The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-03-14
F|GHTF0R SHIP
BOARDBERTHS
Pro-British Interests Charged
to Allen, Candidate From
Gulf Coast.

Pro-British interests. said to be
injecting themselves into the fight
for appointments to the U. S. Ship
ping Board, are muddying the polit-
ical waters for Gulf Coast Senators.
William Allen of New Orleans,
one of the strongest candidates from
the Gulf Coast who is seeking
recognition from President Harding,
is proving a bone of contention to
Senators Fletcher of Florida, Rams
dell of Louisiana, and Sheppard of
Texas, Democratic members of the
Commerce Committee of the Senate.
OPPOSED TO ALLEN.
Upstate delegations are protesting
that Allen. who is secretary or the
powerfuI National Merchant Marine
Association, is under the knuckle OF
British shipping interests. The claim
ia made that not only Is he pro- British
in his sympathies, but also in his bust
ness connections.
The gulf coast Senators, some II
whom are strongly in favor OF Aliens
candidacy. hesitate to push 1t too far
for these reasons.
H. H. Haines, Republican, of Gal
vest on, Texas, Is strong contestant
fora seat on the Shipping Board,
having been mentioned favorably at
other times. Another rival Is c. +.
Dobson, of Pensacola, Fla.
Opposition in the Senate to Fred
/. Thompson, of Mobile. who was ap-
pointed a member OF the board by
former President Wilson but never
confirmed. opens another situation
which will have to be threshed out.
Senator Underwood. OF Alabama. the
Democrat leader. and Senator Henin
also from that State. are throwing
their influence to Thompson as
Democratic member of the board from
the gulf district.
There Is no discounting the innu-
ence OF Underwood as spokesman
for Democratic patronage under the
Harding Administration. but II Is
said that Thompson is Objectionable
TO many Republicans and his comm
nation would be very uncertain.
HOPE TO .DITCH" HIM.
Strong influences are being brought
to bear. for the appointment of Allen
the New Orleans candidate. and his
entrance into the, fight promises to
prove hard nut for Democratic Sen
ators to crack. Because of the British
element that is entering the cam
paign. some Senators would IKE 10
ditch" him as possible appointee.
but pressure that is being brought
to bear by the powerful marine
organization in which he rs an I'M
portant factor. cannot be ignored oy
Gulf Coast members.
The Pacific Coast also is engaged In
he tuTn a-
sentatiyes which the law allows II
upon the, shipping Board. Former
Senator George L. Chamberlain or
Oregon, Democrat, who was defeated
for reelection is the pivot on which
the. contest turns.
1t 1. generally conceded that
Chamberlain will be given berth
on the board, in which event the
chances OF California being repre-
scented on it will go soaring.
SUPPORT CHAMBERLAIN.
II Chamberlain Is appointed by
President Harding. it is hardly posi-
BILE that the state OF Washington will
land the berth. California members,
for this reason, are supporting Cham
berlain. Their own candidate is
Meyer Lissner, OF Los Angeles, promi-
nent lawyer and politician. In, the
event of Chamberlain's appointment,
his nomination appears certain. But
dark horse" by the name of Col.
Charles r. Forbes. of Spokane, Wash,
is said to be regarded very fsvorably
by President Harding. He is an "old
friend" of the President and said to
be we'll qualified for appointment TO
the board.
The Washington delegation is
pledged to former Congressman W. T..
Humphreys. Of Seattle, who has had
wide experience with shipping in
terests and legislation.
Oregon Senators are apprehensive
over the Forbes boom. They see in
1t danger for Chamberlain's chances,
though il is known the President IS
fayorably disposed toward the former
Oregon Senator. President Harding
and Senator Chamberlain served to-
gether on the Senate Commerce Com
mittee.
1t is believed that the President
could not AFFORD to appoint two mem
bers Of the Shipping Board from the
North Pacific States. and those who
are in close touch with the situation
say that California will have to be
That would reduce the
choice OF the second member to Cham
he rlain and some other candidate.