Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-20
DEMOCRATS DlSCORDANT
The Harmony That Was Said to Preyail is
Sadly Shattered.
A Recent Meeting Mt the metropolitan
Hotel Leads to This New
fractional Rupture.

There is another rift in the local demo-
cratic lutte.
This new discord appears to have been
inspired by a meeting that was held in the
dining room of the Metropolitan Hotel last
Friday night. 1t was the result of letters
sent out by Mr.. James L. Norris, member
of the democratic national committee of the
District, to representative democrats IN
each of the twenty-five election precincts
in the District.
Proceedings of the Conference.
Mr.. Norris presided at this meeting and
called upon the numerous gentlemen pres
ent to suggest the names of good and true
men who would prove worthy to be among
the six delegates to represent the District
democrats at Kansas City.
This invitation was generally responded
10, and a large number of names submitted
Among these, it is understood, were the
names of Mr.. William Holmead Robert E.
Mattinsly and others who are inimical to
Mr. Norris. The latter, it is understood,
declared his objection to sending any men
win whom he could not confer con-
suit, and who, he had reason to believe,
mad misrepresented him and the conditions
in the democratic central committee to
members of the democratic national COM
m1ttee which held its session here recently
He submitted the action of the national
body in unanimously choosing him as the
member for the District of Columbia as a
REPUTATION of charges, and accordingly re-
!terated his position on the subject of Serv-
ing In any capacity in connection with
those responsible for them. This. it is
said met the approval of the gathering,
and it was decided to use every effort to
secure a full expression of the wishes of
local democrats in the primaries April 10
and the convention to follow them April II.
Claims of Holmead Men.
The adherents of Mr.. William Holmead,
Mr. MattingIy and some others who were
among the delegates to the Chicago con-
vention characterize the meeting in ques-
ton as gathering to fix up Norris slate
on the star chamber plan, and the result
may be that two sextets of delegates
from the District will be adding to the din
OF the Fourth of July celebration at Kansas
City by knocking at the Bryan convention
doors for admission. 1t will be solacing,
perhaps, to those who may be thrown out
as one six necessarily must be, to know
that there no steps in the Kansas City
auditorium where the national convention
is to be held. and consequently their exit
may not be as painful physically as it
would be under other circumstances
statement From Mr.. Norris.
When Mr.. Norris was asked by Star
reporter today about the new rupture and
the reasons given by his opponents for 1t
he contradicted forcibly the declaration
'iieil any Stale was nxed up at the Metro
politan Hotel meeting.
1T is absolutely false in every particu-
lar" he said. II have not fixed up any
slate and have not pledged myself to any
person who may be now or hereafter a
candidate for delegate to Kansas City. The
meeting at the Metropolitan Hotel was held
simply to ascertain the views of the local
district leaders, men who We're identified in
their districts heretofore with primary cleo
tons and others who have shown active in
terest in party affairs in such districts, in
order TO get consensus of their views
The best way this matter can be settled is
at the primaries by the voters themselves.
There Is no Norris slate in existence and
l want you to state that as emphatically
as possible"