The Washington times., 1913-06-26

He IL a member of the American Bar
Association, the Society of Interna-
dent and the Bar Association of The
District. His firm was counsel for the
United States in the Pious fund case,
OF historical interest, as being the nrst
tried by The Hague tribunal. and IN
which the United States was success
full.
1t also, in part represented the State
Of Oregon before the Supreme Court in
the case which established, from a
Federal point of view, the constitu-
tionality of the initiative and refer
endum.
Perhaps the most notorious case.
however. is that of the Buck 8 Stove
and Range Company against the offi:.
cials of the American Federation OF
Labor-Gompers, Mitchell, and Morri-
son. and the later contempt proceed
ings growing out of the Buck case
Instructor In Law School.
For more than a dozen years Mr.. SID
dons has been instructor in the Nationai
University Law School. and for the last
few years has been teaching constitu-
ticnal law and the law Of evidence and
bills and notes. For a number Of years
he has been a member OF the Board OF
Trade and the Chamber of Commerce.
serving at enc time as a director of the
former organization, and on its commit
tee on municipal finance.
He is 4 member of the University and
Washington Country Clubs. Politically
he is a Democrat, and has taken an
active part in Presidential campaigns
addressing audiences in the Distr1ct,
Maryland and West Virginia
Mr. Siddons was the choice of President
Wilson, II Is believed, because his
ideas on city government are SO closely
akin to those always entertained by the
Chief Executive. For years he has been
known as an authority on civic matters,
and has written extensively on the sub
ject of city and social conditions, par
ticularly with respect to the National
Capital He has been a frequent con: con-
tributor to various newspapers and
periodicals on forms of municipal gov
ernnent the ideal city" and other kin.
dred subjects. As a citizen he has al
ways directed his efforts toward the bet
teriment Of the community and Of living
for the poor.
Mr.. siddons believes that a model
city, does not mean merely q model
city in its buildings. parks and archi.
citizenship, and model living conditions
for all OF those Of the community. no
matter what their station. He has de-
cided ideas on progressive government
and on Government ownership or con-
troll Of all utilities. He believes In the
in the past been q worker in this cause.
Views On the Alleys.
He believes that all the alleys crowded
with dwellings should be converted into
parks or minor streets.
President Wilson, just before making
the appointments. expressed q desire
70
city, not only Of the United States,
but of the world. In pursuit Of this
ideal for the Capital. the President
sought and selected men whom he ex-
poets to foster the plan,
to be met In Washington life study.
He has served as member of the
committee of the Divorce Congress,
convened by the governor OF Pennsyl-
vania, which is actively framing and
one of the three commissioners on uni
form State laws for this District. In
this capacity he has taken active part
in the framing of laws on the subjects
support. and other important measures
Aided Loan Shark Bill.
He was active in bringing about the
creation of the Board Of Condemnation
Of Unsanitary Buildings. and in franz
ing the so-called loan shark BILL" as
1t was introduced into Congress. He
was q member Of the Presidents Homes
Commission, appointed by President
Roosevelt, and prior to its organization
he served on the auxiliary committee of
the Associated Charities. dealing with
the subject Of the conditions Of living
among the poor of the District
For some years he has been a MEM
Der Of the board Of managers Of the
Associated Charities, and was recently
elected president Of the Monday Even
ing Club. the organization that is work.
ing for civic betterment and the social
progress. As vice president, Mr.. Siddons
was actively engaged on sociological
problems. He II q member of the Local
Council Of the National Civic Fedora
ton, and has made frequent public ad-
dresses. covering subjects of social and
political interest
Mr.. Siddons has been a careful stu
dent Of the District government and of
its relations to the Federal Govern
ment.