Evening star., 1900-08-11
THE FRICTION INCREASES
DEMOCRATIC WINGS OF DISTRICT
SEEM WIDER APART THAN EVER.
The Recent Happenings at Indinnap-
oIis-What In Believed to
Have Taken Place.

Norris factions of the District democracy
seems to have been substantially increased
by the recent meeting of the democratic
national committee at Indianapolis, at
which the question of choosing member
of the body to represent the District of
Columbia was virtually left to the voters
here for settlement. This action was
great surprise to Mr.. Norris and his friends,
who confidently looked to his election as
his own successor. and 1t is freely declared
by some of Mr.. Norris adherents that the
course pursued by the subcommittee was
dictated by no less a parsonage than
William Jennings Bryan. 1t Is also de-
clared by the same persons that If the
election had been put before the national
committee the members of that body, with
the exception of three or four, would nave
voted for Mr.. Norris.
An animated scene occurred 1t is under
stood, when Mr.. Norris met Senator Jones,
chairman of the national comm:tte, after
the subcommittee had taken the action
noted.
1t appears, so those conversant with the
matter state. that while the national COM
mittee was in session friends of Mr.. Norris
got Mayor Taggart of Indianapolis to re-
quest the committee to give a hearing to
the representatives of Mr.. Norris and Mr..
Charles w. Slater, his opponent for national
committee honors. Mayor Taggart, it is
understood. reported. upon his return from
the mission, that Senator Jones had de-
clared such request should not be granted
because the talk would keep us here a
week.
Thereupon the subject was disposed of by
the subcommittee, which had In charge the
contests not only In the District, but in In
dian territory and Oklahoma as well, the
same action of referring the controversy
back to the respective constituencies for
settlement being taken in each case.
Animated ConversatiOn.
iS further said that Mr. Norric op1
former friend. Senator Jones, had a very
warm verbal engagement in an Indianapolis
hotel after the result was known in which
Mr.. Norris did the largest share of the
bombar dment.
1t Is understood that Mr.. Norris, with his
attorney, Maj. Menzies met Senator Jones,
and that during the preliminary conversa-
ton Senator Jones suggested that an easy
way out of the misundersta nding in the
District of Columbia would be for the two
existing central committees to meet and
select a new central committee, the latter
to take charge of everything rela ting to the
democracy here. Upon hearing this, 1t Is
understood, Mr.. Norris dec ared there was
but one central committee in the District
the other, he claimed, being irregular. hav-
ing been selected at a mass meeting and
organized upon no recognized basis.
Committees Are Equal.
Senator Jones. 1t Is said replied to this by
calling attention to the fact that the ma
tional convention at Kansas City had ef-
fectually recognized both wings of the local
democracy in giving both sets of delegates
equal representation in the gathering. and
therefore he believed the central committees
now in existence here had apparently equal
rights to be regarded when any question
affecting the District democracy was raised.
1t is alleged that Mr.. Norris then up
braided Senator Jones for the latter's APP
parent antagonism to him, and recited what
he had sacrificed for thu party and pleaded
that the national committee be called to-
gether again. II only for five minutes. The
chairman, declining to do this, Mr.. Norris
1. is understood, declared that II the matter
was referred back to the District he would
get majority of nine-tenths of the voters
whereupon Senator Jones remarked that II
such a sentiment was true, Mr.. Norris could
control the selection of a new central com
mittee and be easily elected: that he was
the kind Of a democrat VINO believed the
majority should always rule. and conse-
quently favored giving the District demo-
Gratis a chance to make their choice
1t is also understood that Senator Jones
afterward said to others that If the two
central democratic committees of the Dis
trict could not get together in harmonious
action, he would exercise his authority as
national chairman and appoint a central
committee himself.