Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-10
What of This Man Lucas?

vile, which resulted in election OF the
full Republican ticket. In the 1870
presidential and congressional conCest
he was again designated to manage tne
Republican fight in Louisville and
achieved another record when the Ken
lucky metropolis gave an unprecedented
Republican majority of $4,000.
Naturally, as a result of this long ano
intimate acquaintanceship with political
MANAGEMENT, Mr.. Lucas acquired thor,
ough knowledge of the principles ana
methods of effective political organiza-
ton. That the same principles ana
methods can be applied with equal ell
fectiveness to governmental organlza-
ton he has fully demonstrated since ms
appointment as commissioner OF IN
ternal revenue in June, 1929.
AS Kentucky revenue collector Tor
eight years he became deeply interested
in the intricacieS of Federal tax collie
ton and gradually developed an ambl-
ton to direct the administration OF the
Internal Revenue Bureau in Washing
ton. Kentucky Republican leaders had
Endorsed him for that Federal post dur
ing the early part of the Coolidge ad-
ministration, and when Commissioner
David H. Blair of North Carolina
finally submitted his resignation to
President Hoover in the Spring of 1929
efforts TO land Mr.. Lucas as his sue
ceSSor Immediately were renewed.
Andrew w. Mellon, Secretary of the
Treasury. however, was anxious to have
one of his personal aides in Washington
appointed as commissioner. The White
House political advisers were in guam
dairy. Finally they summoned MIR.
Lucas to Washington and offered him
the appointment as First Assistant POST
master General.
Without hesitation, the Kentuckian
declined that post, explaining quietly
that he was not engaged in Federal
job hunt; that he was deeply interested
in Federal tax collection activities and
did entertain personal ambition to I'M
dertake the administration of the Inter-
nal Revenue Bureau, but that he wouM
not be keenly disappointed or in the
least resentful if it should be deemed
advisable to appoint some one else to
succeed Commissioner Blair.
President Is Impressed.
This most exceptional attitude on the
part of a prospective recipient of Fed
eral patronage surprised and impressed
President Hoover, who decided to ap-
point the Kentuckian as commissioner
Of internal revenue.
Since becoming head of the Internal
Revenue Bureau little more than
year ago Mr.. Lucas has effected a quiet
reorganization within that Federal
agency and has initiated certain policies
designed to simplify and improve the
Governments big x-collectiong job. He
assumed charge of the bureau at a time
when 1t was under heavy fire at the
Capitol, particularly from Senator
can, who was chairman of Senate
committee which investigated its activi-
ties and who vigorously criticized both
Secretary Mellon and Commissioner
Blair.
Both President Hoover and Secretary
Mellon, however, have remained fully
aware of what the Kentuckian has ac-
complished in this direction, and the
effectiveness with which he handled a
most difficult situation Is believed to
have been an element in the Presidents
decision that he is just the right man
to undertake the highly important task
of putting the Republican national or
ganization again on a real fighting
basis.
When the custer Of Mr.. Huston as
chairman of the Republican National
COMMITTEES became settled proposition
the President and administration lead
ers turned their attention toward gen.
eral reorganization of the party's cam
paign machinery, in the hope that 1T Is
not yet too late to prevent the Demo-
Gratis from capturing control of the next
House of Representatives, and with
view toward laying the foundation for
the 1882 presidential campaign. The
name of Mr.. Lucas to succeed Mr.. Hus-
ton as chairman of the National Com
mittee was first suggested to President
Hoover jointly by ]. r. Mutt OF Ohio,
treasurer of that body and the most
aggressive of Huston's opponents; Sena-
tor James E. Watson of Indiana, major
ity Senate leader, and Postmaster Cen
eral Walter F. Brown of Ohio.
A few days after this suggestion had
been made at the White House the
President invited Commissioner Lucas
to be one Of his guests at week end
at the Rapidan fishing camp, where he
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