Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-06
DENOUNCED BY Mr.. NORRIS
Sharp Correspondence Of Interest to Dis
trict Democrats
A Story Which Mr.. HOlmead Would
Not Deny - The District De-
mOcracy and the A. p. A.

Local democratic circles are considerably
exercised over controversy resulting from
the statement that Mr.. James L. Norris
was supporting the candidacy of ex-Warden
Burke as one of the delegates to the ma
tional democratic convention at Chicago.
Interest in this statement was great, be-
cause 1t was asserted that Mr.. Burke was
to receive the support Of the A. P. A.
The attempt to make it appear that Mr..
Norris was supporting Mr.. Burke was not
regarded by Mr.. Norris with equanimity,
and some acrimonious correspondence has
passed between him and Mr. William Hol-
mead chairman Of the District democratic
committee. on the subject. The matter was
brought up by letter written to Mr.. Nor
ris by Edward C. Dawson of the nineteenth
legislative district, under date of February
q. Mr.. Dawson said: Yesterday, the 18th
February. 1896, while in the company of an
other gentleman. at the corner Of 9th street
and Louisiana avenue, I met Mr.. William
Holmead. who made the following state
ment, viz: That Mr.. Burke was either at
Mr.. Norris office, or that Mr.. Norris was
In daily communication with him, and that
he (Mr. HolmeaO could produce those who
knew this to be fact
please state If there be any truth in Mr.
HOimeadS assertions"
To this letter Mr.. Norris replied, under
date of February %:
eff Mr.. Holmead made such a statement
1t Is wholly without warrant or foundation
Of any kind, and Mr.. Holmead on the
morning of the same day had from my
own mouth full denial Of the truth of
the rumor printed in The Evening Star of
February %, that I was supporting Mr.
Burke for delegate to the Chicago conven-
ton. 1t is impossible that he should have
afterward on the same day made the
statemen mt You ascribe to him, unless he had
taken leave of all his senses and his honor
as man of truth. 1 cannot doubt the ac-
curacy of your hearing what Mr.. Holmead
said to you.
his attention to the matter of your letter
to me, and asking him to send me his
answer by return of mail. If hear from
him I will advise you"
Mr.. Norris letter to Mr. H0lmead was
written the same day as his reply to
Mr.. Dawson's inquiry, and in it ne relates
the circumstances as referred to in Mr..
Dawsons letter to the effect that Mr.. Hol-
mead had said that Mr.. Burke was in
daily communication with Mr.. Norris. He
inclosed to Mr.. Eolmead the letter of Mr..
Dawson inquiring into the truth of the
rumor, and concludes:
Il have, therefore. to ask you to write me
by return mail whether or not you did make
on that occasion the statement ascribed to
you as matter of simple justice to myself
and all concerned"
Mr.. Holnlead wrote to Mr.. Norris in re-
ply March =, and said:
Your letter of February . has been re-
ceiNeu duQ cOnSlOeFeQ. In reply i would de-
sire to state that I do not propose to be
drawn into any controversy with you over
idle street rumOrs and gossip. that are of no
earthly consequence to anybody, and are not
worthy of the attention of any intelligent
man. This is no time for democrats to stir
up d1ssension OF factional sort, and I, for
one, Will not be party to any such at
tempt"
Thereupon Mr.. Norris closed the CORE
spondence by sending to Mr. Holmead a
curt note. of which the following is a COPY:
Your note of I'd instant is received, AS
you decline to deny. the statement imputed
to you 1 shall hereafter treat the words as
having been uttered by you in the streets of
the city and shall regard you as one of the
authors of these very street rumors' and
idle gossip which you now so loftiy affect
to disdain. This correspondence will be
published to expose a plot here to place me
in false position before the democracy of
the District, and to exhibit you as the man
who, as chairman of the central committee
is attempting to introduce the religious ques-
ton into our local politics and thereby ele-
vate yourself into some position of conse-
quence at the expense of those whom you
belle and thereby injure.
when you say This is no time for demo-
Gratis to stir up dissension of factional
sort, and / for one will not be party to
such attempt you give fine Illustration
of 1t when you stand on the street corners
and belle 4 fellow democrat. -
eff you think this conduct will qualify you
for the support of the District democracy in
sending you to the, Chicago convention, and
If they think that man guilty of such con-
duct is worthy of their favor, why, then. you
may succeed il your plot but not till then"