Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-12-20
Senator Johason Folls Hoover
Plan.
Washington Bureau of The Baltimore
SUM-

Washington Bureau OF The Baltimore
SUM-
Washington. Dec. 15-It has not been SO
long ago that President Hoover took the
step OF making public letter which he
mad written TO Senator Hiram w. johnson,
OF California. earnestly 'apologizing for
having failed to include him among the
guests to the dinner he gave at the White
House for members of the Foreign Relations
Committee.
That omission was explained by the
President as an inadvertence for which he
was deeply regretful and after the excite
ment over the incident had died down the
general impression was that the hOnOrs
rested with the Senator from California.
The interest aroused by the occurrence was
especially lively. because il is well known
TO every one acquainted with politics that
the esteem which the President and the
Senator entertain for each other does not
bulk large enough to be discerned with the
naked eye.
Now 1t appears that Senator johnson is
the winner Of another trick which probably
will give him as much quiet satisfaction
as the Presidents letter Of apology. Incl
dentaily. the victory which the Senator has
Just won reveals how citizen of Maryland
revenue for the district OF San Francisco
in California.
The case has been attracting attention
for months in Northern California and
especially in San Francisco, but did not
come to conclusion until this week. Ii
concerned the appointment by President
Hoover early in September of Ali Oftedahl
to be collector Of internal revenue in the
San Francisco district. The nomination
was made without consultation with Sena-
tor johnson and OccasiOned some surprise
in San Francisco. When Senator johnson
was aked at the time what he thought of
the appointment he said he could not say,
because he did not know Mr.. Oftedahl and
did not know any one else in San Francisco
who did.
The present occupant of the post is John
?. Mclaughlin, appointed by President
Harding and who had the endorsement OF
labor organizations. When he was named
there was opposition to him on the part
OF many business men. but reports from
California are to the effect that he has
conducted his Office so we'll as to have
gained the solid approval of those who at
first objected to him
Labor people who backed Mclaughlin were
opposed to his being supplanted by man
VINO was 90 little known in the community
as Oftedahl and Senator johnson presented
their protests and other protests to the
Finance Committee. to which the nomina-
ton was referred. Senator Shortridge, of
California, however, supported the nomi-
nation. Senator johnson contended, in
addition to the protests he presented, that
Oftedahl was not known in California and
that he was, in fact, only "a peripatetic pro-
hibition sleuth." since his recent employ
ment had been as travelling agent in the
Prohibition Bureau.
These objections did not seem likely to
move the Finance Committee, solidly Ad-
ministrati0n. and everything was set to
report the nomination favorably on Thurs
day OF last week. On the eve of this action.
however. important information came to
Senator johnson which he investigated and
verified. This showed that Oftedahl. who
lived at Silver Spring. Nd, on November S,
1927. filed a declaration of intention TO
become a citizen and voter OF Maryland in
accordance with the law regarding voters
The records also show that in October, 1928,
Oftedahl registered in Montgomery county
as voter and the registration stated he
had lived in Silver Spring seventeen months
prior thereto. The supervisor of elections
also stated the records revealed that Ofte-
dahl voted at the election of 1928.
These things conclusively proved that
Oftedahl was not citizen OF California.
But there was more to come. The records
Of the Prohibition Department disclosed
that Oftedahl had resigned his job there to
take effect on October 10. 1929. evidently
with the expectation of passing easily
into the important new post at the Golden
Gate.
He and the President had obviously
overlooked provision of the General
Statutes which declare that Collector of
Internal Revenue must be a resident of
the district in which he serves. All these
facts were placed before the Finance Com
mittee by Senator johnson and when the
majority members saw that the nomina-
ton would be illegal there was nothing
for them to do but to say it would not be
approved.
So Maryland, it appears, will not get an
Internal Revenue coIlectorship in California
and Senator johnson is pleasantly await
ing the Presidents next move.