Evening star., 1903-12-23
Local Factions May Clasf
Over Seton Appointment.
CENTRAL COMMITTEE
AUToCRATIC POWERS ARE CLAIM
ED FOR THE POSITION.
Old Bryan Wing Of the District Party
Said Now to Be Solid for
Hearst.

Every day that passes seems to add to the
likelihood of a serious clash in the local
democratic circles over the action OF Chair
man Jones Of the national democratic COM
mittee in naming Mr.. Edwin Seton men,
Der Of the national committee for the Dis
trict of Columbia, with powers to supervise
the primary election Of delegates to the next
national convention in conjunction with two
other members of a committee to be named
by him for that purpose.
Mr. Seton ID himself taking his new dig
mites calmly. and Is doing everything to
maintain his position as neutral IN the
political equation of the District. He de-
clares that he will have no part In factional
difficulties and will devote himself entirely
to obtaining fair election which Will bring
out to the primaries the full vote Of the
democrats of the District and result In the
election Of delegates to the convention who
will be admitted without the turmoil that
was experienced at the convention of 1900
But Mr.. Seton will come in contact with
the democratic central committee or the
District of Columbia. an organization whlch
ever since 1880 has made all arrangements
for the primary elections. That committee
is now in existence, with Mr.. John "A.
Clarke chairman. 1t consists OF twenty
two members. each representing one OF the
primary districts which are the same as
the old legislative districts.
What Is regarded as peculiar feature OF
the appointm ent of Mr.. Seton as national
committeeman, with practically autocrattc
powers to conduct the election here, 1t is
claimed, Is the fact that this democl alto
central committee has received no informa-
ton which might lead 1t to suppose that Its
powers, exercised for twenty-three years.
have been taken away from II exceps
through the newspapers.
1t has been the custom Of this committee
shortly after the meeting Of the national
democratic committee to hold meeting
and prepare for the primary election. Cp
dicate that the committee will not proceed
as usual The national committee Will meet
January Ia and 1t Is not improbable that
the District democratic central committee
Chairman Jones. 1t has not yet been de-
cided that any such protest shall be made,
but Its advisability has been discussed:
If such a protest is made to the national
committee it will recite that before the
democratic central committee was formed
the election OF delegates to the national
convention was a function entirely within
the hands Of the Jackson Democratic Club.
That club elected delegates from its own
membership. and membership in the club
was practically a prerequisite to eligibility
for the position of delegate.
jackson Clubs Successor.
It will be pointed out that the democracy
central committee is the natural successor
of the Jackson Democratic Club. The DEM
ocratic central committee was only formed
after It had been decided to permit the
District delegates to have votes in the ma
uonal convention. Before 1850 the District
was entitled merely to have its delegates
seated In the convention. They had no
votes. e.
In 1880 they were given two delegates
with two votes. In 1895 the number Of
votes of the territories was increased from
two to six and on motion made by Mr..
James L. Norris in the national committee
the District was given the same represen-
tatiOn
The proposition to hand over all the DEM
ocratic machinery OF the District to the
committee of which Mr.. Seton will be
chairman is being antagonized on the
ground that such action Is unusual and
would not be adopted in the case of any
state.
Representatives of the central democratic
committee also state that while there were
two primaries held here prior to the last
national convention, yet the delegates that
went to the convention Instructed for
BRYAN were elected at primaries. held ;un.
committee" They claim that, that COM
mittee never pretended to represent any
thing in the District Of Columbia except
the Bryanites. and that as Mr.. Bryan is
now out of the race that committee cannot
possibly have any standing here.
What makes this contention still more in
terestng is the fact that the old Bryan
wing of the party is now quite as well solid
ifed in favor of Hearst as It was for the
Nebraskan four years ago. They have. In
the person OF Mr.. Charles w. Slater, con-
graduated Mr.. Seton on his appointment
as a member of the national committee,
and they are ready to join hands with him
in the plan that has been decided upon by
Chairman Jones'
The third faction, made up of those who
are against sending an instructed delega-
tlon from the District to the convention, is
also taking kindly to the appointment of
Mr.. Seton This confines the opposition to
the democratic central committee, which is
popularity known as the Norris faction Of
the District democracy and which is re-
garded as opposed to any course except the
instruction of delegates for the nomination
of Senator German.