Evening star., 1925-05-22
c. 0. 0.P.LEADERSPUT
0. K. ON TOWNSEND
FOR OYSTERS POST
Merchant Tentatively Chosen
as Candidate for Com
mission Vacancy.
JOHN HAYS HAMMOND
SUGGESTED FOR PLACE
Others in Running-Selection of
Republican Would Not Up
set Precedent.

T. Lincoln Townsend. vice president
Of the National Electrical Supply Co,
well known here as an active worker
for the Republican party and promi
rently identified for many years in
civic activities, has been tentatively
selected as the candidate to be put for
ward by the Republican State COM
| mittee in and for the District Of Co
| lumbia-the accredited Republican or
ganiZation in the District-for the
| commissionership which has become
| vacant through the death Of James
F. Oyster.
This was learned today when 1t be-
came known that the Republican or
ganization here will meet within
few days and formally indorse Mr..
Townsend for the post. While Mr..
Townsend has not announced himself
as a candidate, some of his business
and political friends have obtained his
| consent to the movement already un--
der way to bring about his appoint
ment.
Wilson Named Democrats.
While Mr.. Oyster was generally re-
garded as a Democrat, 1t is said that
he allied himself with the Republican
party before Mr. Harding's election.
There has been no hard and fast
rule concerning a division of the
commissionerships between the two
parties, and it was recalled today
that during Mr.. Wilson's administra-
ton the District Commissioners were
both Democrats. 1t has not been
indicated whether President Coolidge
will fill Mr.. Oysters post through
the appointment of a Democrat. but
it was pointed out today that should
he appoint a Republican he would
not be setting a precedent.
While Mr.. Townsend's tentative
selection as the Republican organi-
Zation's candidate for the commits
sionership was regarded as interest
ing. his name is only one of many
which the President will have before
him when the time comes to make
an appointment. Washington has
been busily engaged in conjecture
for the past few days over the forth
coming appointment and number
of candidates have come forward, in
formally, and let 1t be known that
the position would be acceptable to
them.
Hammond Is Mentioned.
Among the suggestions which have
name of John Hays Hammond is out
standing because of his international
record as a mining engineer and be-
cause of his prominent activities in
other lines in the past. Mr.. Ham
mond, however, lives in Washington
about half the time, but his legal resi-
dence is In Massachusetts. Mr.. Ham
mond has been frequently mentioned
in connection with a cabinet appoint
{l1
ton and during those of Presidents
Harding and Taft. Those who pro-
posed Mr.. Hammond for the commits
sionership indicated that they were
doing 1t without his knowledge, but
with the hope that the National Cap
ital could be fortunate enough in
having a man of his experience as
one of it's heads.
Other names known to have been
received at the White House thus far
are those of Arthur Carr, secretary
of the Board Of Trade and manager
of the Mills Building; A. Leftwich
Sinclair local attorney, and one Of the
original members of the District Rent
Commission; Julius Peyser, member
of the Board of Public Education, and
Chaplin Brown, prominent member of
the Chamber of Commerce and who
for the past two years has been at
torney for the District Rent Commits
sion.
Galliher Consent Sought.
Friends of William T. Galliher,
local banker and chairman of the
Coolidge inaugural committee, and
prominent among the local Republi-
can leaders, are understood to be en-
gagged in an endeavor to get Mr. Gal
liner to consent to their presenting
his name.
Those members of the Republican
State committee, who obtained Mr..
Townsend's consent to be a candi-
date, said the executive committee
of that body will meet within the
next few days to formally indorse
him and to appoint a committee to
present the name to President Cool
idge.
Regarding Mr.. Townsend's claims
to recognition for his long service as
a Republican worker, it Is pointed out
by his friends that he organized the
Coolidge and Dawes Club in the last
campaign and was its president,
which organization was the princi-
pal raiser of funds in the District
for the conduct of the 1924 campaign
here. He is treasurer of the City
Club, the League of Republican State
Clubs. a director of the Republican
State committee, member of. the
Kiwanis Club and the Board of Trade
and was president and organizer of
the Harding and Coolidge Club in