Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-17
TO GO TO ST. LOUIS
Many District Republicans Want
the Honor.
PRIMARY ELECTIONS TO Be HELD
Effect of the Action of the Ma
tionaI Committee.
CARS SONS ENTS


The struggle between the various aspi-
rants for the honor of representing the
publicans of the District at the national
convention which meets in St. Louis June
16 next is becoming more animated as the
time for their selection gets closer, and
lines are beginning TO be more sharply
drawn between the factions and followers
of this, that and the other candidate. The
diminishing preliminary to the campaign
really began in August, when a number of
meetings were held in various sections Of
the city. These gatherings were largely
called for the purpose of helping the chances
of aspirants who were opposed to a further
continuance of the power so long exerted
by Perry Carson in local republican affairs
and in most instances they were attended
by Carson himself. who managed to turn
them into popular demonstra tons in his
own behalf by reason of his popularity with
the members of his own race. These hap
peningS, however, did not have the effect OF
diminishing in the least the determination
Of the other candidates to secure, II pos
sibie, the support of the District republic
cans when the choosing tine for delegates
arrived and change was made in Their
| tactics, and species of still hunting re-
sorted to. which has resulted temporarily,
The Primary system.
The chief outcome of this plan of cam
pal gning was reached in the meeting of the
national republican committee last week,
when Powell Clayton of Arkansas pre-
scented and secured the passage of a reso-
luton providing that the two delegates to
the next republican national convention
from the District of Columbia should be
chosen at primary election TO be held in
the District and at which every republican
voter should be given full and free oppor-
tunity to vote for his choice as delegate.
The resolution also provided for the APP
pointment of three persons, who should
make all the arrangements as to the time
of such primaries. and select the places
where they should be held. l. also clothed
them with the authority to appoint the
judges of such primaries. In pursuance of
this resolution Messls. Perry Carson and
Andrew Gleeson We're named as two of
the supervisors. they are called. and the
selection OF the third which remains with
Chairman Thomas II. Carter Of the national
committee, is being eagerly awaited by all
concerned. The names most generally men
toned now in this connection are those of
w. W. Dudley ard Louis ID. Wine.
The action of the committee in this re-
gard was received with every manifesto
ton of joy by those who look upon Car
sons aspirat. ons with disfaVor ard they
claim it makes his further domination of
PARTY affairs mere impossible. Carson, how
ever, asserts that the change in the mode
of selecting delegates cannot possibly have
any bad effect upon his chances. because,
he declares it will be as easy for him TO
carry primaries as to carry convention,
as his friends will be as loyal in one way
as they have always been in the other.
4 great many persons who have no eSpe-
c;al interest in the fortunes of any of The
various candidates have been giving
considera BILE amount of serious thought to
the question of how the proposed new
der OF things will work when placed in
operation. There is no election law or
rule in the District of Columbia to control
party primaries. There is no provision for
any safeguard to be thrown around the
elections. So the question arises as to
how the primaries will he managed and
how man can be prevented from voting
early and often at each and every one OF
the various districts if he feels so inclined.
There can be no penalty attached to such
a proceeding, even if an Individual is dis
covered following il.
Another question which is being asked is
who shall be the final judges of the returns
| from such primaries. The general impress
sion is that the three supervisors will at
| tend to this matter also.
Leaders of the anti-CarSon faction open
| ly claimed at the Arlington Hotel on the
dav the committee met that Carsons fol-
lowers and supporters Were represented by
! the crapshooting, Saloon-loitering class of
| the colored people, and this assertion has
| caused great deal of indignation among
| those of the race who have supported Perry
| through thick and thin, because they be-
| l;eye he most truly represented their best
| interests This sentiment is growing. and
| is not confined to the alleged worthless
| element among the negroes, but is TO be
| found in the colored churches and socie-
| ties, anG. if primary elections are held, Will
! undoubtedly fird expression in various en-
! phatic ways when the voting is going on.
4 Multiplicity of Candidates.
| The multiplicity of candidates tor St.
| Louis adds another perplexng feature to
| the situation. There any number of
aspirants, ali with greater or less follow
| ing. and it is expected there will be d num-
| her of tickets in the primary field. First
/ there is the Carson faction, composed of
! the very same people who have carried
| Carson on to victory in many a hard
| fought battle. opposed to them is sub
| stantial class of the party whose members
think that Carson has had enough honor
/ ard should make way for new man.
Then. again, there is a large and infiuen-
| tial body Of republicans who would have
lcrg ago made their voices heard in local
| party matters had they not known they
| would have been drowned by the strident
| wells of the heelers and hangers-on of the
| active political leaders, who have run things
| to suit them and cared nothing for conse-
| uuences. These republicans. among whom
| are business men, merchants and depart
| nent clerks. are seriously considering
| whether it will not be possible by means of
| the primaries to take a decisive hand in the
direc ton of party affairs here, ana thus as
| sure their future mana cement upon a basis
| of Intelligence and common sense. 1t will
| be seen from the factors thus enumerated
| that the immediate political future in the
| District will be fraught with possibilities of
| uncommon interest.
The candidates who have thus far an
| nounCed themselves in connection with the
| St Louis convention are confined to no
| color section OF particular party policy.
Carson ana GlecSon.
| Naturally the two most prominent in the
minds of the public just now are Perry Car
son and Andrew Gleason. They have, up to
| the past six CT eight months, been shoulder
to shoulder in every local republican fight.
| But Damon and Pythias were destined to
part company. Perry, it is stated wanted
| an associate who could visit the powers that
| be and secure favors long withheld.
| He did not consider Gleeson was not
| equal to this expected emergency. SO Re
| col. cluded to cast about for some other
I .s,~.rx