Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-01
THE LOCAL DEMOCRACY
They Are Getting Ready to Choose Dele.
gates to Chicago.
Features of the Forthcoming Contest
Much Gossip of an Interesting
Character Concerning 1t.

interest 10 the business DSlOre
them Of selecting delegates and ahernates
to the national convention of their party,
which meets at Chicago in July. The re-
cent action of the national democratic COM
mittee in passing the resolution recon-
mending that the District of Columbia be
allowed six delegates in the forthcoming
convention mas had the effect of Inspiring
the ambition of large number of the be-
levers in Jeffersonian principles than has
hitherto been the case on similar occasions.
There is general desire on the part of
the older members of the party here, how
ever, to delay the work of choosing the del
egates until as late a day as possible. They
are aware that the recent republican pri-
maries made the Washington public rather
sick and exceedingly tired of local politics,
prelimiraries of the approaching campaign
arranged in a. quiet manner, and make
such arrangements that will procure set
Element of any factional differences that
may exist or which are liable to arise be-
fore the active work Of deciding on who
shall be delegates is taken up. 1t will be
difficult for this program to be carried out,
as there are already evidences that num-
Der Of gentlemen, representing interests
hitherto antagonistic, ara feeling their way
toward making run for Chicago.
Ex-warden's Burke's Candidacy.
and patriotic societies are already organic
ing, particularly in South Washington,
where they are strong in membership, for
the purpose of giving united support to
their candidates for delegates to the local
convention which viii choose delegates to
Chicago. 1t is said to be the intention Of
these organizations to work for the selec-
ton of ex-Warden Burke of the District
jail as candidate to Chicago and this as
democrats whose views are not consistent
with the tenets and principles of the asso-
Citations and societies in question. Conse-
quently there is feeling that something
Ike a fight will be precipitated between the
factions described, and that much bitter
ness may result before the issue is settled.
Other Well-known Candidates.
The names of other aspirants besides
Mr.. Burke which are most generally men
toned include those of VIM. Holmead,
chairman of the central committee; Chas
A. Darr, John Boyle, Frank P. Morgan,
VIM. Dickson, J. Fred. Kelley, Lawrence
Gardner and James L. Norris.
Messrs. Dickson, Gardner and Norris are
not ayowed candidates by any means but
a great deal of pressure is being brought
to bear upon them to make the race. Mr..
Boyle is a well-knoWn newspaper man.
who has been an active and vigorous work.
ing democrat ever since he could toddle
along and carry torch, and enjoys a
wide personal popularity. FIe Is member
Of the central committee, representing the
seventh district. Mr. Morgan is also q
newspaper man, and lives in the twenty
first district. He will have the support of
all the East Washington democrats and
the influence Of NJ. 7. Weller is said to be
in his favor
Mr.. Darr is a well-known business man
Of approved democratic principles, and the
others are too well known in Washington
to need any further introduction. The sys-
tenn of choosing democratic delegates to the
national convention from the District diff
fers from the method recently followed by
the republicans.
Composition of the Central Committee
There is a central committee IN the Dis
trict Of Columbia composed of one member
from each of the twenty-five assembly
districts. The present committee consists
of j. w. Tolson, first district; Wm Hol-
mead, second district; VIM. H. Manogue,
third district; John McKenna, fourth dis
trict; Thos F: Cook, fifth district; ]. Whit
Hammett. sixth district; John Boyle. sew
enth district; VIM. G. Burns, eighth dis
trict; ninth district, vacant; tenth district
vacant; Frank P. Madigan, eleventh dis,
1riet; ". j. Costello. twelfth district; j.
Fred. Kelley. thirteenth district; James 4
Roche, fourteenth district; p F. Cusick.
fifteenth district; James F. Brown. six.
teenth district; Robert E. Doyle, seven
uiStiiStp w ILL., w. w ellis, eighteenth
district; Paul Regain, nineteenth district:
Edward d. Lynch, twentieth district; Mich
ael |. Weller, twenty-first district; Bernard
A. Mcdonald, twenty-second district.
The chairman IS William Holmead: the
secretary is Thomas F. Cook, and the treas
urer William G. Burns.
The Work Before 1t.
This committee will be called together
probably about the 18th of the present
month. and will prepare arrangements for
the holding of primaries, at which dele
gates will be chosen to local convention
which VIII choose the representatives of
the party in the national body at Chicago
me committeeman in each district win be
authorized to select a polling place in his
district, and to make such other arrange
Tents as may be necessary. Three dele
gates will be elected from each of the
twenty-five districts. making q convention
composed of sixty-six members. The last
central committee was authorized to look
into the question of redistricting the Dis-
trict, but it Is probable that no change will
be made in the present arrangements, save
that the first and second districts will be
divided into voting precincts to better nc
commodate the large and scattered popuIa-
ton which they now contain.