Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-25
MIR. MELOY's EXPLANATION.
His Exact Position in Regard to tn
Recent Conventions

Ills Exact Position in Regard to the
Recent Conventions.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
May 1 not avail myself of your courtesy
and love of justice to correct some things
IN your article of yesterday on THE Fight
OF Factions in Prince Georges county,
which might otherwise do me a wrong?
1 am reported to have characterized 1.-The
primaries held July 81 as an outrage"
In this 1 was certainly misunderstood
possibly through my own faalt-but 1 can
not let this pass, for 1 have no personal
knowledge of any of the fourteen primaries.
except that in Kent (my OWN election dis
drict. There, through my counsel and per-
sonal influence, the program laid down In
the call for primaries" issued over the
names OF the state central committee, was
suffered, without objection. to be carried
out by young man just from school, not
voter In the county, never before in a nri-
mary meeting, not known to more thar n
oozen OF those present, but who said he
was the person named in the call. He ac-
cordingiy, from paper in his hands, read
uut tne names OF judges and clerks of the
ineetlng. But as he did not propose to
h.hoer vote by ballot, nor the keeping of
poll list, my advice was, for peace's
sake, to suffer this once. the wrong. done in
their own officers
AS result the primary was without dis
turbance OF any kind, perfectly fair and
nonest, ike every other primary in the dis
t LII curing the ten years past which 1
nave ATTENDED. This primary therefore
was not disgrace, but an honor to INV dis.
trict. ~ my MS
1t was perfectly understood on both sides
that r Wnether the Mudd- Merrick influence or
me mn elected their delegates 1 was the
cnoice OF the district and to be supported
ny them 1or the senatorial nomination.
-, pu. Mhat may have said, and what I
am ready to stand BY is this:
Inc call by a republican state cont-,l
coininlttee which assumes to deny to re-
pupHcan voters assembled in primary
meeting. the full exercise of their natural
tish. ~ eject their own officers is without
preceoent or justification in the constitu-
tlon OF the party and an outrage on he
people. oA 'ie
whether such a call is so ultra wires as
10; ~ IiuiHlv II, and Justify the people in hold
ing primaries, and county convention at
the time and place named bv this commit
zee, regardless of their unla .vfui acton. Az
was zone In many districts, is a nice and
l,,osl i.Hportant question which the sta.e
convention at ocean City tomorrow ought
10 consider and decide calmly and wisely
IoI on It's action depends four republican
votes In the next general assembly.
Whit intended to characterize as dis
grace 10 the party in the county was the
manner in which the Mudd convention 90
called, was conducted; because when the
ticket written out by him, and read nv
capt. Potter, was presented, and its ac-
ceptance moved, the chairman forced IT
through by sheer celebrity, and his wanton
ana most unfair, If not rnparliamentary.
REFUSAL to recognize or permit -any ~ the
oeieeates who rose and did attempt to
MAKE otner nominations, until he had in
the most absolute and peremptory manner
declared the motion adopted, and himself.
with the others SO named by Mr.. Mudd.
dne choice OF the convention. myself saw
deiesates rise within four feet of me. /
myself heard delegates call loudly on the
chairman TO make opposing nominations.
ana L saw the chair look them stolidIv in
the race and go on with his call to his dec
Iaratlon or the result, while they stood nm
needed and defied
1t was because Of this-because I beliey-
ca II wanton outrage upon the rights
OF the people; believed that the convention
mad In 1act had no privilege or opportunity
LOT cno1ce OF nominees, and because. or
the other hand, found that the other con-
vention had put in nomination for the
state senate, In defiance of the constitu-
ncer on the retired list, that / announced
myseif through the county press an in
dependent candidate for the state senate
on the platform of fidelity to the Constitu-
ton and fidelity to the interests of the
people as against any boss rule whatso-
ever.
And now as soon as these warrfffy fac
tons Will lay aside the strife for personal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and agree upon any eiutelli-
gent unpledged honest republicans, on
these two PRINCIPLES, whether they will
ultimately vote for Mr.. Mudd OF Gov.
Lowndes, or Mr.: Gray or any other man.
for the United States Senate. am ready
and shall be glad to retire, and spledge
WILLIAM A. MELoY.