Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
DEMOCRATS EXCITED
Great Interest in Selecting Lawrence
Gardeners Successor.
JAMES l. NORRIS PROBABLY THE MAN
Animated Meeting Tonight Of
Democratic Committee.
S l. A L f S A n D CT A NJ S

y
The democratic central committee of the
District of Columbia will hold a meeting at
Myers Hotel. Pennsylvania avenue be-
tween 41o and 9th streets, tonight. which
| promises to be the liveliest and most inter-
esting in the history of the body. 1t has
| been called to choose man whose name
will be recommended to the national demo-
cratic committee as successor to the late
Lawrence Gardner who was the member
! thereon for the District of Columbia until
bis death, recently. AS soon as the
vacancy thus created occurred there was
an animated campaign inaugurated by the
loyal adherentS OF several leauing local
democrats, most prominent of whom were
Mr.. William Holmead. who was one of the
District delegates to the Chicago conven-
ton of 1886; Mr.. Edwin a. Newman, eui ,or
and proprietor of the National Watchman;
Mr.. e l.. Jordan, who was also q delegate
to Chicago in 1,!,6, and Mr. James l.. Nor
riS, president of the Jackson democratic
Association, the oldest political organlZa-
tion IN the District, ana treasurer u tie
national committee.
Mr.. William Dickson was also favorabiy
mentioned, but he withdrew several days
ago
The local democrats both IN the central
commltte ana out of it, We're aware that
ui!ucT present cOnQ.tlOnS the national COM
rnittee would not approve the selection of
any but a dyed-in-tiie- wool and uncom-
promising Bryan and Chicago platform man
as the successor to Mr.. Gardner, and this
le aliZat;cn has led to numerous statements
and counter-statements regarding the
t.ment of the candidates above named.
Each of them, however, has pledged him
SET u absolute loyalty to Er! a. and that
famous Platform. and the battle tonight
will undoubtedly be the field composed of
MessTs. Newman, Hoinead ard Jordan,
against Mr.. Norris. with very strong
probability of the latter being made the
choice.
Members of Central Committee.
The democratic central committee is COM
posed of a delegate from>ea Of the TWEEN
tytwo election districts in the District Of
Columbia. The fifth disirc ct is vacant, but
VIII be- filed at the meeting tonight before
| the selection Of national committeeman
| Is proceeded with. The other members are
| as follows:
! Victor Boyer. Congress Heights. ID. c.,
! first: DIR. Henry Darling, Brightwood, d.
c., second; John Maher, 1905 SD street
northwest third, Arthur Small, 2:ilS y
street northwest. fourth: VIM. =. HoltZ-
claw. l1CJ PennsyiS ANA avenue, sixth; John
Boyle. New York Journal office, seventh;
" IN. J. Donovan. 1923 7th street northwest
eighth: Cha;. II. Turner. DOL d street north
west, ninth; 7. Il. Kaiotus. 2i! A street
northeast, tenth: George keitzcy, 11th and
Water streets southwest. eleventh; n Is.
Scanon, 400 9th Street northwest, twelfth:
]. Fred Kelley, Atlantic building f street
thirteenth; Frank Mctluadc, 1928 1tl street
northwes,. fourteenth: l.. l.. Jordan. 51T
9th street northwest. fifteenth: j. c. Witte-
hIndt, 3lS Pennsylvania aN enue northwest.
sixteenth: Robert T.. Doyle Florida ave
nue.. between ith and Sth. seventeenth; VIM.
l.. Wells, b1i 9th street southwest eieh-
tenth; George Kiiieen. 1877 p street norin-
| West, nineteenth: L. Lynch. Us Mdssachu-
sets avenue northeast. twentieth; John a
Clarke Gunton building. twenty-frsi: John
Il. Miller, 1863 NJ street northwest, twenty
second
The officers of the committee are: Thorn
as b. kaibfus, now en- route to California,
chairman; John y. Clarke, vice chairman
VINO VIII preside tonight; j. Fred Kelley,
secretary, and Michael b. Scanlon. treas
urer. Mr.. Robert L Mattingiy will he
proxy for MIR. Jno Il. Miller, DR. Charles
l.. Allen will be proxy for MI Kalbfus and
MIR. Jackson Gates for Mr.. Robert Z. Doyle
Several other members will also be repre-
scented by proxies.
1t was rumored yesterday that Mr.. F.
L. Jordan and Mr. William Homead would
Withdraw from the contest in favor Of Mr.
Newman, but this morning both gentlemen
disclaimed any such intention. There is
no concealment Of the fact. however, that
harmony and pool their interests in favor
OF the one who shows the most strength
ON the first ballot.
States CIrcuiated
Two states were in circulation today,
each OF which was declared to be accurate
by those having them in charge One gave
Mr.. Norris on the first ballot the votes of
Arthur Small, William b. Holtzclaw, VIM.
]. Donavan, DIR. Allen, Michael B. Scan
lon, J. Fred Kelley. Frank McQuade. j.
c. Wittlelindt, Jackson Gates Edward
Lynch and John A. Clarke. To Mr. New
man were credited Victor Boyer. George
kllleen, John Maher. John B. Miller and
Charles II. Turner. To Mr.. Holmead were
credited DIR. Darling, John Boyle, E. l..
Jordan. while Mr.. Jordan was given Geo
Neitzey and VIM. L. Wells.
TIL, The other slate ciassed Messrs. Yates.
Turner and HoltZclaw as doubtful and
gave Wittlekindt and McQuade to Newman.
1t Is expected there will be an attempt
made to unseat Messrs. McQuade and NIL
Ter. because of alleged failure to attend
meetings, but it Is not believed it will be
successful
The Probable Result of Ballots
Weighing all claims made, and taking
into consideration all the conditions II ia
highly probable that the first ballot will re-
suit in substantial majority for Mr. Nor
ris over his nearest competitor, and the
second in the great majority of the COM
mittee casting their votes for him.
AS to Mr.. Norris fidelity to Mr.. Bryan
/. cannot be questioned, his friends saw by
any one who is aware of his support of
the silver statesman in the last campaign
when he devoted both time and substance
to the cause. On the occasion of Mr. Bry-
ans tour in 1896 of West Virginia and
Ohio Mr. Norris accompanied him and
worked zealously in his behalf In case of
his selection. which, as before stated is
regarded as probable, no doubt is felt that
the action of the central committee will be
ratified by the national body 1t is under
stood that in case of the election of Mr.
Norris he will at once resign his position
as treasurer of the national committee and
will use his endeavors to have Mr. New
man succeed him. Mr.. Newman stated
this afternoon that in case Mr.. Holmead
did not withdraw Mr.. Norris would be sure
ly elected. Mr.. Holmead declared to a Star
reporter that he would not Withdraw under