The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-08-12
ENTER
RACE TO GET
POST HELD
BY NEWMAN
Numerous Names Suggested to
President for Filling Vacancy
In Craftsmanship of Board of
~ Commissioners.
BY BILL PRICE.

sioners Of the District, owing to the
selection of Oliver P. Newman as q
major of artillery in the reserve
corps Of the army, today unloosed
the activities of the friends Of full
found dozen of prominent District
men who aspire to the honor, with
another dozen in the dark horse
class.
To make the situation more inter
esting, it is said on good authority
today that the resignation of Major
Newman as District Commissioner
probably will become effective by OF
before September l, putting the
vacancy considerably nearer than
had been expected and forcing the
managers of the candidates to re-
double their energies.
- Resumes Duties Tuesday.
Major Newman, who next Tuesday
win resume his official duties as
chairman Of the District board. en-
ablinE Commissioner Brownlow to
have a weeks vacation, Is expected
to take up his army duties August %,
until which time the reserve corps Of
hcers have been given leave OF alb
sence. 1t Will, be possible. Of course
for this leave Of absence to be -eN-
tended in the event that Commission
er Newman feels that his civic duties
viii require more time, but at any
rate President Wilson will soon have
before him the naming OF q new Com
missieEer
Trustworthy information today is
that the president has not selected
anyone for the prospective vacancy,
as he will await word from Commits
sioner Newman before acting.
ReslEnatIOn Likely Soon.
: The understanding Commissioner
Newman had with the President when
hesexpressed a desire to work for q
Commission in the reserve corps was
that he would submit his resignation
as Commissioner at the earliest pos
Sible moment after completing his
work at Fort Meyer and cleaning up
matters pending in the office Of Com
ruissioners that call for his personal
attention.
The Presidents customary course
in District matters has been to OBJ
tain the recommendation OF Commits.
sioners Newman and Brownlow as TO
appointments, and unless he has
picked out some man he wishes to
favor. there is little doubt that he
win be guided by the views Of these
two men, who have worked in com
plste harmony with each other and
who will desire to see a new Com
missioner named who will pursue the
policies they have followed. The in
formation today Is that the Presi-
dent has been so engaged on the
great war problems that the thought
Of selecting a man has not once en-
tsred HIS head
Commissioners to See President.
Commissioners Newman and Brown
low are expected to see the President
within the next few weeks to in
quirs as to his wishes, and they will
be prepared to suggest at least two
names for his consideration.
There are today formally before
the President the names OF Fred
srick ]. Rice and Charles W. Ray,
Influential citizens OF the District.
who have strong backing from citL
zens' associations, individuals and or
ganizAtiOnA- Other Endorsements OF
these men are to be submitted at the
White House before action is taken.
Within a few days there will be be
fore the President the name OF VIII
liam NICK. Clayton, backed by the
Young Mems Democratic Club and
numerous organizations Under the
heading, What Has He Done?" the
Young Mems Club points to years
of civic and political activities by
Mr.. Clayton during his residence
here Of thirty-fiVe years, making q
strong case for him. He was the
FIRST president OF the Federation OF
cfrizehs' Associations and twice sue
eeedsd himself in that position. He
was president OF the BrIEhtwood
Citizens Association twenty years
and was active in hundreds Of Dis
trict questions.
c. Shreve Mentioned.
Charles S. shreve, president OF the
Federation At this time. is today
among the many men talked of. but
he has not permitted his friends to
take any steps in his behalf Julius
Peyser. a prominent local attorney. is /
known TO be liked at the White
House. Charles W. DarT. another To-
cal attorney, prominent in the last
Presidential campaign, and having the |
ear OF White House officials, is re-
Earded well. So IL Is with many other |
men whose names are beginning to |
figure in the fight that 10 sure to be- |
come warm.
Strong Backing Of Prince.
Ben L Prince. collector of taxes OF |
the District, has singularly strong. |
quiet. backing, and IN some |
querters was today regarded as the |
man to be watched most closely. |
=. Nesbitt. Commissioner OF |
Insurance OF the District, and for |
years an intimate friend of Commits
siOnerh Newman and Brownlow, Is |
Gf6o highly regarded. Both these /
sasn have been doing satisfactory |
work in the District building and |
have earned the oommendation of the /
Another District Of /