Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-15
Friends Discover That He is
Eligible for Commis-
sionership.
LIST OF CANDIDATES
IS GROWING EACH DAY
Rudolph and Oyster, Who Were Sc
lected by Taft, Are Still
in the Running.

ID. j. Callahan, president Of the Wash
ington Chamber Of Commerce and gen
eral manager Of the Norfolk and Wash
ington Steamboat Company. may again
be an active candidate for one OF the
District of Columbia commissionerships.
His friends, according to authoritative
information. are preparing to present his
name to President Wilson and to bring
every pressure to bear in his behalf
when the commissionership appointments
are taken up at the White House.
Former President Taft considered Mr..
Callahan for one Of the commissioner
ships and, at one time, 1t Is understood.
was disposed to appoint him. OPPOSITION
developed on the ground that he was in
terested in a corporation.
With the passage of the public utilities
law, which provides that no Commis-
sioner may serve on the utilities board
who is interested directly or indirectly
in public service corporation, Mr.. Cal
lahan. it was suggested. had been elimi-
mated from consideration as commits
sionership possibility.
His Company Exempted.
Discovery has been made, however, that
the company Of which he Is the geAeral
manager is exempted by the law on the
ground that it Is q common carrier rath-
er than a utility and that there is MOTH
ing to prevent Mr.. Callahan from being
named Commissioner il President Will
son decides to appoint him.
The list Of candidates for the two oom-
missionerships is growing daily, but as
yet President Wilson has received no
delegations in the interest of any Of the
aspirants. Whether any Of the members
n u,h m
White House have discussed the matter
with the President is not known.
While no delegations have been re-
ceived, scores Of letters, resolutions and
eating one or another of the candidates
have found their way to Secretary
Tumulty's desk within the past week.
Commissioner Rudolph and James F.
Oyster, who were selected by former
President Taft as District Commissioners
but whose nominations failed of con.
f1rmation in the Senate. are conceded te
be in the running. The failure of ths
Senate to confirm their nominations
which was due to the fact that the demo
Gratis OF that body believed the nomi
nations should be made by President VIII.
son, has not had the effect Of making
either any less a factor in the present
contest over the nominations.
Get Many Endorsements.
It is doubtful il any candidates have
been indersed by greater number Of cit
izens associations and other organized
bodies than have Commissioner Rudolph
and Capt. Oyster. Neither is making an
active fight, but friends of both have
taken the field in their behalf.
w. " Cox is another candidate who Is
believed to stand more than fair chance
to receive the nomination. Not only is
M~ CH~y 1op fy f6n hrf
efficient record as former president Of
the board of education has been adj
vanced to show that he is fully qualified
to serve as member Of the board OF
Commissioners.
J. Holdsworth Gordon, Charles w. Darr,
M. /. Weller A. Leftwich Sinclair, Will
liam NICK. Clayton and other candidates
will receive the backing of many promi-
nent citizens of the District, so that Presi-
dent Wilson's task In selecting two Com
missioners will not be an easy one.
Germans for Rudolph.
The German American Alliance of the
District, representing twenty-five socie-
ties, this week went on record favoring
the reappointment of Commissioner Ru-
dolph and has sent communication to
the White House informing the President
of its action.
Ii
the District of Columbia auxiliary COM
mittee of the democratic national COM
mittee to indicate a choice for Commits
sioners at it's meeting Thursday night
was due to the fact that the auxiliary
had not received an answer to its letter
sent to the President March 6, in which
it offered to present Endorsements of can
didateS.
Should President Wilson notify the aux
fliary that he desires its assistance in
the matter, that body, 1t is expected, will
meet Immediately and indorse at least
four candidates.
In considering the merits of the va
rious commissionership candidates. Pres
ident Wilson will be required to take into
consideration the provision OF the utilities
law that no Commissioner shall be inter-
ested in public service corporation.
Commissioner Johnston has been pre-
vented from serving on the new utilities
board because he is trustee Of an estate
that has utility interests.