Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-03-27
Says He Cannot Afford Financial
Sacrifice Ambassadorship to
France Means.
WILSON URGES PERSISTENTLY
Slow Progress Being Made in Fill
ing the Big Posts but Man
for Mexico Ac-
cepts.

Washington, March 2l.-Wm. L. Nc
Combs, chairman OF the national demo-
cratic committee. issued statement to-
night announcing that he had declined to
become ambassador to France. The state
ment follows:
To-day I communicated to the Prosi-
dent my final decision as to the very
great honor he has done me in rendering
me the ambassadorship to France with
assurances Of my profound appreciation.
No public position within his gift could
be more attractive to me personally. N
view Of its very great dignity and inn
portance ! have naturally weighed the
matter with much care.
After reconsidering III" tender. the
same motives as were In my mind be
fore have impelled be 20 decline. The ac-
ceptance of the post would involve great
er sacrifices than l should make | do
not feel that ] can afford to leave my
life work the practice of the law. | fool
compelled 10 devote myself to my per-
sonal affairs and at the same time | will
lend any assistance in my power that
will contribute to the success of the DEM
ocratic administrato and the Democratic
party"
Mir NcCombs had seen the President
twice during the day and tonight was in
conference with Secretary Tumulty at tho
executive offices until nearly midnichr
when he returned to his hotel ana issued
the statement.
President Wilson Is making an effort
to ill the more important diplomatic posts
before the extra session OF Congress be-
gins. 50 that be may otherwise devote
his energies when the time for legisla-
ton arrives.
The President is DESTROYS of filling tn.
embassy at London as quickly as pos
sibl" and is said to be in hopes tina,
Charles w. Eliot, former president OF
Harvard would accept though there were
intimations among some of Or Eliots
friends to-day chat he might decline
George w. Guthrie. former mayor OF
pittsburg and democratic State chairman
in Pennsylvania had been chosen to b,
ambassador to Mexico, hut it is likely tina
an announcement will be deferred unit
the state department formulatcs it's policy
with regard to RECOGNITION of the Imerti
government. II is certain. however. tha
the resignation of Henry Lane Wilson
the present ambassador to Mexico, whicl
has been submitted, will be accepted.
That Prof Henry Burchard Fine o
Princeton University can be ambassado
to Germany If he chooses was Learned
| from callers at the White House to-day
/ Prof. J. w. jerks of New York Uni
$versity was a White House caller to-day
| He has been Very much interested in tn,
y. j., the y. NJ. G. \. leader to h.
minister to China and Is said to he urgini
Mr., Mott on behalf of the President t
accept the post.
For the ambassadorships to Italy
Austria, Brazil, Russia, Turkey an
Japan no definite selections have bee
made, though Justice James w. Gerar
Of New York. Augustus Thomas. Thoma
Nelson Page. Seth Low and VIM Churc
Osborn are still being prominently men
toned in this connection.
1t is likely that John w Garrett wi
continue az minister to Argentina an
Maurice Francis Ecan as minister
| Denmark,
Jos. +. willard of Virginia, Thoma
II. Burch of New Jersey and Frederic
&C. Penfield of New York are also re
garded as certain to be ministers in tn
foreign service.