroken
observances, the rule has become thor
oughly we'll established and merged into
an unwritten law.
Therefore, when vacancies occurred
In the offices of the Commissioners OF
the District of Columbia by the resig-
natfonas of Commissioner mcfarland
IepuDucdil, ana commissioner west
democrat, every resident Of the District
of Columbia had Il right to expect and
believe. and did expect and believe, that
the successor to Commissioner Mac
farland would be a republican and the
successor to Commissioner West would
be democrat.
Taft Sets Precedent Aside.
The President Of the United States
has named two gentlemen, both avoW-
ed and acknowledged members of the
republican party as the Successors to
Commissioners mcfarland and West
thus leaving the democratic party with
out representation upon the board OF
District Commissioners.
Therefore, be it resolved, that the
democratic central committee of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, representing every sec
ton of the District, are of the opinion
that the democratic citizens of our COM
munity are justly entitled to considera-
ton in the appointment to Commissioner
Vests successor. and we enter our ear
nest protest against the confirmation OF
and gentleman named as successor to
Commissioner ives, the present demo-
cratic member of the board of District
Commissioners. other than avowed
and an acknowledged member of the
democratic party.
The committee to secure a hearing be-
fore the Senate District committee is
composed of j. Fred Kelley, chairman
W. Nick. Clayton. secretary: John S.
Miller, Robert f. Mattingly, Bernard c.
Brown, Walter III. Wills. Thomas J.
Moore. Andrew j. Sanford and Thomas
E. Kalbfus.