Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-10
LOSING NO SLEEP
Local Democrats Are Actively at
Work for the Primaries.
CAMPAIGN FOR CHICAGO CONVENTION
Features of the Canvass That is
Already Progressing.
QUESTIONS TO BE SETTLED

The local democrats are displaying more
and me re interest in the approaching seIec.
lion of delegates 10 the Chicago convention.
and the canvasses being conducted by the
various candsdat are becoming more Wig
orous and animated. During the past few
Gays strong effort has been made to force
MI Henry E. Davis into the contest: but
MS declaration announced in The Star
some weeks ago that he would not take
part in the fight still holds good. and will
continue to do SO. The gossip connecting
Mr.. Frank p. Madigan's name with the
campaign is also unfounded as he will
not even take part in the deliberations of
the central committee of which he is a
member, but will be represented by a
| proxy. Mr.. NJ. I. Weller will adopt the
same course and will tender his proxy to
Mr.. Frank p. Morgan
The central committee will hold n roaa.
Ing shortly and determine upon the date
or holding the primaries for the selection
OF delegates from the assembly districts
TO the nominating convention 1t will also
provide for placing safeguards of some
character about the polls This protection
may take the shape of having a registra-
ton of democratic voters previous to the
election, but II is probable that it will he
secured by the selection of three Judges
IN each voting pi ecinct who will be men
OF VIDE acquaintance in their particular
reject the ballot of every one who they
may have reason to believe is not demo-
crat or who lives in another assembly dis
trict. 1t Is pretty well decided that the
Judges Will be chosen with the understand
ing that they shall only certify the votes
received by bona-fide dyed-in-the-w
democrats, no matter who's the candidates
may be or how many votes they may get.
Reasons for This Policy.
This procedure has been suggested be-
cause of the vigorous interest the A. p A.
is taking in the pending democratic cam
paign. The manner in which the associa-
ton is Strengthening its ranks and increas-
ing its membership is attracting much az
tention.
All over the District, and particularly in
South Washington, the canvass for members
of the organization is being vigorously
prosecuted, and it is open secret that this
activity is largely due to a desire OF the So
ciety to command the future political des-
TIMES of the District of Columbia, not only
in a democratic, but in republican way as
well. The democratic leaders, however as
sumo an air of indifference to the A. p. A.
They dismiss the subject by declaring that
the A. L. A. principles are directly opposed
to those of the democratic party, and that
a member of the association could not be
consistently a democrat Consequently,
they declare that no credentials to the local
convention would be issued to such a per-
son by the primary judges, even if he re-
ceived an overwhelming majority OF the
votes cast in the assembly district.
Contingencies to BE Met.
Considerable speculation is being indrlged
in upon the question of District representa-
ton in the Chicago convention. The pres
eut rules recognize the District as Icing
entitled to two delegates, while the national
committee recently passed a resolution
recommending that the number be in
creas ID. This acri IN does not, as many
pl de ha nat or ThaRa
is any close contest apparent in the conVen-
uoa over the currency question, the iinan-
cial tendencies of the delegates chosen in
the national capital Will be very carefully
looked into, and if they are not satisfactory
to the majority of the committee on ere
dentials, which will, of course, represent
the majority of the convention, the addi-
tional four delegates will not be given
seats. In order, therefore, to provide
against all contingencies and any sort of a
contest before the convention, the MEM
bers of the central committee are cons!d-
ering how the order of precedence among
the SIX delegates who will be chosen may
be established. The consensus of opinion
seems to be that IL will be proper to take
the two candidates receiving the highest
number of votes in the nominating con-
vention and equip them with credentials
as the two delegates already allowed, and
to give the four receiving the next highest
votes credentials 20 be used in case the
Chicago convention decides to admit six
delegates.
HoImead and Boyle.
With this end in view the committee VIII
probably adopt the system described and
thus leave 10 room for dissatisfaction and
bitterness. The candidates who are now
regarded as most formidable are Chairman
VIM. Holmead of the central COMMITTEES
and Mr.. John Boyle, who is also a member
of that body. Their names are being
spoken of with general favor and always
coupled together Both are popular and
there is no doubt about the stalwart char
acter of their democracy.
Rumors have been rife lately that Dr. J.
Walter Drew would be a candidate for DEL
egate, but this is not SO. Had Campbell
been elected governor of Ohio, DIR. Drew
would nave made a fight for convention
honors, but he said today to a Star reporter
that he was not in the race but would give
his hearty, active and vigorous aid 10 the
cause Of Chairman Holmead and Mr. BOYLE