Evening star., 1921-03-13

he holds as director of the fifth fed
eraI reserve district.
Letter From Merchants.
The following letter was addressed
to President Harding last night by
PRESIDENT King of the merchants as
socia ton:
My dear Mr. President:
Permit the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association of Washington
to congratulate you upon the splen-
did judgment displayed in the selec-
tion of Mr.. Cuno II. Rudolph and Mr..
James F.. Oyster as Commissioners
for the District of Columbia.
This expression is made pursuant
TO the direction of the board of gov
ernors of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association. who were
poIled this afternoon as 10 their
pleasure in this matter, and ] have
the honor 10 announce that every
governor who could be reach hed-and
they were all in Washington except
three--Yoted with alacrity and en-
thusiaSm to indorse your nominees.
I'VE are of opinion\that you could
scarcely have made more fitting Sc
lection for these two great Offices.
not only because Of the splendid
training that both men have had as
executives. but likewise because of
the inestimable qualities of heart and
the splendid citizenship that these
men have always typified here in the
National Capital.
The management of city is a
great business. and certainly you
have succeeded admirably in select
| ing tried and true business men TO
administer the laws of the National
Capital.
hey NJ al
reproach and their activities for the
welfare of the citizenship of the Ma
tional Capital have been such that
could not be measured by financial
! consideration, but that could only We'll
patriotic hearts,
Mr. Westlake's Views.
william q. Westlake. when asked
] last night for Il statement. said:
! ut is unfortunate that so many
| high-c!ass business men who would
| inak. excellent Commissioners for the
! District are morally diSquaiined by
! their connections with hnancial IN
/ stilutions which have a direct interest
| in the public utilities.
! ..'Th-r. is no arallel case i'll the
/ United States. where a large group OF
| powerful banks are the direct owners
! nf large blocks of stock of totter-
| ing utility which can only be saved
! by discriminating in favor OF the
! holders of that stock and against the
! public.
'Th. fact that the Commissioners of
| the District must sit as utility com
| mission cannot be overlooked IN
| these appointments. and my under
| standing is that several senators wish
| TO look into the connections OF the
| nominees before putting the stamp OF
| their approval upon the judgment OF
| the President.
| 81 visited the White House in a
! personal capacity to suggest TO the
| President that due consideration be
! given this point. and evidently there
! was merit in the suggestion, beca
! there was change in the proposed
! appointments. ! am sure the Senate
! committee will give careful attention
| TO the point involved. and from the
! large number of complaints that have
| come to me. il is likely there will be
| some opposition developed at the
| hearing. ] hope. however. that the
| expression OF this opposition will be
| Of a dignihed and substantial char
/ acter. because the matter is Of the
utmost seriousness to the people of
1.-the District. md IL is no occasion for
the venting Of personal dislikes or
petty differences OF opinion"