Evening star., 1921-04-02
BIG APPOINTMENTS
: DUE:,lNAFEWDAYS
Choice Tor Head Of Internal
Revenue Bureau Has Been
Narrowed to Three.

President Harding will make sew
eral more important recess appoint
ments within the next few days, most
prominent among them being internal
reven6e commissioner. but he will wait
until the special session of Congress
before announcing any of the many
diplomatic appointments. Assurance
to this effect was given today by
high White House authority: VINO m
timated that the President had prac.
tically decided upon the man ne Will
place at the head of the bureau OF
internal revenue, and the announce
ment Of his selection is only mat
ter of . very few days.
Selection Reduced to Three.
Filling this important place has
given the President much thousht,
and. although a score or more names
have been presented for considera-
tion in this connection. it is known
at the White House that only three
are being given any serious attehtioA
by the President. In fact, II is pc
lieved by those who are in a posi-
tion to know that the selection hes
between Joseph H. McDermott OF
Morgantown, w. Va. and Col Ea
ward Clifford of Evanston, III. Inc
former is one of the republican lead
ers in West Virginia, and has peeh
campaign manager for senator -, FL
kins and is a successful business man
in that state He is known 70 nave
the backing of the entire west Wiz
pinia congressional delegation ana
other senators and representatives Dc
we'll as a large number OF BUSINESS
men. Col CLIFFORD is in the boNdlns
business in Chicago, and was conneee
ed with the war finance DIVISION VI
the War Department during the war.
He is being backed by both lillnois
senators, and is known to nave tHe
support of Charles e. Dawes ol IL
The only other candidate who at
this time is believed to have any snow
for the appointment is A. 5. biair Oh
Detroit, Mich. He has beei IN t,ie
revenue service and is reported 10 De
especially well qualified for the plaee;
He ia beine backed by members OF
the Michigan congressional oeiesa-
tion.
For Diplomatic Positions.
When the diplomatic plums start
dropping it is the opinion OF party
leaders that among the lucky ones
will be Col. George Harvey, new ioIk
editor, who has been prominently
ambassadorship to Great Britain;
Isaac T. Mann Of West Virginia and
Washington, D. c.. a wealthy coal
operator, who is being urged for ap-
pointment to Spain: Myron T. Herrlck
of Ohio. former ambassador Or 70
Ohio, who was President Hardings
moor manager during the Chicago
convention. and former Senator Piles
of Washington.
In making his selection for high
federal positions President Hardins
has so far convinced the leaders that
ne is endeavoring to satisfy all ele-
ments of the republican organization:
to prevent friction and to bring about
harmony where friction now exists. and
ut the same time to injectefhclency into
the governmental system by naming
men of known quality and ability.
This has been strongly indicated, 1t
Is pointed out by the appointments
he has made thus far. and those VINO
are close to him contend that he will
continue this policy.
Appointment Of Postmasfers.
Another patronage problem which is
giving the President much concern is
that Of distributing the postmaster
plums. 1t is known that he is being
hard pressed from all sides in this
particular. and it is understood that
he will within a few days issue an
executive order making it possible
for the new administration to dis
place many democrats now holding
choice postmasterships in order to fill
their places with republican party
workers.
Postmaster General Hays has rec
commended to the President that the
executive ability and the ability to
handle a large number of employees
shall be considered as a necessary
Qualification for postmasters. and that
this ability shall receive at least an
equal rating with the rating won in
eoir petitive examination in determin-
ing the selection Of postmasters from
the three highest in a civil service ex-
animation. Under this plan many
democrats will be retained. but it is
expected that fully one-half of the
present postmasters would be dis
placed by republicans.