The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-03

Hall. 1929 Pennsylvania Avenue. where
meets in daily session the Executive Com
mittee representing those of the District
Democrats who favor The instruction of
delegates that go to the National Demo
cratic Convention, was the scene of muCh
activity as well Of rejoicing last night.
The rooms were packed with the friends
of Mir. Bryan VINO are enthusiastic in
working TO secure the election of dele
gates at the District primaries on April
10, who viii accept instruction from the
voters people to vote for the Neb-askan
at Kansas City.
The evident inclination of James L.
Norris, who controls the majority of
votes in the District Central Democratic
Committee. and who has all along declared
that such instruction is unnecessary, 10
join the sweeping Bryan movement. was
the chief topic of discussion at Bryan
headquarters
Charles w Slater who acted as secre-
tary OF the Bryan mass meeting, held last
Friday night at Masonic Temple, in speak
ing of MIR. Norris sudden change of heart
and the growing sentiment in favor Of in
structon OF delegates. said last night:
District Democrats today, for the move
ment favo-ing the pledging of delegates
TO vote for Mr. Bryan could not be con-
trolled by Mr. Norris or his followers af-
ter Friday nights meeting.
Mr.. Norris came ito the arena CT public
affairs of the District and practically de-
clared himself TO be the political boss of
the people, and said that he would not
be instructed as a delegate to the National
Convention. But the people of the Dis
trict held a mass meeting and from N 5
effects the movement for pledged Bryan
delegates spread until Mr.. Norris found TO
his surprise that he was no longer a boss
and that the people were declaring for
fair representation. Now he wants TO
be instructed and it is my opinion that
all the instruction he will get will be TO
stay away from Kansas City"
Let it be remembered said H B. Mar
tin, President of the Washington Anti
Trust League and a worker in the Bryan
ranks, that the fight which is now being
made for the instruction of delegates is
not only to secure such delegates to vote
for Mr. Bryan first, last, and all the time.
but also TO have those delegates pledged
TO vote for the rearfirmaton of the Chicago
platform with an antitrust plank
And one of the very strongest reasons
we have for opposing the Norris men is
the fact that their leader was one of the
principal promoters of the s12. GEO 600 cleo
trio trust, recently organized in the city of
Washington. Men who are engaged in the
business of organizing and promoting
trusts are not the kind of men TO be sent
as uninstrncted delegates to a national
convention where their principal duties
viii be to frame a strong antitrust plank
in the platform and TO nominate a candi-
date for President who will see that all
antitrust legislation. now on the statute
books or hereafter enacted. shall be stern
ly and effectively enforced.
We have today received proof of the
wisdom of not sending the Norris Candi-
dates 10 the National Convention from the
lips of some of Mr.. Norris leading men
who declared that the main purpose which
they had in view in seeking TO send an I'M
Instructed delegation was in order tina
their delegates might vote in the conven-
tion Cor such a modification of the Chi
csgo platform as would enable the Demo-
cratic party 10 win back into its ranks
those rich men who formerly contributed
large sums TO its campaigns These
charges were made in the presence of Wit
nesses who are ready to vouch for the
truth of their statements
Taking all these facts into considera-
ton. the Bryan men feel that they are
amply justified in utair fear that con-
spiracy is on foot, backed by the influence
Of the trusts. to get sufficient control in
the National Convention TO enable them 20
SO emasculate the Chicago platform as 10
make it impossible for a man of Mr.
Bryans strong antitrust views 10 con-
sistenlly stand upon it.
I'VE know that attempts similar to
those now being made in Washington TO
secure uninstructed delegates are also be-
ing made in other States. Evidently the
Democratic National Committee. which is
largely controlled by antitrust men, have
detected this secret movement and &C
cordingly have sent out their warning
circular calling upon all friends of Mr.
Bryan to see that their delegates are in
structed TO vote for him and the Chicago
platform. This conspiracy OF the trusts
so revealed gives new force TO the old
maxim that eternal vigilance is the price
of liberty"
The meeting of the executive committee
last night was held behind closed doors. |
but al its conclusion Chairman Turner |
announced that nothing but routine cam
paign business had been taken up. 1t is |
the general opinion among the campaign 4
workers that the list of candidates from /
the different districts has already been !
completed, but no names will be given I
out at present by the committee
1T Is probable" said Chairman Turner /
last night, that the names of the candi /
dates viii not be made known to The /
public until a day or two before the |
primaries are held on April TO-
II is the intention of the Bryan Demo-
Gratis, it is understood. to assign three
OF their six representatives at each polling
place to the sole duty of counting the num- 4
Der of voters who present themselves at
the polls and their taIlies, after the votes /
ere all taken, viii be sworn to. showing the I
exact number Of voters who came TO the 4
voting place. This will be done TO prove the (
in case there are more ballots /
found in the boxes than there were per- /
sons counted going to the polls II is I
probable that each ballot issued by the /
Bryan Democrats viii bear the announce 1
uent,
For an instructed delegation from the |
District OF Columbia TO the Democratic /
Convention"
Arrangements are now complete for the /
Bryan mass meeting which is to be held
at BrightwCod Hall this evening. and Mr..
Edwin Newman. who has had charge of th.,
details. says that he fears the hail will
not be large enough to accommodate the
large humber Of Democrats OF Brightwood
who desire to attend. The speakers at this 1
meeting will be Representatives Robinson
Of Nebraka. Rhea of Kentucky, Jones of
Virginia. and Mr. Blair Lee of Maryland
REMOVAL OF POSTERS.