The times., 1900-03-22

The expected test OF strength between
the Norris and Holmesd factions in she
Democratic Central Committee OF the
District OF Columbia did not take place last
night as has been freely predie'ea
would By followers Of both leaders. The
committee met al Myers Hotel on Penn
svlvania Avenue between Four-and-a-had
and sixth Streets but everything passed oil
peaeefuIlv. or the eighteen committee
mont present Two only were Hoimead men.
These sat throughout the meeting quietly
watching the proceedings. The Norris
people were careful not to disclose their
plans and adjourned after a short session
without doing anything Of Importance
There were however, several significant
episodes which though slight In them
selves disclosed the spirit OF the Norris
followers.
quorum was present at $50 o'clock,
when Vice Chairman John L. Clarke, in
the absence Of Chairman Kalbfus, who is
now in the Philippines. called the meet
Ing to order. The minutes Of the previous
meeting were ordered read. and, with ie-
markable celerity. the secretary began
that meeting from r. L. Jordan, mem
Der Of the central committee from The
Fifteenth district. naming h. j. Scnulteis
a his proxy The chairman, without walt
ing for the completion Of the reading,
asked Mir. Schulteis where he resided. The
latter replied that his home was in New
York Avenue between Fourth and fiitn
Streets northwest. Mr.. Clarke then IN
ftr1cted the secretary to read the bound
y
cid the data having been previously pre-
pared apparently in anticipation OF the
question The description showed that Mr..
Scbulteis lived in the Fourteenth district.
The section Of the constitution governing
the appointment OF proxies was then called
for. and with as little difficulty as in he
first instance. the section was found and
read showing that Mr.. Schulteis was not
entitled 10 act as proxy for Mr. jordan
The chair then refused TO recognize Inn
said one Holmead man. referring 10 he
matter. 1t runs like Clockwork and looks
very much like put up job. They have
the law on their side to be sure, but the
move looks as If they were trying to rid
the committee CT as many Holmead people
as possible. Why don't they get rid OF one
uf their own men Killeen. who represents
She Nineteenth district which is in the
northeast. while he lives in Georgetown.
j.
committee Of seven appointed at the last
meeting 20 make arrangements for hold
inE the primaries. reported that the com
rnittee had practically done nothing ard
that il was sin doubtful whether the
Academy Of Music could be secured for
o Arril Il for the general district conven-
lion II would be definitely known to-
morrow. he said further meeting will
De held about the middle Of next week
T..fr a natl OF
that the committee does not intend 10
make the plans public, especially with
reference TO the manner OF selecting
Judges Of election The Norris men, it Is
until shortly before the primaries when
they hope TO take Mr Holmead and his
followers by surprise.
Another thing in the situation which is
regarded as being OF significance is the
length Of time intervening between the
date set for the primaries and that OF the
general convention.
a Holmead committeeman. in converse
tion with a reporter said:
Il have been a central committeem man
for many wears. and never before has there
been SO long a lapse between the primaries
and the convention. i has always been the
custom TO hold the convention two days
after the primaries. In the present in
stance. however a whole week interveues-
/ think that Mr. Norris has laid his plans
90 that he can bring his peculiar methods
70 bear in case he finds himself short in
votes after the primaries. ] think he pre-
fers 10 work on the concentrated basis
r. her han over q large area 90