The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-22
M'COMbS REFUSES
PRESIDENTS OFFER
Of FRENCH POST
viii Remain Chairman of MAJ
tional Committee and
Practice Law
PROFESSOR FINE TO
co TO GERMANY
Former Dean at Princeton 10
Slated for kaisers Court
and Justice Gerard
for Roman Envoy

WASHINGTON, March 2f.--wil-
liam r. McCombs, Democratic nation-
al chairman, in statement issued
tonight definitely declined President
Wilson's offer to appoint him ambas-
sador to France, This means that
Mr.. McCombs will remain chairman
of the national committe, and will de-
vote himself to the committees at
fairs and his own law practice
The deciination Of Mr.. McComhs
means that President Wilson will
again have to begin a search for q
man for this important post.
There is no longer any doubt that
President Wilson has selected ambas-
sailors for the Court of st. James and
for the German court. DIR. Charles
w. Eliot, former president of Harvard,
is slated for the former post, ana
Professor John Burchard Fine. for
mer dean of Princeton university, has
been offered the enthusiastically to
Germany.
So far as could be learned tonight
no definite acceptance has been re-
ceived from either of these men.
Place For Gerard.
The name of Justice James w.
Gerard, of the New York State SUI
preme court. is being mentioned now
as first choice for the am bassadorship
to Rome. 1t is certain that Justice
Gerard will receive an offer to one of
the important diplomatic posts
George w. Guthrie, chairman Of
the Democratic State committees OF
Pennsylvania, is in the lead now for
appointment as Mexican ambassador.
but il was denied today that the place
has been offered to him.
The name Of Norman e. Mack. Of
Buffalo, has been most prominently
mentioned for the Austrian ambassa-
dorship. The embassies to Russia,
Japan, Brazil and Turkey are still In
doubt.
Steel Probe Continues
Conferences held with President
Wilson and Attorney General Mercy
holds by James NJ. Dickinson, trust
buster" for the Taft administration,
indicate that the new administration
purposes to continue its prosecution
Of the United States Steel corporation.
Mr.. Dickinson who has just completed
the taking of testimony in New York
went over the results in a general way
with the president and attorney-gen-
eral, and ls expected to make a more
extensive report in few days.
MIR. Dickinson is understood TO have
been congratulated for his work thus
far. and he will continue to handle
the case for the government until It's
conclusion.
Party Organization.
Five conferences will be held early
in April by the five different political
organizations that will have represen-
tation in the new house. The Bull
Moose herd will round up on April
I'd. The progressive Republicans will
meet about that date. The insurgent
Democrats Will hold a war dance on
April 4th The following day the reg
ular Republicans will be called to or
der, and few days later the Demo-
Gratis, will hold party caucus to con-
slider the tariff revision program.
Things are becoming so mixed In a
political way in the house that the
old politicians are bewildered There
will be three organizations of Re-
publcans in the new house, regulars
near Republicans, commonly known
as progressives, and simon-pure pro-
gressives who call themselves Bull
Moosers.
Democrats From West.
The insurgent Democrats come from
the Middle West. They are out of tune
with Southern Democrats who dofni-
nate the house and want better as
signments than they think they are
going to land. The Middle Western
Democrats now only want substantial
recognition in the way of committee
places. but they will join hands with
the Republicans and Bull Moosers. all
of whom are protectionists IL the tariff
the free list.
Scared by the determination of thA
Bun Moose 70 nominate a candidate
for speaker. the progressive Repuh-
lCans will meet to decide just what
is 10 be done to save them the neces-
sity of voting for Bull Moose MUIR
dock.
On April 9Th the regular Republic
cans viii meet TO nominate Represen-
tative James II. Mann, of Illinois. as
their candidate for speaker and doubt
%ess at the same time they will I'LL all
vacancies on the Republican congress
sional committee.
Appeals for help have been made
| TO President Wilson by radical Demo-
Gratis who were beaten in the COM
mittee ON ways and means by Repre-
sentative Underwood and the other
conservatives of that body. The radf-
calls fought for free raw material and
the transfer of practically all farm
products to the free list. They have
placed the facts before the president
and are hopeful that he will take their
side of the controversy.
There is good reason to believe ma
tersal changes will be made in the
tariff revision program recently CONF
pleted by the ways and means COM
mittee. The idea liz beginning to per-
colate through the minds OF many
Democrats that the bill has been
drafted too closely along protection
lines and there is bound to be a lively
time in caucus over the matter unless
Chairman Underwood and his assoc
ciates make concessions.
Bankers Give Gar $500. 900.
ST. PETERSBURG, March 2i.-
The banking and financial Institutions