Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-30

Mrs ddrr1Iy Explains HIS heIh-
tions With Membership Of the
National Committee-WaS Salts
factory to Chairman Jones and
His Place Was Never Declared
Vacant.
Philadelphia, Pa, August 29.-Wil-
liam F. Harrity tonight sent letter
to John NJ. Garman, chairman of the
Democratic State Committee, defining
his position of the movement agitated
by certain factions of the party to
oust him from the National Commit
tee. After referring to the call issued
by Chairman Garman for meeting
Of the State Committee at Reading,
Pa. tomorrow night-the eve Of the
State Convention-"for the purpose Of
considering the question Of the vac2n-
cy in the membership from PeTnsylva-
mia in the Democratic National Com
mittee and Of filling such vacancy, if
the same be found to exist Mr.. Har-
rity continues:
In the campaign of 1896 the DEM
ocratic National Convention delegated
to its campaign committee the power
to declare vacancies. In pursuance Of
that power, James K. Jones, on be-
half of the campaign committee, on
October Is, 1896, raised the question
of nv attitude towards the Democratic
party. and | made reply to him, under
date Of October 20, 1896 My answer
was accepted as entirely satisfactory TO
Chairman Jones, and he so declared
and so decided He declined to make
a vacancy or assent that one should
be made Enclosed you will find
copies of the letters which passed at
the time. which, I trust will. with
this communication, be submitted for
the consideration OF the members Of
the Democratic State Committee"
Mr.. Harrity then refers to the reso-
luton defeated at the State convention
of September 10, 1896, requesting
Chairman Jones to declare Harrity s
place on the National Committee va
cant.
Proceeding, he says:
"It will thus be seen that at the pro-
per time for the consideration of the
matter in controversy. if there was any
reason for raising the question at all,
namely. in the Presidential campaign
of 1896 the Democracy of Pennsylva-
MIA EXPRESSED its opinion in my favor,
and the Democratic National Commit
tee. through its chairman, decided that
there was not sufficient reason for my
removal from membership in the Dem-
ocratic National Committee. Even
within the past few years, namely, on
July 90. 1897. Chairman Jones has
written me that your letter TO me last
fall impressed NE as straightforward,
candid and manly. and | accepted it as
being entirely satisfactory to me.
II have ventured TO suggest that
7 hoDed that wise councils would
prevail at the Reading convention, and
that the outcome would be Of that
character that would be an invitation
to all Democrats to take an active and
aggressive part IN the coming cam
paign. which may fairly be regarded
as the preliminary skirmish OF the gu
bernatOrial and senatorial contests OF
1898. I regret 10 notice. however. that
the indications are that some Of the
Democratic leaders, among them some
who are officially connected with the
organization Of the party. are bent up-
on a course which they mistakenly
think will benefit themselves. regard
less of its effects upon the party itself
or It's future.
THE attack made upon me by some
Of those within the Democratic party
in PENNSYLVANIA is uniustifable, and
in the main It IS prompted by selfish.
unworthy and malign motives. By
their wilful and malicious misrepre-
senta,ions. they have misled some 9TH
ers into the belief that in some way
have been inimical 70 the Democratic
party and its interests But such is
not the fact. I have never voted any
other than the Democratic ticket and
have never supported any other than
Democratic candidates. That has been
my habit. I have 10 desire 10 change
1t and I do not intend to do 50. II is
nv hope and expectation 10 vote ior
the nominee of the Reading c0nyen-
tion.
ALLOW me 70 add that I do not BE-
lieve that success ought TO or can al
tend the efforts OF those who are 50
narrow and bigoted as To insist tia
the declarations 81 a political conven-
ton are 50 binding upon the political
cOuscienCes Of the members Of the par
" as 10 drive from its membership all
Of those who do not accept implicitly
every lien and every letter Of its very
dogma or doctrine.
Chairman Jones himself was broad
enough 70 express this same belief
when he declared my letter 10 him was
a straightforward. manly letter which
seemed TO cover the case completely.
If at any tine in the future the
Democratic National Committee. the
only body now having jurisdiction Of
the qualification Of its members. since
the work and life Of the campaign
committee. TO which il had delegated
its power in the premises ended with
the campaign OF 1896. shall think it
proper 10 further consider the matter.
I shall cheerfuly submit 10 its author
ity and bow 10 IFS decision. Respect
fully. w. T. HARRITY|
The enclosed correspondence coDsists
Of a letter from Chairman Jones, 0cto-
Der Is. 1895. asking him 10 ate his
position in the national camTaign. and