The San Francisco call., 1913-07-27
The Presidents Appointments

| If President Wilson's latest selections for
federal Offices in this state may be taken as an
earnest of settled policy the people OF California
are to be congratulated
Viewed in the light of the only interest the gen.
era public has, the nominations made by the pres-
dent on Friday excellent
For the places of genuine importance President
Wilson has named men of character and ability
That comprehends all the general publics interest
The fact that in making his appointments the
president has chosen only representatives OF the
state central committee majority faction and by
exclusion emphasized his attitude toward the Bell
democracy is matter for practical politicians to
worry about.
John o. Davis OF Berkeley gets the biggest and
the important federal berth in California-col
lector of customs for the San Francisco district.
The president could have found no better man in
his party in this state for the place AS legislator
and campaign manager Mr. Davis has proved his
right to be considered one of the first men of Cali
fornia
He is honest, capable, energetic He will make
a good collector and most astute dispenser of
federal favors.
Jay T. Scott nominated to be collector Of revenue
in the first California district is one of the most
popular of Californias young democrats, and de-
servedly He has youth, energy, ability, and as
secretary of the democratic state central committee
rendered his party services emitting him to its most
distinguished consideration.
w. J. McGee, chosen to succeed Assistant Treas
urer Ralston, is veteran party man, who enjoys
the confidence of democrats and republicans alike
Justus Warde named for surveyor of CUSTOMS
has been prominently and creditably associated with
the San Francisco democratic organization for
years
T. w. H. Shanahan of Shasta, chosen for super
ntendent of the San Francisco mint, is admittedly
one of the ablest democrats that ever sat in the
California legislature
Ed E. Leake of Woodland who is to be
appraiser at this port is fighting democrat, who
has been power in the councils of his party for
many years, and who has the friendship and respect
of the people of the state without regard to their
partisan affiliations
These appointments are full of promise of good
for the public service. What they promise polit-
cally is different matter.
These nominations that the president has
turned down the recommendations of the demo-
cratic national committeeman from California, the
California democratic delegation in congress and
the Bell democracy, which carried the presidential
primary election in 1912 for Champ Clark by vote
of more than 2 TO / over Wilson
They that John O. Davis and James D.
Phelan the big democrats in California as far
as the Wilson administration is concerned
They mean that California's democratic con-
gressnen are to have no voice in the distribution of
federal patronage in this state, other than that
which is essentially local their several districts
They may bitter factonal strife, and even
worse confusion than that which has marked the
management OF democratic affairs in California for
decade
They must mean that or the retirement of Theo-
dore A. Bell and his eutenants to back seats in the
California democratic wigwam.
All Of which is OF interest to the practical poll
ticans, but of no real Importance to the California
public as a whole