Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-01
PUSHING ATTACK
UPON NEWMAN
Opponents Say He Registered
as From New York at
Hotel.
DARR AND Nick. CLAYTON
REFUSE TO AID FIGHT
Uphold Choice of President for Dis
trict Observation-Disclosures
Defends Appointment.

K Claiming that within the last year Oil
yer II. Newman. nominated bv President
Wilson as one of the District Commission
ers has made himself ineligible for, the
position by registering at a hotel as liy-
ing in New York. William J. NeaIe last
night sprung a sensation at a meeting
of the District of Columbia home rule
committee at the old Masonic Temple.
Mr.. Neale did not say where the hotel
Is located In which he claimed Mr.. New
man had registered, but he declared tina.
he and one of his friends have visited
the hotel and have seen the entry on the
hotel register. He declared that he and
his friend are ready to make an affidavit
and place 1t before the Senate District
committee.
The statement of Mr. Neale is of sig
niAcance because of the provision In the
organic law Of the District which re-
quires that the two District Commission
ers appointed from civil life shall be act
ual residents of the city for three wears
prior to their appointment, and during
that period shall have claimed residence
nowhere else.
The meeting. which was attended by
about seventy-five men, was addressed
by Mr.. Neale. George c. MONTGOMERY, F.
Edward Mitchell. J. W. Staggers, w. j.
Frizzell. Patrick r. Moran, Bernard G.
Brown. Martin .Wiegand. Charles c. Ian
caster and others, all Of them declaring
been violated in the appointment Of Mr.
Newman.
All OF the speakers denied any intention
OF criticisang President Wilson or Mr.
ers were democrats. and they praised
the President in glowing terms, but
added that he has been ,nisled re-
ar tine nd dnn es g, Of MI
Several expressed the opinion that he
Will withdraw the nomination when he
learns Of the facts disclosed at the meet
Ing.
Committee Hearing Asked
Following the speaking. series OF
resolutions calling on the Senate District
committee to hold a hearing on the ap-
pointment declaring that Mr. Newman is
not bona de resident nor taxpaye in
the District, and is stranger to the
majority OF the people of the city, was
adopted. The resolutions provided for
the holding of mass meeting this week.
or twenty-five to arrange for the formal
protest.
The following men were named on the
committee
F. Edward Mitchell J. W. stagger~. DR..
Walters. John Ready. John Campbell,
James l.. Skidmore, Martin Weigen. w.
]. Frizzell William F. Bowen Percy
Metzger. Patrick T. Moran. Dr. J. w
Murphy. Wanner L. Wilkerson. Charles
c. Lancaster. James NJ Wood Robinson
White. Michael J. Colbett. Bernard G.
Brown. George c. Montgomery, James
y. England Charles Fl. Eisinger. James
OGorrell. Edward G Benton. Clinton r.
Colvien and George Marshall
The committee held a meeting thi. aft
ernoon In the Washington Loan and
Trust Company building
Clause Is Objectionable.
In the first draft of the resolutions
there was reference TO Mr. Newman as
myth and sphinx" but this aroused
opposition on the part Of a number OF
those present, who said it was unnecessa-
ry to enter into personalities A vote was
finally taken and the Objectionable phrase
eliminated.
Mr.. Neale was elected permanent chair
man of the meeting and Percy Metzger
was elected secretary. Mr.. Neale ex-
planned the objects of the meeting. read
ing from the organic law and from the
last democratic party platform to show
that the principle of home rule for the
District is an accepted principle He de-
clared that the movement was entirely
partisan.
I'VE are going to take our protest be-
fore the Senate District committee In a
dignified manner" he continued. but
should we be turned down and Mr. New
mans nomination confirmed. ii will then
become our duty to take the question
into the courts"
Decline to Attend.
Mr.. Neale explained that all men who
had been mentioned in connection with
the commissonership appointments had
been invited to be present, and that
Charles w. Darr had sent word that he
would not attend because he was not
in sympathy with the objects of the gath |
erng. a letter was also read from VIII |
liam Mex. Clayton, in which he declined
to attend because he was good demo- |
crat and because he believed Mr. New
man TO be good man for the position
lie referred to the report that the At
torney General had declared Mr.. New
man TO be eligible, and wrote that Mr. |
Newman had been an earnest supporter
Of the present public utilities law when
ii was pending in Congress.
Mr.. Clayton closed his letter with |
wish that the successors to the newly |
appointed Commissioners will be elected |
BY the people OF the District.
Scores Faulthnders.
Robert T.. Mattingly gave out the fol- |
lowing statement regarding the Commits
sionershp appointments YESTERDAY:
1T is impossible for President Wilson to
please everybody on earth, he said He |
is worthy of our sincere congra tulations |
for the admirable choices he has made
after the deepest thought The President |
could have used a fine tooth comb for the |
men to be appointd District Commission |
ers and no better men than Newman |
and Siddons could have been found The |
cry Of non-residence concerning Mr.. New |
man is begging the question; Ii is play |
ing the baby act, for the Attorney Gen |
LIS fl1a uuaSfinn nd