The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-31
TAFT EXPECTED
TO TAKE ACTION
President May Send Names Of
Appointees as Commission
ers to Senate in Few Days.
CALLAHAN IS FAVORED
Attitude Of Democratic Senators Shows
Change, and Nominations May
Be Confirmed.
CALLAHAN IS FAVORED

ExDectRtion that President Taft, within
short time after his arrival in Wash
ington to-day, will nominate to the Sen.
ate the two civilian Commissioners OF the
District. has brought interest. especially
among local Democrats. to almost a eli
max, and there were few citizens, no poll
ticians. who last night had not written
out their States
That President Taft viii reappoint Com
missioner Rudolph Is generally accepted
as a foregone conclusion. What Demo
crat he win name with Mr.. Rudolph and
with what favor either or both the ap-
pointees will be received by the Demo
Gratis in the Senate were said last night
TO be the uncertain quantities.
Callahan Heads Candidates.
As the Democratic" Commissioners
that President Tan Is expected to nomi-
nate with the Republican" Commits
sioner. in accordance with an old prece-
dent which the Democrats claim Presi-
dent Taft violated when he appointed the
present Commissioners, the candidacy OF
each of the following four men has been
set well before the President:
d. J. Callahan, next president Of the
Chamber Of Commerce, who has the sup
port of Senators Martin and Swanson of
Virginia and the Endorsement OF some OF
the most influential citizens OF the Dis
trict: Capt James +. Oyster, president
OF the Board of Education, whom the
President was understood at one time to
have determined to appoint; Charles W.
Darr, a prominent local Democrat, identi-
fed as representative Of the people in
the universal transfer and other cam
paigns; william Mex. Clayton. long an
active working Democrat and former
president OF the Federation of Citizens
Associations. and A. Leftwtch Sinclair.
a weII-known attorney. strongly indorsed
by residents Of Washington, and in favor
with the Virginia Senators.
II was said last night by most of the
persons who claimed to have followed
closely the candidates. for the Commis-
slonerships that a great deal probably
would depend upon whether President
Taft announces the appointments with
out further conference with candidates
or their friends, or lets the matter lie
over until he has obtained more infor-
nation. the present insurance inVesuga-
ton being suggested as a potentiality
to postpone settlement OF the matter.
Senators Reeede from Stand.
The attitude OF Democratic Senators is
said TO have an unusually important
bearing upon the appointments. Accord
ing TO men very close TO those Demo
cratic Senators regarded as having an
especial interest in District offices there
is an inclination of Demooratic Senators
to recede partially from the recent de-
termination to oppose every nomination
made by President Taft. While this al
legged recession is denied by those who
would put upon It perhaps the harsher
word OF "retrogression' or even back
sliding" II is believed to exist with refer
ence 10 the District Commissionerships,
which are looked upon not as affecting
the people of the United States. but SIM
ply as the business of the people Of the
District. It 10 said. therefore. that II
President Taft nominates to the Senate
two men regarded as fit and satisfactory
10 a majority OF the people the nomina-
tions will be confirmed.
When this probable influence OF the
attitude of Democratic Senators toward
confirmation is considered, Mr.. Gala
hans strength appears the more consid-
erable, becausn, II is claimed by his
friends, his nomination would have less
opposition and more support than that
OF any other Democrat in the District.
While that attitude is considered gen.
eral among the Senators, there are those
who contend that the Democrats in the
Senate will prevent confirmation. OF any
men President Taft may nominate for
Commissionerships, and whatever men he
appoints will not only not have confirma-
ton, but will not be appointed by Presi-
dent Wilson.