The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-29
OPPOSITION TO
new Man and
COLPOYS BITTER
Meeting to Protest Against
Confirmation Of Former
as Commissioner.
MAY GO TO THE COURTS
Senator Jones Leader in the Fight
Against Nominee for Member
of Excise Board.

The cloud of opposition to the con-
frmation of Oliver p Newman as Dis
trict Commissioner and John B. Colpoys
as member of the new Excise Board,
which has made its appearance on the
horizon, promises to develop into rag
ing storm within day or so.
The skies grew darker yesterday when
the opposition to Mr.. Colpoys was sud
denly made manifest. Mr.. Newman is
being opposed by a large group OF local
Democrats, and Mr. Colpoys Is being
fought by Senator Jones of Washington,
Senator Works of California, and officials
of the Anti-Saloon League Of the District
of Columbia.
For the purpose of stirring city-wide
sentiment against the confirmation of
Mr.. Newman. a big Democratic mass
meeting will be held at the Old Masonic
Ternple, Ninth and F Streets Northwest.
at o'clock tomorrow night
Prominent speakers will be on hand and
formal resolutions will be adopted. pre-
testing vigorously against the confirma-
ton on the ground that President Will
sons appointee is ineligible for the Of
flee. not having complied with the law by
residing in the District for three consecu-
tive years prior to nomination.
VIII Urge Adverse Report.
Leaders in the opposition movement
stated last night that every EFFORT VIII
be made to get the Senate District Com
mittee to report unfavorably on the con-
firmation. but added, that if this attempt
proves abcrtive the question Of Mr. New
mans eligibility will be taken before the
court for final determination. William j.
Neale. one of the prominent Democrats
opposing Mr. Newman's confirmation, sad
that in case the newspaper man Is in
dorsed by the Senate, a writ of quo war
ranto or some similar writ of like import
will be filed in the courts Immediately,
thus making the matter one for the tri-
bunals to decide.
II has not yet been learned whether
the Senate District Committee will grant
the Democrats a hearing on the subject
A delega ton yesterday visited the Capitol
and presented a formal protest TO the
committee. requesting hearing on the
matter. The appeal was signed by w.
] Meals. John Campbell, B. G. Brown.
]. NJ. Wood. George c. Montgomery,
Samuel W. CockreI, and ]. n. England.
Nj. Neale and other of the opposition
leaders said last night that if a hear
ing is granted. the attention of the COM
mittee will be called to the fact that
President Wilson is said to have told
a prominent Senator few days ago that
William Mex. Clayton, one of the can
didates in the Commissionership race.
was the best Endorsed of all the con-
testants. but that he had refrained from
appointing him for fear that if Mr.. Clay
ton were made District head he would
upset the mechanism of the District gov
eminent by placing Democratic workers
in positions now held by others.
Wanted Clayton Named.
we have worked hard for the election
NJ
Neale. land We feel that inasmuch as our
efforts have been crowned with success.
we should receive some reward for our
labors. We Democrats of the Distric.
feel that when a man like Mr.. Clayton
receives such widespread Endorsement
from every hand, he should be rewarded
.Ly appointment to some position of i'm
portance. We have been informed by q
Prominent senator that President Wilson
considered Mr.. Clayton too highly in
.GorseG by Democrats to serve impartialiy
as one Of the Commissioners"
Printed postal cards were last night
sent out to Democrats in all sections Of
the city, urging them to attend the mass
meeting. The postal is worded as fol-
lows:
Let the law be observed.
a meeting of the committee TO oppose
the confirmation of Oliver P. Newman
as District Commissioner has been
called for Monday, June 30. at p. m,
at Old Masonic Temple, Ninth and F
Streets Northwest. 10 formulate plans
10 present a protest to the Senate COM
rlittee. Your presence and the presence
of your friends is requested. BY order
of the District Of Columbia home rule
committee
Opposed by Andrew Wilson.
Andrew Wilson. president of the Anti
saloon League. called on Senator Jones,
who elaborated with Senator Works in
the writing of the new excise law, and
voiced his opposition to Mr.. Colpoys on
the ground that the appointee in Febru-
airy. 1912, opposed the enactment of the
Jones-Works bill.
Mr.. Wilson stated that Mr.. Colpoys
testified at the time before the subcom-
mittee of the Senate District Committee,
which was considering the Jones-Works
measure. Senator Jones received Mr..
Wilson heartily, and announced that he
would use all his influence against the
confirmation of Mr.. Colpoys. Senator
Works is at present out of the city. but
II is known that he is opposed to Mr.
Colpoys a s a member of the excise board
No opposition to Frank B. Lord and
Robert G. Smith, the other two excise
board appointees, has yet made its ap-
pearance. The general belief about the
city is to the effect that Mr.. Colpoys will