The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-10-07
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
1t May Become the Headquarters OF Both
the Democratic and Republican Parties.

Washington, d. c., Oct q. 1899 -
Senator Jones, chairman Of the Demo
cratic National Committee. who has
been for several months in Europe, is
expected to reach Washington tOmor-
row. After a brief stay in this city he
will go 10 Chicago to consult with
Secretary Johnson, Of the committee.
While in Chicago Chairman Jones
will arrange for the opening OF the ma.
tional Democratic headquarters, which
will be in charge OF Mr.. johnson dur.
ing the winter Considerable prelimi-
nary work will be accomplished before
the convention meets. although the
campaign issues will depend largely
upon the developments OF the session
of Congress One OF the important
questions to be decided by the new ma
tional committee, which will be APP
pointed by the convention, is the Sc
lection Of q city for headquarters dur
ing the next campaign. Senator Jones
is in favor of Washington. and it is
quite probable that his idea will be
adopted, large number Of the Demo
cratic leaders being, like himself, OPP
posed to Chicago. The committee
worked uuder many disadvantages in
the latter city during the last campaign
not the least being the impossibility Of
securing newspaper publicity for DEM
ooratio news
Senator Jones realizes that the pres
ence In Washington OF correspondents
OF all the leading papers will insure the
wide publication Of campaign material.
In addition TO this. letters which go
out from Washington are much more
widely read and have a greater signifi-
canoe than when sent from any other
city. The committee would have the
advantage, also. OF being near to the
sources OF campaign material. as well
as being in close proximity to the op.
position candidate, Mckinley renom
ination being anticipated az a matter
Of course. All these arguments will be
laid before the committee when the
question comes up for consideration.
1t Is also Senator Jones idea TO have
branch headquarters in the West, at
Chicago and SIS. Louis, Mr.. johnson to
be In charge OF the former and ex. Gov.
Stone or Mr. Samuel b. Cook to direct
the latter. These branches could be
supplied with campaign material from
the national headquarters here.
SENATOR MARTINS VIEWS.
Senator Martin. Of Virginia. is
heartily in accord with the proposition
to locate the National Democratic head
quarters in this city. 81 think it was
q mistake, he said yesterday, " to go
to Chicago in 1896 and would not
wait until the opening Of the next
Ohu pdiku w biluk Nho hooNi SoA tNi =
here. | would establish IL IN Washing
ton az early as the opening Of Congress
in December. Here is the center Of
political thought. while Chicago is in
tensely commercial. Here we can find
all the data necessary for campaign
material and here. during the winter,
will be assembled the leaders OF the
Democratic party, whose advice and
assistance could be promptly secured.
I'VE were not treated fairly in Obi
cago in the last campaign. but we will
be sure to receive impartial treatment
by the newspapers here. bedsides which
the experienced correspondents, who
are thoroughly acquainted with the
political field, will be better able to
present Democratic views than the
newspaper men Of Chicago. By all
manner Of means. the national head
quarters ought to be moved to Washing.
ton and brought here as soon as posi-
BILE. "