Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-11-28
Oregon Man in
Treasury Office
r. f. Williams, Offered Assistant
Secretaryship; is Vicc-Chairman
Of National Rep. Com.
(Rr Isaac Gregg

oil INallOIldl IeSp. SV"'
(By Isaac Gregg
Washington, Nov. 28.-The post Of
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury
in charge Of the collection Of revenue
has been offered to Ralph r Will
liams. banker Of Portland, Oregon,
and vice chairman of the Republican
National Committee. Mr.. Williams
has reserved decision on the matter
but will give a final answer to the
President and Secretary of the Treas
ury before he leaves Washington.
This place is the one formerly held
bv Elmer Dover who resigned some
time ago after his failure to get along
with Commissioner of Internal Rev
enue David II. Blair ard Secretary
Mellon. 1t is regarded as the most
important office in the government
outside the Cabinet from the stand
point of patronage for the man hold
ing this place has charge OF the ap-
pointment of the thousands OF en-
ployees in the Internal Revenue Bu-
reau. the prohibition unit and the
customs service through out the ma
tion. Far more jobs are available
in these services than in any other
single government department.
Mr. Williams has been in the bank
ing business for many years and IS
president of two banks in Oregon at
this time. He has been the national
committeeman since 1908 and was
elected Vice Chairman of the Ma
tional Committee at the time VIII
H. Hays resigned.
In seeking man for his assistant
secretaryship the politicians have
been much worried because at the
outset they desired n man who would
play the game" and allocate federal
Jobs to deserving Republicans in a
generous manner. AT the same time
they have realized chat Commissioner
Blair, although appointed as a poll
tician, had determined in the inter
est of efficiency to keep politics out
of the internal revenue service and
employ men and women regardless
of political affiliations.
The understanding is that Mr..
Williams is a man who can meet
this situation.
Not only is he thoroughly posted in
the banking business and financial
affairs. but he is declared to be Dip
lomat of the first rank and capable
of halmonizing politics and effic-
iency as much as it is possible to har-
monize them 1t is understood that
he is thoroughly acceptable to Secre-
tary Mellon and that if he takes the
place, he will do so with the street
understanding thai his word will be
law in the Internal Revenue Bureau,
the Customs Service and the Prohibl-
tion Unit.
The salary of the place is only
So, 900 a year so that if he accepts
Mr.. Williams viii have to make
financial sacrifice. A dozen or so
minor politicians were after the place
and for time Secretary Mellon des-
paired of getting man of the callber
he wanted for the amount the place
paws. Mr.. Williams is understood to
be well able to afford the financial
sacrifice.
Senator David |. Walsh, Of Massa-
chusetts, has called upon Attorney
General Daugherty to give considera-
ton to a recommendation that the
President issue proclamation
against the activities Of the Ku Klux
Klan
At the same time Senator Walsh
transmitted to the Attorneye General
letters from prominent lawyers IN
Kansas and Texas declaring that not
only can the government. proceed
against the Klan under section ~ Oh
the federal penal code, but that Fres-
ident Harding has the right, follow
ing the precedent set by President
Grant to issue a proclamation out
lawing the Khan.
"When groups organize to destroy
our courts, revoke trial by Ilry, denV
the right to citizens to worship S!oa
as they see fit and support pohcy
of accusing and furnishing men ana
women without trial other than d
secret meeting in some lone hlgh-
way. they are. championing the very
form of tyranny to which our gov
ernment is opposed. and undermih-
ing everything we hold dear IN our
national life, and injecting the BODY
nolitic with poison" said Senator
Walsh in his letter to the Attorney
General. -
Senator Walsh also sent TO the
Attorney General extracts from a
letter to him from prominent
Texas lawyer telling of outrages
committed by the Klan in Texas