The evening times., 1899-10-09
TO CONTINUE THE VOTING
The District Democrats Will Meet
Again Tomorrow Night.
Another Effort TO Select National
Committeeman 10 Succeed the Late
Lawrence Gardncr-High Import
ance of the 0fF.cc and the InfiG-
ence Exerted by the Incumbent.

The contest of the local Democrats over
the selection of a representative on the
National Democratic Executive Commit
tee continues, and third meet
ing will be held tomorrow night
at Meyers Hotel for the pur-
pose of bringing about an election. Two
futile attempts have bsen made in this di-
rection, and the struggle has narrowed
down from five to two candidates. If
some of the twenty-five delegates o. the
Central Committee VIII oonfine their votes
TO the regular candidates, James L. Nor
ris and William Holmead, instea1 OF per
sistently throwing them away on those
who have withdrawn or who cannot be
elected" said a prominent Democrat this
afternoon, THE desired result will soon be
obtained-tomorrow night, likely, on the
first ballot.
"As there has been a disposition among
many who do not understand the political
situation in the District of Columbia 10
ridicule the interest manifested by the dis
frapchised politicians in their oTganiza-
ton" he continued, "a few points on the
local Democratic situation will be inter
esting:
the Office of the National Democratic
Executive Committeeman is the highest
that can be conferred on the District OF Co
lumbia by the party. The committeeman mas
the same vote and may have the same in
fuence in the party councils OF the nation
as the national committeeman from any OF
The States. This committee is the very
compass OF the national party. II directs
its affairs provides ways and means, con-
ducts its campaigns, and often shapes its
policy. Next TO the National Convention
itself it stands as the highest authority
OF the party. The term OF national COM
mitteeman is four years.
The fact that the District OF Columbia
is without suffrage increases The local i'm
portance of its national committeeman. He
is the local party leader, and when ms
party is in governmental power, he Is the
recognized chief adviser in the distribution
Of the patronage, there being no insignih-
cant number of District Offices. He is in
fuential at all times in the multitudinous
local affairs, but under Democratic Pres
ideut he comes nearer being mayor OF
Washington than any other citizen To
be a national committeeman, therefore,
even for the District of Columbia, is 10
hold high place OF honor, sufficiently con-
spicuous for national reputation. 1t is the
highest office within the influence OF Dis
trict Democracy, and this fact accounts
for the great interest taken in the efforts
of the Central Committee to select the right
general to lead the local forces and 10
represent them nationally"
This Central Committee represents the
District of Columbia by districts, twenty
TWO in number. The organization through
which these delegates are chosen repre-
sents the Democratic population of the
District. At stated periods each district
holds a primary election to select dele
gates to a general convention, and each
set of delegates names and instructs its
representative on the central committee,
which is known as the executive body Of
the organization, with certain and tenta-
tive powers. The next primaries viii be
held in all the districts in the spring TO
send delegates to the District convention,
which must elect six delegates TO the Ma
tional Democratic Convention, to be held
in the summer. These delegates will have
all the privileges accorded the State dele
cations, and viii participate in the organi-
cation of the convention, and cast six votes
among the Presidential and Vice Presiden-
tial ballots, thus helping 10 choose the
nominees.
The man selected as the representative of
the District on the National Democratic
Executive Committee obtains great prestige
10 be also elected delegate TO the national
convention, where he is usually recognized
as the king bee Of District Democracy. Col.
James L. Norris was the National Commit
teeman in 1896, and when defeated by the
late Lawrence Gardner was, by the unani-
nous vote Of the committee, retained as its
treasurer. Thus the District of Columbia
was distinctiyely honored with two places
on the committee, although, of course, pos
sessing but one vote.
The three priucipal candidates who have
been in the present struggle before the
Central Committee are James l. Norris
William L. Holmead, and Edwin A. New
man