Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-16
A LIVELY Sc RAP
Opening Chapter in Campaign
for District Delegates.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED
PRESIDENTS FRIENDS NOT Salts
FLED WITH MEN CHOSEN.
Attitude of MI. Bradshaw and Mr..
Chase is Questioned-Re-
fuses to Talk.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED

There is a pretty lively little scrap on
in District republican circles as the opening
chapter of the campaign for delegates to
the Chicago convention of June 81 next. The
trouble concerns the personnel of the local
committee of three selected to conduct the
primaries. which 1t is said has al anti
Roosevelt complexion. Things are progress
ing, however. and it is rumored that changes
are in prospect which will in every way be
satisfactory to the Roosevelt adherents.
The national republican committee last
Saturday appointed a committee of three to
arrange for the holding of District pri-
maries. This committee consisted of Sena-
tor Louis e. McComas of Maryland, Mr..
John w. Yerkes. commissioner of internal
revenue. and Representative Brownlow of
Tennessee. This committee conferred on
the subject of the appointment of purely
local committee to arrange the details and
actually conduct the primaries next spring.
1t was natural that the should consult Col.
Myron M. Parker. the District member of
the national committee. Col. Parker sub
United list of three names. They were:
Chaplin Brown, attorney.
w. Calvin Chase, colored attorney and
delegate to the republican convention of
1900
L. P. Bradshaw clerk in the District en-
gineer department.
Without going into the details of the
situation or considering the matter fur
Their, the national committee of three an
nounced the appointment of Messrs.
Brown, Chase and Bradshaw.
1t did not take long for the news to
travel in political channels, and when the
Stalwart republicans of the District learn
ed of the selections they came out strong
ly with the statement that the committee
was entirely too anti-ROosevelt to suit
them When these charges reached Sena-
tor McComas, Mr.. Yerkes and Representa-
tive BrownlOw they Immediately set about
to investigate them
1t was limited that perhaps Col. Parker
was not supporter of the President. II
that should be true the indica tons were
that Mr.. Chaplin Brown was of like opinion,
for 1t was known that he and the local ma
tonal committeeman are in close touch as
to political ideas.
Calvin Chase there was no doubt about.
Although Mr.. Chase today says he is for
Roosevelt, his attitude in the past has
caused him to be put down anti
Roosevelt man. AS Chase is expected to
be a candidate for delegate, the local re-
pubhcans were more concerned over his
presence on the committee than any OF the
others.
Mr.. Bradshaw's Position.
With regard to Bradshaw there has been
some doubt on the part of the republicans,
for he is not as well known IN the party
council his relation, Mr.. Aaron Brad
shaw. In running down the rumors as 10
the opinions of the committeeman, 4 Star
reporter approached Mr.. Bradshaw, and
asked him for statement as to his pc
sition.
1.-THE republicans of the District will he
given ample opportunity to express their
preference for delegates to the national
convention, said Mr.. Bradshaw, after
pleading he was too busIy engaged In the
transaction of public business to talk poll
tics.
But he was asked. "have you no opin-
ree?"
II can't talk about that he replied
Are you for the denomination of Presi-
dent Roosevelt?"
I'D rather not say"
Further than this the young politician
would say nothing The proverbial clam
was as babbling busybody compared to
him.
AS stated, Bradshaw is employed in the
engineer department of the District gov
eminent He is largely engaged in inspec-
ton work, and is constantly about thecity,
thus having an excellent opportunity to
mix with the people if he should see fit,
privileged in this respect beyond most
government clerks. He is suspected of be-
ing against the denomination of Mr.. Roose-
welt, for those who have interrogated him
argue that If he were in favor of the Pres
ident's denomination there would be no oc-
casion for his hesitating to say so.
W. SdIN III AIdSt, however, Is perhaps the
most interesting figure just now in the
equation. He is deserving of especial at
tention at this time, for the reason that
the prophets declare he is soon to be elm
mated from the situation, SO far any Of
fetal relation with the conduct of the pri-
maries is concerned at least
The local politicians are recalling in their
talks anent the coming convention the Won
derfully vigorous stand taken by Chase
four years ago in favor of Lieutenant Gov
ernor Timothy l.. Woodruff of New York
for Vice President and running mate to
President Mckinley. 1t was conceded at
the time that the Woodruff boom was a
personally conducted affair regarded more
as joke than as serious factor Never
theless Chase, for some reason the local
republicans could not account for, fought
with undying zeal for the selection of Mr..
Woodruff.
The same interests that swayed delegates
at that time might be supposed to have an
influence this year and might account for
the positions taken by delegates which
would otherwise be hard to understand.
The interests in opposition to the admins
tration are lively and generous in their
consideration of their followers.
To Consider Matter.
Senator McComas, 1t is stated, will call a
meeting of his associates, Messrs Yerkes
and Brownlow for the purpose Of further
considering the personnel of the local COM
mittee and the selection of successor to
Mr.. CnaSe.
The committee is said to have satisfied
itself that Colonel Parker is a Roosevelt
man, and that If the majority of the COM
mittee submitted by him were not friendly
to the administration 1t was not through
any design on his part. Both Colonel
Parker and Mr.. Chaplin Brown are said to
be strong adherents Of the President. Mr..
Brown has been in New York the past few
days and could not be seen by a reporter
It is said that Mr.. Brown will surely re-
main on the committee. no matter wha,
other changes may be made. The feeling
against Chase Is so strong. It Is believed, as
to make his serving an impOssibility. With
regard to Bradshaw dual forces are at
work.
Can He Server
One of these is very serious doubt as
to whether the District Commissioners will
approve of his taking such publicly active
part in the campaign as would be necessary
in the personal conduct Of the local pri-
maries. The rules of civil service do not
apply to the District government II they
did Mr.. Bradshaw could not possibly serve
IT.. fcctc have