Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-29
SkIRMISH FOR POSITION
NORRIS AND HOLMEAD FORCES PRE-
PAIRING FOR BATTLE.
Organizing for Vigorous Fight in
Tomorrow Night.

The skirmishing preliminary to the pitched
battle which is to be fought by the Norris
and Holmead factions of the local democ-
racy at the primary election. April TO- is
continuing with increasing warmth. to say
nothing of the bitterness engcndered.
While this is going the engineering corps
OF both armies. in the guise of executive
committees. are preparing plans for the en-
gagemcnt with shrewd strategy.
Norris Men Control Organization.
The Norris legions appear to have con-
siderably the best of the situation, SO far
as organization is concerned.
The rule in vogue here is to have the
judges of election at each polling place in
the twenty-five election districts appointed
by the member Of the central democratic
committee for such district. and as nearly
all these members are now pronounced Nor
ris men, 1t can be easily seen what an adj
vantage this will give them. The subcom-
mittee of the central committee created to
draw up regulations to govern the prima-
ries. and which will make a report at the
meeting of the fun body to be held at Mey-
ers Hotel tomorrow night is also composed
of Norris men. 1t Is also an undeniable
fact that many local democrats who are
influential in their respective districts, and
who were vigorously opposed to Mr.. Norris
four and eight years ago. are now as indus
triously working in his favor.
Holmead Men Express Confidence.
The Holmead people, or, as they now
prefer to be called, the Bryan people, do
not admit that the conditions above recited
will prove to be insurmountable obstacles,
and they are organizing their forces with
a view to Offset these apparent advantages
of their opponents
The committee of nine created at the
meeting held In Oppenheimers Hall Mon
day night met last night at the joint offices
- r. %LA Arti
Trust League. No. 1923 Pennsylvania ave-
nue., and selected six men in each Of seven
teen districts to act as working committees
at the polls.
service in the remaining five districts Will
be completed tonight. 1t was decided to
place ticket containing the names OF three
delegates and three alternates TO the city
convention, all to be dyed-ln-the-wooi
Bryanites, in each district, and to conduct
a personal democrat Ito democrat campaign
in their behalf. AS stated in The Evening
Star heretofore, the defeated faction at the
primaries and in the city convention will
PROFESSIONALLY send contesting delegation
to Kansas City.
What May Happen.
This certainty leads many prominent DEM
ocrats who are active in the national affairs
of the party to lean strongly toward the
opinion that such move will probably re-
suit in the future elimination Of the District
democrats from any participation in ma
tional conventions. well as from repre-
sentation on the democratic national COM
mittee. This was expressed to Star re-
porter today by man high in democratic
councils.
1.-The quadrennal wrangle that character
ICES the democratic organization in the Dis
trict, as well as that among its political
antagonists, would be amusing were 1t not
so disgraceful. To read the newspapers
and hear the talk one is led to believe that
the only question before the local demo-
Gratis is whether they are owned by Mr..
Norris or owned by Mr.. Holmead. If the
local democrats had any votes in a national
election it might be advisable to tolerate
even such exhibitions as they are guilty of.
but as they are neither fish, flesh nor fowl
when it comes to voting, L am inclined to
think they will be queted in the near future
by being deprived of the privilege of raising
Cain every four years.
The Bryanites are arranging for q
mass meeting at Masonic Temple, 9th and
F streets, tomorrow night, at which it is
expected addresses will be made by Repre-
sentatives Rhea of Kentucky. Cochran Of
Missouri, w. A. Ryan of Rochester and
Andrew A. Lipscomb Of this city.