The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-04-21
BLAIR LANDS
COVETED POST
North Carolina Business Man
and Lawyer Given Choicest
Revenue Job.

Presioent Harding today sent the
following nesnisations 70 the Ses-
ates
10 be Commissioner Of internal
Revenus, David N. Blair. Of Wis.,
Y fston-SaIen, ". G.
Ts be Assistant Secretary oS
Csmacrce. Claudius H. Hsstsa, sf
CAattanoogs, Team.
To be Chief Of the weather
Bureau. Charles r.. Marvin. reap-
polntmeat.
To be Umited states JsAse FOR
z the District Of Porto Rico, Arthur
r.. Odlin, % Jacksonvfile, Eta.
Ts be Collector u 1nternaI Rev
enue. District o. Colorado, rraak
W. Newbert. OF Deaver.
Also : aumbef of army ana nsvys
prenotienA
David H. Blair, OF Winston Salem,
N. G., will be the new Commissioner
OF Internal Revenue. Formal am
nouncement was made today by
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon
that he had recommended Blair's
appointment to the President, and
he said the nomination would 60 to
the Senate this week.
Blair has been a prominent and
wealthy business man OF Winstof-
Salem for years. He Ia also an attos'-
ney. and has been identified with Re-
publican politics In the State for some
years. ~
The decision to appoint the North
sCQ1p3ipians solved one Of tp& nneet A.
hcsit Apposntmest problems ysnAt chat
confronted the President. The april
cants for the position were so numer-
otis that the President some weeks
ago turned the entire matter over 10
Secretary Mellon, and ii became
known that the Treasury head would
finally make the selection. 49,
RACE WAS CLOSE. ~
Friends of Edward Clifford. Of
Illinois; Poseph II. McDermott. of
West Virginia, and Millard r. West,
of Kentucky, made strenuous and
unceasing efforts in their behalf, and
for some days the contest has been
regarded as "a horse race"
1t was pointed out here today also
that Blair's appointment would go far
to appease Southern Republicans who
were disappointed at not having
Southern representation In the Cabi-
net. The Commissionership OF In
ternal Revenue is regarded as one Of
the most important posts in the Gov
ell rnment service. outside OF the Cab
met itself. The position pays S10,-
600 a year. ...
McDERMOTT STRONGLY BACKED.
Selection of the commissioner of
internal revenue. caused as much in
terest as the appointment of a mem
Der of the Cabinet. West Virginians
based their claim on the place by the
fact that under previous Republican
Administrations the state had always
been given the commissioner Of in
ternal revenue and fish commissioner.
Col. Joseph H. McDermott, OF Nor
gantown. w. Va. was backed by the
entire West Virginia delegation.
Illinois laid claim to tn place by
reason of the fact that IL had not
been recognized in the distribution
of the big political plums and put
forth as its candidate Edward Cliff
ford. Tennessee, on account of the
results of the last election. thought
that IL should be represented in some
big Job. and former Governor b. w.
Hoopter was put forward as Com
missioner of Internal Revenue Go v
ernor Hooper, however, was appoint
ed to the railway wage board.
sLEMP DECLINED PLACE.
Congressman Slemp OF Virginia, IT
is understood was offered the place,
but declined preferring the distinction
of being the only Republican member
of Congress from the Old Dominion.
Governor Morrow, of Kentucky. was
also offered the place, IL Is said, but
he too declined. E