Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-09
BEFORE THE BATTLE
Democrats Are Ready for the Fray
Tomorrow Night.
REVIEW OF The SITUATION
The Central Committee Combina-
ton More Than Sanguine.
GLANCE AT THE CONVENTION

The democrats Of the District have COM
pleted all their prelimr aries for the con-
test tomor ow night. and all sides are rest
ing on their arms preparatory to the COM
mencement of the real engagement.
The tickets of the central committee, or
"straght-out' combination, it is Jointly
termed have all been printed and distrib-
uted in the various assembly districts. The
candidates on the "straight-out ticket are
more confident II an ever that they will be
chosen at the COL yention on Thursday, al
though keen observers who have an init
Tate knowledge of the conditions existing
Throughout the city. ard who do not depend
entirely for Information from one side in
particular in order to base their judgment,
are of the opinion that there will be
strong tussle in the convention for the Chi
cago trip between Mr.. Geo. Killeen and Mr..
E. L. Jordan.
Messfs. Turner and LipScOmb.
The attempt to inject ex-Congressman
Turner into the campaign as an issue and
to make Mr.. Andrew Lipscomb the arch
dictator of both the platform and the policy
of the convention on Thursday is generally
laughed at. Mr.. Lipscomb is a resident
and citizen of Virginia, and has been ac-
lively engaged IN the politics of Alexandria
county, and while he is naturally interested
as a democrat in the success Of those
Of his friends here who are candidates for
Chicago, he is not exerting any such activ-
ity as he has been credited with.
Mr.. Turner is very much annoyed at the
attempts to push him forward as a factor
in the fight. He said today to Star re-
porter that the persons responsible for the
persistent publicity of the statements re-
garding his alleged candidacy for various
positions were fully aware that he did not
&C ntemDfate striving for any of the honors
mentioned.
First they have me falling over myself
in the scramble to be a delegate to Chica-
my sole ambition is to be the member from
the District of Columbia on the democrat tic
rational committee. 1 reckon If this cam
paign were to last a few days longer, they
than the nomination to the vice presi-
dency."
Increased Representation.
Mr.. James L. Norris. as the representa-
tive Of the District on the democratic ma
| tional committee, secured the adoption of
the resolution recommending that the Dis
trict be allowed six delegates in the COM
ing national convention. Simon P. Sheerin
secretary of the committee has sent here
copies of printed circular certifying the
passage of the preamble and resolutions
! referred to by the democratic national
committee at its meeting at the Arlington
Hotel InufSCay, January 10.
There is some evidence that this recon-
mendaton of the national committee will
| be opposed in the national convention
| Those who are ir favor of having but two
i delegates admitted at Chicago are using
| the arguments that no issue has been in
| jected into tine present campaign. They
! declare that every man who has presented
| himself a car didate has avoided the
discussion even the consideration CT
| any of the questions which of vital
interest to the democratic party, and which
must be solved at the national gathering
in Chicago. They also declare that the
announcement of the candidates that they
propose to follow the mandates of the
convention, no matter what they will be-
effectually takes away any influence that
| a delegation composed of six could WELD
| and that the complimentary nature of the
District representation could be as we'll
carried out by two delegates as by six.
On the other hand the friends of an in
creased representation from the District
| Oklahoma, Indian territory and Alaska
point out that the twenty-four votes thus
assured by the adoption of the national
| committees recommendation will be a
very substantial factor in assisting the
| majority at Chicago to carry out its de-
| sres not only in the adoption of a plat
| form, but in the selection of a man to
| make the race on it. 1t Is pointed out
! also that the delegations from Oklahoma,
/ Indian territory, Alaska and the District
would be a unit with such a majority on
| airy question that might be presented
/ FROM TINS, consequently, tney 1cel COM
rletcly confident Of the adoption of the
| committees recommendation and the ad-
| mission of the six delegates.
| Mr.. Norris nm Issue.
All is not as pleasant as it might be
| among the candidates on the so-called
| "straight-out'' ticket and the numerous
| democrats ir the District who are naturally
| expected to support them. An effort has
been made to secure from each one Of the
| car didates a formal promise that he will
| not support Mr.. James L. Norris for the
| democratic rational committee member
| ship from this District. Democrats gen.
| orally all over the District. no matter
| whether they are opposed to Mr. Norris or
| friendly to his interests, quite indig-
| nant over this attempt to introduce a per
sonai issue into the campaign which has
no place in It, and which. they declare
| will only lead to a REVIVAL of the bitter
| factional differences which in the mast
have torn the democracy Of the District
| asunder and destroyed its collective in
| fuence and stilled its voice, SO far as pa-
| tronage and the distribution Of the other
| frrits Of victory go. Some of the candi
i dates oY, tho coYnfua t1ou tfol>at a