The Washington herald., 1912-12-25
DESIRE TO name
COMMISSIONERS
Democrats Want to Choose
Men Themselves and Send
Them Through Wilson.
HOLD UP APPOINTMENTS
None of the Candidates Is in Hurry to
Order Change in His
Stationery.
HOLD UP APPOINTMENTS

''The Democrats will prefer to name
the representative of their party on the
Board of District Commissioners them
selves. and send his name up from "a
Democratic President"
This was the reply of a Senate leader
on the Democratic side yesterday. when
asked whether the District Commission
ership nominations would be held up
along with the others. He had no doubt,
he said, but that President Taft's nomi-
nations barring the general run Of army
and navy appointments and promotions,
all would meet the same fate.
In other words, whether Mr.. Taft ap-
points a Democrat satisfactory to his
party in the Senate or not, the Demo
cratic leaders will insist that the COM
missionership nominations be treated as
the misunderstanding and held up until
some time during the extra session
when Woodrow Wilson will be in a posi-
ton to hand out a few plums in place Of
those 5000 fourth-class pOstmasters
taken from the pie counter and placed
under civil service by Mr.. Taft.
Attitude Unchanged.
There is no present disposition on tho
part of the Democrats in the Senate to
change a whit the attitude they have
assumed on the question of Presidential
nominations" said this Senator. a leader
Of the Southern circle which will con-
troll the next Senate to a large extent
AS far as l can see the Presidents
nominations for the two civilian men,
bershlps on the board of District Com
missioners will be accorded the same
treatment as other nominations"
The strange part of the attitude of
this Senator lies in the fact that both
Id
OF the leading candidates to succeed
Gen Johnston and that, notwithstanding
this interest, he does not seem inclined
to press for an early confirmation.
Whether thisNmay be taken as an indi-
cation that one of the leading candidates
has been eliminated is matter for con-
lecture. This Senator would not talk
for publication.
Apparently there is no disposition at
present to demand that the President
break the precedent in favor Of a non
partisan board of Commissioners. Sen
ators who admit they are in favor OF
holding up the nominations pending Pres
ident Wilson's Inaugural ton do not seem
inclined to demand that two Democrats
be appointed. Besides, the feeling seems
to be general in favor of retaining Cuno
II. Rudolph, the president of the present
Board OF Commissioners. Mr.. Taft it is
generally understood, has determined to
send Mr.. Rudolphs name to the Senate
next month.
Three Democrats still are prominently
mentioned for the other civilian appoint
ment. They are James F. Oyster, presi-
dent of the school board and of the
Chamber of Commerce; ID. ]. Callahan,
general manager of the Norfolk and
Washington Steamboat Company. and
first vice president of the Chamber of
Commerce and 4. Leftwich Sinclair, a
prominent lawyer of this city, formerly
connected with the Office Of the Corpora
ton Counsel, and now chairman OF the
committee on law and legislation of the
Chamber of Commerce.
Mr.. Sinclair was one of the early arriV-
ais in the field. and enlisted some little
support, but no enough to insure the con-
firmation of his name, ii is understood,
even if President Taft should send it up.
Both Mr.. Callahan and Mr.. oyster have
strong backing among local business men,
and the report has been current for sew
eral days that much of Mr. Sinclair's
support is swinging around to Mr.. Gala
han.
With the action Of Chairman MCCombs
in the matter of the inaugural chairman
ship fresh in mind, however. and with
the probability that President Wilson will
decide whose confirmation he will ask, no
candidate would seem to be justified in !
ordering new calling cards and station |
cry on the strength of his prospects at
this time.