The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
Wilson's Action Appears to His
Backers to Be Sop Thrown
to Withers and Danville
Wilson Club.
Confirmation VIII be Held Up
in Senate by Virginia Sena-
tors, Who Then Expect Presi-
dent to Withdraw Lawson
for Mitchell.
by GEORGE III. MANNING.

A~& NAs~AS6AS AAs AANkNA@Nus
WASHINGTON. Dec. 27.--After a
few days of thought and reasoning
over the nomination of James A
Lawson to be postmaster at Danviile.
Va, against the wishes OF the greater
majority OF the Virginia delegation.
President Wilson's action appears to
some to be a master stroke at play
ing politics rather than a direct af-
front to the Organization" faction OF
Virginia politicians. whose candidate.
Alderman w. r. Mitchell, was
turned down"
Indeed 1t can be predicted with a
certain amount of confidence that the
next postmaster at Danviiie will be
no other than w. r. Mitchell
Before the incident Ia finally closed
Eugene Withers. the prominent PRO
Igressive' Dem ocrat of Danville, and
his friends will probably realize that
Woodrow Wilson. the ''unsophisticat-
ed schoolmaster" has thrown them a
clean bone upon which to sharpen
their political teeth. and is holding
back the meat for the regularly elect
ed representatives of the Old Do
minion-
TicisIed En- Both.
In other words, President Wilson
by nominating Mr.. Lawson, the can
didate of Mr. withers and his friends,
has shown his high regard for their
advice In making appointments, and
after II becomes apparent to all that
the senators will not allow Lawson
to bE confirmed, his HzTTu viii be
withdrawn in favor of some man
whom the senators wish appointed.
and that man viii be w. r. Mitchell.
Tho turning down" Of Mitchell al
the very last moment after Congress
man Saunders had waged a fight for
! him extending over six months. and
aided by the senators and other mem
| rst glance to all who were acquainted
hers Of the delegation. looked at first
with the facts az direct slap at the
~organization. and a pat on the back
70 the Wilson club leaders. But a
review Of the circumstances leading up
<o thu nomination presents the matter
10 a different aspect. Almost year
ago--rnany months before Saunders
recommended Mitchell~--withers and
| his friends asked President Wilson 10
name Lawson as postmaster. as
mark OF appreciation OF their efforts
in bringing about his election. Law
sons appointment was urged at sub
s>uuent conferences held with the
president by w,thers and his friends
And II In said on good authority that
President Wilson had practically COM
Knitted himself to support lawson be-
fore Saunders began his figh..
Saunders Stood Pat
Saunders. after making his recon-
msnAafion '.stood pat to a certain
extent, and feeling a certain delicacy
In The matter, did not GO after the APP
pointment with hammer and tongs. .
Nvsry time that danger threatened
saunders made call on Postmaster
General Burleson and generally Sc
cured his assurance that his wishes
would be observed. On occasions
that this assurance was not forth
coming he went direct to President
wfIson, and LIZ understood to have vfr-
|xualiy received the presidents promise
that Mitchell would be appointed
And 30 the matter dragged along
her shout six months with Mitchells
fr1ends feeling confident one day. and
suffering from "chiiIs" the next, until
the day before the adjournment OF
ronsress December 22d. when II was
learned from the most reliable source
that Postmaster General Burleson
took the papers in the banyiile case
70 the White House and he and
President Wilson approved the nomi-
nation OF Mitchell The long list OF
nominations was sent to the senate al
evening just before midnight and Oar
willie had been blue pencfled, and
under the blue pencil was the nams
az names A. Lawson. This was s
shock to Mitchelfs friends. which
reached Its climax the following at
ternoon, when Just few minutes be-
fore Christmas holiday adjournment
the DanvilIe nomination came from
I the White House. all alone. bearfns
the name of James A. Lawson Tor
postmaster.
Virginia Senators Fight.
=. In almost certain that the Vir.
r,rta senators will never allow Law
son to be confirmed. President VIII
son can nominate whoever he pleases
but It remains with the senate to
L<onfirm, and as long as one senator
objects confirmation is impossible.
President Wilson in nominating
YAwson has fulfilled his promises ant
Civilizations to Eugene Withers ct al
and confirmation Is beyond his realm
When IAwson's friends realize tbs
futflity OF prolonging the contest II
Il probable they viii permit Lawson.
name to be withdrawn and another
aubstituted who can gain confirma.
zion. President Wilson about thai
time Will be perfectly willing to give
ear to the bidding Of Representative
Saunders and his friends. mitchell
WIN be nominated. the president VIII