Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-17
A CONTEST CERTAIN
Anti-Norris Delegation to Kansas
City Chosen.
VIGOROUSLY INSTRUCTED FOR BRYAN
Proceedings Of Enthusiastic Con-
vention Held Last Night.
DENUNCIATION IN ORDER

IDENTIFICATION IN ORDER
If the ears of Mr.. James L. Norris and
the men associated with him in the direc-
tfon of what is known the Norris wing
of the democratic organization of the Dis
trict did not tingle between the hours of
and IL o'clock last night serious doubts
must be entertained as to the truth of the
theory of telapathy. Between those hours
and filling almost every crevice in them,
Grand Army Hall echoed and resounded
and re-eoched with bitter denunciat:ons of
Mr. Norris and his political partners, ma
tional and local. Adjectives of the superla-
tive denunciatory sort fell from angry lips,
and resolutions were charged with them
as well. The occasion was the convention
called by the executive committee of the
Bryan Democratic Association of the Dis
trict of Columbia. which is better known as
the anti-Norris faction. Grand Army Hall
was the scene, as has been stated. Its
usual patriotic decorations were in place,
and behind the platform hung photo-en-
cravings of William Jennings Bryan.
Closely Guarded Doors.
Entrance to the hall was by card only,
and when John 4. Clarke. one of the Nor
ris leaders, presented one of the coveted
tickets, there were mutterings about treach-
cry by some near the door, who wondered
how he got it. Besides the officers on the
stage. the only others were ]. Floyd King
and George killeen. Mr.. killeen had occu-
pied a similarly prominent place at the
Academy of Music convention.
Everything had been prepared for, ACTION
before the convention met. Typewriter
copies of the resolutions to be adopted
were ready. and the harmony evident from
the first showed that the delegates We're
ready to follow the plan of action laid
out
Capt. Collins Strikes the Key Note.
Captain ]. A. Collins in calling the con-
yention 10 order at o'clock stated that he
did SO as chairman of the executive COM
mittee of the Bryan Democratic Associa-
ton of the District of Columbia. He then
told his hearers that they had seen in the
past week the most infamous outrage on
the purity of franchise that was ever per-
petrated in the United States. and right
under the White House of the country. A
band of conspirators, he declared, had
seized the election machinery and prosti-
tuted every inalienable right of a citizen.
No parallel to the outrages and infamies
perpetrated here last week by these people,
he asserted, could be found in the history
of the country. and he wanted the voice of
protest to be heard in every section of the
nation.
He nominated Mr. Charles w Slater as
temporary chairman, who was elected by
acclaim Mr. F. l.. De Wart was chosen
temporary secretary.
Chairman Skaters Remarks.
Mr.. Slater then began to read a carefully
prepared typewriter address, in which,
after expressing his surprise at the honor
thrust upon him and his qualification there
for, he denounced the present Mckinley
administration, called Grover Cleveland a
Jn1aS TScaript nd
was the only friend the American people
had: Tremendous applause greeted this.
John X. Mclean, he said. would like TO
be the Mark Hanna Of a Dewey admins
tration. The gold democrats however
would be frustrated by the champions of
honesty, who would choose Bryan and de-
feat the trust conspirators like John r.
Mclean, the consolidated street railroad
trust and that Falstaffian genius, James L.
Norris"
After the applause which greeted Mr.. sla-
te2 substded the roll was called. Many of
the names called were answered to Here
by proxy
committee on credentials of five mem
bers was appointed. consisting of w D.
Carr. w. S. Riley, Thomas o. Day, Robert
E Mattingly and John Horstkamp, and on
motion a sergeant-at-arms and several as
slStanfs were also appointed with injunc-
items TO keep order
King and Ryan Speak.
While the committee on credentials We're
out J. Floyd King, former representative
from Louisiana, was introduced and made
a speech. He spoke for fifteen minutes in
favor Of having the democrats of the Dis
trict represented honestly in the Kansas
City convention. He characterized the re-
cent primaries as traVestics on elections He
was glad TO see the Intelligent. honest dem
ocrats of Washington, like those before
him. rising in revolution to rebel against
such infamy, and it would be a rebellion
that would be successful. Your delegates
VIII be seated at Kansas City he declared
IN conclusion, and the applause lasted a
minute.
There We're demands for "IIolmaad"
'Holmeadr' but Mr.. Holmead did not re-
spond. and W. E Ryan, who ran for con-
gressional honOrs in the Rochester, y. "
district several years ago and was defeated
by r. B. Mahaney and now resides in
Washington, was called. Mr.. Ryan is a
speilhlnder of no mean ability, and he
SCARED to the classics reviewed ancient his
tory and drew images of olden corruption
and Its results, which, he declared, would
b. repeated in this young republic If the
republican party was not estopped in its
EenaEty- But even this was scarcely as
pad as the venality which characterized the
recent local primaries. He then reiterated
MS W+u-knOwn recital of the dark Mot
commenced months ago to prevent the
nomination of William Jennings BRYAN and
declared the recent primaries We're part
OF H. There was no law creating the star
chamber Norris central committee he de
clared- II was simply a creature of tradi-
ticn existing only since 1850. The elections
held under its auspices. therefore We're az
Illegal as they were Infamous
Mr. Norris Arraigned.
Referring to the statement of Mr.. Nor
us at the las convention that he looked
into. the forces of a united democracy >,
Mr. Ryan said Mr.. Norris knew when ne
SAID 1t that % per cent of the decent demo-
Gratis of the District were opposed TO him
and his crowd Of conspirators who spent
money by fifties. hundreds and thre.. hun
dreds. as af1davits would prove who as
sailed the close friend Of William Jennings
Bryan-Mr. COtter T. Bridc-and who as
saulied Capt Collins. Mr.. Ryan also infer
ertially attributed the attack on Alovsius
johnson at Cabin Johns bridge SUNDAY
night 20 the Norris faction, johnson. or one
OF the same name. having been an anti
Norris alternate. He closed with an appeal
I" support William Jennings Bryan. first,
last and all the time. An uproar greeted
this
A committee on permanent organization
was appointed, consisting of Messrs NJ ]
Brown A. M Lay