Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-21
HEADQUARTERS QUESTION
DEMOCRATS ANXIOUS TO HAVE
THEIRS IN WASHINGTON,
Claim That They Have Been Given
Unfair Treatment in
Chicago.

democrats are somewhat agitated over
the question of location of their campaicn
headquarters for this year The headauar-
tiers was in Chicago in '96, and there ia
sun a sort Of headquarters there, most of
the work that has been done during the
past year being from that point, and most
OF thelr records and whatever outfit they
have being now there
1nere is decided objection however on
the part of many democrats to the location
OF the national committee headquarters at
mat place this year, in view of the en-
parrassments and difficulties encountered
there by Chairman Jones in 'g6.
Fom many points of view Washington is
regarded as the best place for the national
headquarters. Some democrats are yerv
earnest In their preference for Washington.
Wflle some prefer other places, but The feel,
ing Is very Widespread that Chicago should
De avoided Two points in particular that
indlcate Washington for the preference are
.iiat aS IL IS the great fountain head of pol.ti-
ca! material and that 1t is the principal
news center of the country and political in
formation issued from Washington is more
iairiy handled both by the local press and
ents.
Unfair Treatment In ChicarO
1t is a notorious fact that in Chicago IN
found 1t practically impossible to get any,
,hiEg like fair treatment from the press.
Hostility was carried to such an extreme
that bulletins issued from the headquarters.
announcements by Chairman Jones Issued
IN quotations under his own name, were
changed and distorted in print so as to
quote him as saying something utterly at
variance with what he actually said Type-
written announcements were changed so as
TO make them say directly the opposite 10
What they contained and, thus distorted,
were credited as official from the demo-
cratic headquarters. Chairman Jones was
utterly helpless to reach the ear of rhe
pubi1c, except through such brief dispatches
as were sent out by the Associated Press
1t was almost impossible for newspapers
anywhere in the country that did NOT send
special men from tkeir home offices TO ger
even the current routine announcements
correctly stated. 1t was almost unknown
outside the headquarters what the national
committee was doing. Men who had dis
lorted mater given out, changed quoted in
terVieWs and misrepresented things gener-
ally. would simply laugh in the face of
, ,harnan Jones or any one else who taxed
them with it, treating the matter as a great
Joke or smart thing.
Different in Washington.
Democrats who remember this experience
declare that they do not want to again
sition to be ''marooned" as it was In 'a6.
All unite in agreeing that there is never the
danger of their being treated in like man
ner by the Washington newspapers or
correspondents, even when the papers and
correspondents oppose them politically
They say that they can count on honest
opposition, where they encounter opposi-
tlon, and that official utterances when is
sued from Washington, if used at all, are
never distorted.
This is regarded as a matter of greatest
Importance and there is a strong sentiment
in favor of putting the Headquarters in
Washington
About the only objection raised is that it
will involve tearing up root and branch the
organization in Chicago and the transpor-
tation of all material assembled there to
this city. BY those who favor Washington
this is regarded as of minor Importance
compared with the advantage of being To-
Gated where they will be sure to receive
fair treatment.