Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-03
CONFIDENT FACTIONS
Norris and Anti-Norris Democrats
Both See Victory.
One LEADER STATES His POSITION
Interest in the Approaching Contra!
Committee Meeting.
QUESTIONS TO BE SETTLED


With their primary election just a week
off the local democrats are growing more
and more animated and the supporters of
Mr.. Norris and his antagonists, who COM
prise the. opposing forces, are preparing TO
make most determined efforts to win control
of the city convention. to be ncld two
weeks from today, 1T the Academy of Mu-
sic, the delegates to which will be elected
next Tuesday evening. Both sides, too, seem
to be as confident as they are determined.
The spokesman of the anti-Norris faction.
which declares a delegation instructed for
Bryan and the Chicago platform shall be
sent to the Kansas City convention. assert
that they will be triumphant beyond any
doubt, and state that the strength of their
movement is growing every hour. They
even claim that the meeting of the demo-
cratic central committee. which is to be held
at Costello's Hall, on street between 9th
and Ith street. tomorrow night, will result
| in showing that the control of the body.
which has hitherto been absolutely eXer-
cised by the Norris men, will pass into their
keeping.
Mr.: Norris and his friends, on the other
hand. declare as positively that they are
mora confident of victory now than they
have ever been, and as for the claim that
the control of. the central committee will
pass out OF their hands they characterize
1T as sheer nonsense.
The warning to all democrats to instruct
delegates for Bryan and the Chicago plat
form issued from the press bureau of the
democratic national committee and nub-
lished in The Star yesterday continues to
be the subject of general discussion among
the democrats here.
Mr.. Norris Makes a Statement.
In conversation with Star reporter to-
day. Mr.. Norris said there was considerable
misrepresentation regarding his position as
to that circular
I'm recent letter which 1 wrote to the
Monroe county democrats at Rochester"
said Mr. Norris. Il strongly urged recon-
Citation and unity of action among all
democrats. The circular letter issued by
the press bureau evidently does not agree
with my views on this subject and | fear
that If we do not receive recruits from the
republican party. and secure united action
IN the democratic party, We may be unable
next November to elect our candidates nom
mated at Kansas City. A vast number of
laborfng men in the employ of corpora lions
mad been forced to vote against the Chi
cago platform in 1896 and 1 believe the
instructions in the circular letter. if car
REQ out, would prevent even these good
ana loyal democrats from coming back to
support our next presidential nominee We
need every vote we can get in order to meet
with success al the election in November
with reference to Instructions" con-
tinued Mr.. Norris. Il have stated that
would prefer not to go under Instructions
put II the District convention instructs the
delegates, l. like every other loyal demo-
crat, would respect such a decision 7
know there were number of democrats
who remained away from the polls In 1886
who We're not gold bugs. and as these men
old NOT vote for the Chicago platform they
might feel as if they could not get back in
10 line next November if the Instructions
OF that press bureau circular are 10 be
taken as correct and authoritative
Will Vote for Bryan's Nomination..
4 do not know of a single person who
has been named as a possible delegate to
Kansas City from the District of Columbia
but who has stated that he would if an op-
portunity afforded itself vote for The
nomination of Mr.. Bryan. This is also my
position and has been all along, notwith-
standing the cry of anti-Bryan, an issue
that Is unfair and false in this District. as
there is no anti-Bryan conspiracy"
Thinks This sound Policy.
81 have been acting said Mr.. Norris in
conclusion, under the direction of the ma
tional democratic committee as expressly
declared in circular letter, dated Washing
ton. u. c., February %, 1900. An extract
from that letter is follows:
:" All democratic conservative reform cii-
LeiiS VI tHe tIlteu states, irrespective oil
past political associations and differences
who can unite with in the effort for
pure, economical and constitutional govern
ment, and who favor the republic and OPP
pose the empire, are cordially invited to
join US in sending delegates to the conven-
ton
Il understand this to be sound democratic
policy and have done all in nv power 10
make 1t effectual-'
Central Committee Meeting
no Nf h.
committee tomorrow night is expected to
be lively If the claims of the anti-Norris
men that they have made substantial in
roads on the members former sympa thies
prove Well founded Two important mat
ters Will be considered The first will be
the report of the committee appointed
March 10 to draw up rules for the govern
ment OF the primaries and provide for the
selection of officers of election and re-
turning board. This committee consists of
Messrs. j. Fred Kelley, Edward Lynch, VI.
B. Scanlon, Frank j. McQuade William j.
Donovan, Thomas f. Connor and W. It.
w alen, all of whom are Norris men. A
report has been agreed upon. which it is
understood is approved by all except Mr..
Whaen
1t will favor the custom heretofore fol-
lowed or permitting members of the
trail committee to name the election Off
GERS In their respective districts. Mr.. Wha-
len prefers to allow the voters at the pri-
maries to choose their own election officers,
or. in case this is not practicable, to direct
each central committeeman to give the
Norris and anti-Norris men equal repre-
sertation In the judges of election.
The other matter to be settled will be the
consideration of the request of the anti
Norris faction to be allowed representation
at the polls A large crowd is expected at
the meeting to be held tonight at Bright
wood Hall under the Bryan democrats au-
spices and preparations are being made
for the overflow in another hall near by
The speakers will include Representatives
Rhea of Kentucky, Jones of Virginia Will
liams of Mississippi, Wilson of Arizona
Switzerland of Nebraska. Mr.. Blair Lee
| of Maryland and several others. Mr. Edwin
A. Newman will call the meeting to order