The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-30

At meeting last night Of the Executive
! Committee OF the District Democrats VINO
| advocate that an instructed delegation De
sent to the Democratic National Conven-
ticn 10 vote for William ]. Bryan, held at
/ Antitrust League Hall, 1929 Pennsylvania
! Avenue, arrangements were perfected LOT
the mass meeting to be held at Masonic
Temple Hail. Ninth and + Streets north
west. at S O'Clock this evening.
Chairman Collins presided and an
| nounced that the purpose Of the meeting
was to arrange The details for tonighta
mass meeting and to decide upon presid-
/ ing officer and vice president. After CON
( siderable discussion a special committee,
composed Of Cotter 7. Bride, William Hol-
mead. and J. J. Slattery. was appointed TO
wait upon Mr. Stilson Hu;chins and invite
! him to preside over the meeting. The
committee. after communicating with Mr..
/ Hutchins. reported his acceptance. A par
tiaI list Of vice presidents was then an
nounced as follows:
Milton Hawkins. C. H. Turner, Arthur Aader-
I son. W NJ Collins. J.. : Epscumf, : :. yuS''
b. J. J. Slattery, ?. J. Ryan, Albert l. schio'
fpP L.
Alex Kent b. G. Fenwick, Gen. FLOYD Ming, ~
. : f. McShane Cotter Bride, J., :. faH'' 5"'ih
. G. Slater. Edwin \. Newman. p. T. Moran, James
Z r. LoveIess. James T. Benton, William Curian'
Tdwsrd J Frank. ). J. O'Leary =. J. Fingles
/ George Killeen. Herman Schuelteiss \ Duioni
/ William Burroughs, Dr.. d. l. Waters, william A
Taii5folr0, John BOYLE, Isaac smith, joan S-hot-
( tcrberk, George DUtrow, H. NJ Sears, W. ! lioI'@-
, man. C. ". Slater and William }. knobioch
] Tonight's meeting which, judging from
the hundreds of letters in reference to 1t,
received at the Bryan headquarters. is eX-
/ pected to be one of the largest rallies ever
held in the District, will be addressed by
many prominent speakers, including Hon.
/ Charles +. Cochran OF Missouri; Hon. W.
d. Ryan. of Buffalo; Hon. John $. Rhea,
| Of Kentucky. and Andrew a. Lipscomb, OF
! this city. The meeting Will be called 10
! order by j. a. Collins, Chairman OF the
/ executive committee. The committee an
| nounces that no seats viii be reserved.
At last nights meeting the progress Of
the campaign for instructed Bryan dele
1 gates was discussed by members Of the
committee. and much satisfaction was ez-
| pressed.
Committeeman Turner's Views.
we are working continuously said
| Charles H. Turner. member Of the execu-
tive committee, last night fearing the
weight Of money that would be placed
/ against us if our plans should become fully
I known. We have perfected working cam
paign committee. and twenty Of the TWEEN
ty-two election districts in the city are
! now fully organized.
I'VE are very much encouraged con-
/ tinued MIR. Turner, by the hearty response
/ of voters of all classes who express their
desire TO see a delegation instructed to
/ vote for Mr.. Bryan go TO Kansas City.
4 great number Of District Democrats
/ who are not personally known to any mem
Der Of the executive committee have pre-
I scented themselves at headquarters and Of
/ fered their assistance in the work OF up
setting the plans Of those who would send
vote-selling delegates to the National Con
I vention.
While the movement is only a week old,
10 announcement has been made by Ma
. tional Committeeman James L. Norris,
/ who advocates nom instructed delegate, or
I any Of those close TO him. Of their inten-
ton to support Mr.. Bryan should Mr.. Nor
. ris be successful in sending delegates 10
/ Kansas City.
Mr. Norris has worked himself into
! frenzy Of Indignation said Mr.. Turner,
! that anyone should suspect him Of anti
I Bryan leanings He contents himself with
! pointing to the fact that he supported Bry-
an in the last campaign, after his nomina-
! ticn. As treasurer of the National Demo-
/ cratic Committee he could not well do
/ otherwise. Mr.. Norris, however, carefully
refrains from disclosing his position in the
! present campaign. except that he does not
desire the instruction Of delegates.
From the present Indications, Mr..
. Turner continued. I'VE expect TO carry
+ eighteen Of the twenty-five districts with
4 ease and are by no means hopeless Of
. clean sweep in the District II the move
ment in favor Of an instructed delegation
continues 10 grow as rapidly during the
next two weeks as il has in the past few
days. the votes pledged for Bryan men Will
carry the District by three-fourths Of all
The votes cast. For the first time in recent
/ years the local Democratic wurkingmen are
/ taking particular interest in this question,
and they are almost universally in favor OF
/ an instructed delegation
J. 4. Collins Chairman Of the Executive
/ Committee. is also confident as TO the out
/ come Of the primaries for the selection OF
delegates 10 the Kansas City Convention.
There seems TO be q determination on
I the part Of certain individuals and inter
] ests TO make il appear that the energetic
! movement which has developed within the
past week is merely display In the inter
/ est Of an individual asptrant 10 prefer
mant II has been time and again asserted
:
| was no factional movement. nor has il ever
identified itself with Mr. Holmead's inter
! ests. or indeed that Of any individual. No
/ candidates for delegates 10 the National
/ Convention have been slated. nor has any
I indication OF preference for any individual
been shown or declared at any place or
/ time or by any individual connected with
the present movement.
This movement IS based upon far
broader. more dignified and patriotic mo-
/ tives than merely furthering the inter-
| osts OF success Of any individual or fac
/ ton. Il is based upon reliable informa-
ton as to the existence Of q deep laid
conspiracy for the overthrow o. the Demo-
cratic party not Of the District of Co
lumbia alone, but for the betrayal of the
National Democracy and the peryersion Of
I its platform This places the matter far
beyond the pale OF merely local politics
and makes ii OF national and worldwide
! importance. The Democrats OF the Dis
trict have had one experience Of this kind
and il has taught them 10 be on their
guard against a repetition Of such a ca
lamity-
The only defence against these cGnspir-
ators," continued Mr.. Collins. lis to send
10 the convention unCompromising sup
porters Of hir. Bryan and the Chicago plat
form. Il seems to me that under these
circumstances. and understanding the sit
uation 20 be critical. it is. to say the least
ground for suspicion when a candidate for
j The responsible position OF delegate objects
10 being instructed by his constituency as
10 the duties they desire to have him per-
form These facts. or al least possibilities
being understood. the question rises far
above a mere local wrangle between fac
lions II rises 10 the dignity of national