The times., 1899-10-08
THE DEADLOCK STILL ON
Democrats Again Fail TO Choose a
National Committeeman.
>, wman WIthdraNs in Favor of
HoImead. But the Latter Falls Two
Norris Is still i'm the Lead 0ppo-
nents Claim His Defeat is sure.

Failure attended the second attempt of
the District Democratic central committee
TO elect a successor to the late Lawrence
Gardner on the National Democratic Exec
utive Committee, and a two hours meeting
for that purpose held last night in Meyers
Hotel only resulted in recess bsing taken
until Tuesday night
The meeting was very spirited and when
the twenty-five delegates came together
at few minutes after s o'clock the situa-
tion had been materially changed from that
which was confronted at the previous
meeting =. 4. Newman had instructed
the members of the committee who had
supported him at the first meeting TO
withdraw his name as a candidate This
left James /. Norris and W L. Holmead
TO be balioted for. twelve votes being re-
quired TO elect Considerable time was
spent in arguing the question of proxies,
but before the recess was decided on four
ballots had been taken. Mr. Norris got
eleven votes each time. and Mr.. HoImead
ten. The Ocd vote went in two cases TO
Mr.. Newman, and in the last two ballots
10 Col. WilliIm Dickson. Mr.. Norris had
gained one vote since the last meeting,
but it became apparent, as time went on
last night, that there was no hope of
breaking the deadlock, and motion for
recess was finally carried after having
been defeated several times.
The meeting was called to order by
President J. A. Clarke. The gathering was
held in the second floor parlors OF the hotel.
Suspended on the wall, back of the chair
mans table, was large portrait Of Will
lam J. Bryan, and on one of the mantle
pieces was plaster bust of the same gen.
ueman. These tokens of loyalty had been
placed in position by Mr.. Newman. whose
headquarters, in an adjoining room, at the
first meeting were occupied by the Norris
supporters last night The meeting was
held behind closed doors, but there was a
large gathering OF local Democrats in the
Hobbies and corridors of the house, a IA
vorite place OF congregation being just out
side the committee room door, from where
1t was possible to catch some of the spirit
Of the heated discussion going on inside
The question with reference TO proxies,
which was first raised. was as TO whether
those holding these documents at the first
meeting were entitled 10 vote at the second
without obtaining renewed authority from
the members they represented. The con-
clusion reached was that the meeting was
simply an adjourned meeting and that the
proxy contemplated authority 10 elect a
successor 10 Mr.. Gardner. and that until
that end had been accomplished the proxy
was good
When the balloting began it developed
that Robert E. Mattingly, who was an orig
snal Newman man, positively refused TO
withdraw his support, notwithstanding Mr.
Newman's request that he do so. Mr.. Mat
tingly was called from the room and la
bored with by the friends of Newman. He
declared vehemently that he would vote
for neither Norris nor HoImead. When in
formed that Mr.. Newman positively had
withdrawn he cast his vote in the last two
ballots for Colonel Dickson. The zeal on
the part Of Mr.. Mattingly has renewed the
hopes OF the friends of Newman and they
declare openly that he viii yet be elected
They argue that he manfully withdrew,
practically in favor of Holmead; that il
had been demonstrated that Holmead can
not be elected, and that Norris had exhib-
ited his full strength. 1t is now Holmead's
turn TO withdraw, they claim, and give
Ar. Newman chance 10 exhibit his ability
10 win the coveted place.
The meeting broke up at 10 O'Clock. but
many members OF the company and others
interested remained, discussing the sit
uation until a late hour. II was noticeable
by the ballots that the Norris vote had
changed somewhat since the first meeting
at which his utmost strength was eleven
Some OF the members Of the committee
who had voted for him at first were re-
corded among the Holmead supporters last
night, while SOME of the Newman sup
porters had made up the loss, with one ad-
ditional vote.