Evening star., 1920-01-10
FEDERATION SPLITS
ONDR. VAN SCHA|CK
Citizens Organization Ad-
journs Without Action on
Nomination.

Ihe OIL C1ClZenS RSSOCld-
tions, after a three hour discussion in
the board room of the District build
ing last night. adjourned without final
action on the question of whether DR..
John Van Schaick, jr., should be con-
firmed as Commissioner for the Dis
trict
When the meeting opened it SEEM
ed that DIR. Van Schaick would be in
dorsed without delay. The commit
tee on civic development and federal
relations, Of which Jesse F. Crawford
is chairman, had been instructed to
consider two resolutions, one from the
Benning association. opposing DR.. Van
Schaick. and the other from the Mid
CITY. indorsing him.
The committee reported that be-
cause of lack of information it had
decided to return the resolutions to
the federation TO be &C. sidereo in
committee of the whole. The meeting
adopted the report and went into
committee of the whole.
20 for Indorsement. Is Against.
A. E. Shoemaker of the Northwest
Suburban Association moved that the
federation indorse DIR Van Schaick.
The motion was seconded by Charles
s. Shreve of Mid-City. After motion
to table the resolution of indorse-
ment had been lost, the delegates
voted twenty to fifteen in favor of
Endorsement. ..-.-'-.-.-'----
Thomas Donovan of Central then
moved that the federation approve the
vote taken in committee Of the whole.
1t was at this point that the op-
ponents of DR.. Van Schaick became
active. -... -s.---.
Jesse G. Suter spoke in high terms
of Dr. Van Schaick as a man, but
declared he did not believe him the
type to be a District commissioners.
Then followed nearly two hours of
discussion mingled with parliamen-
tary maneuVering.
While the delegates were still dis
cussing the motion to approve the
vote taken in committee of the whole,
Washington Topham offered sub
stitute motion which recited that in
view of the division of sentiment on
the question in number OF the as
sociations, the federation should take
no stand, either for or against the
nominee.
When this vote was taken the Sec
retary counted seventeen for and the
same number against. w. b. west
lake, president, announced that he
would vote for the substitute
Recount Shows Tie Vote.
Allan Davis of East Washington
asked for a recount. and on roll call
the final vote was II to IL. which
meant that the substitute was lost.
to approve the Endorsement given in
committee of the whole. motion to
adjourn was put and carried.
Although spirited speeches were
made during the evening by delegates
for and against DR.. Van Schaick.
there was no personal bitterness IN
the debate.
Opponents of DIR. Van Schaick de-
clared that, aside from the personal
question they did not believe a min
lister should be selected to public Of
fee This objection was raised by
William NICK. Clayton of Brightwood
and Warner Stutler of Benning. Mr.
Stutler also argued that DIR. Van
Schaick's administration as president
of the board of education has not in
dicated that he would make a good
Commissioner.
President Needed Request.
Charles S. Shreve said that DR.. Van
Schaick is member of the Mid-City
Association, and that, therefore, Presi-
! dent Wilson in selecting him had car
ried out the request of the federation
for a citizen association man as Com
missioner.
A. J. Driscoll read a copy of a tele-
gram which he said Henry P. Dawson,
chairman of the war council OF the
American Red Cross. had sent to SEN
ator indorSing the nomination and call
ing attention to the good work done
by the nominee in Belgium during the
war.
Several other delegates spoke in high
terms of DR.. Van Schaick, and ex-
pressed the belief that he would make
good District official.
Will Go Before Senate Committee.
President Westlake notified the asso-
citation that he intends to appear be-
fore the Senate committee Monday in
opposition to DR.. Van Schaick, but said
he would make it clear that he is there
as an individual and not as president
of the federation.