The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
CENTRAL
COMMITTEE
MEETS
Manner of Nominating
Congressman
Most of Them Believe in
Holding Primaries But
That Is Left to the Central
Committee of Each County

For the purpose OF determining the
manner Of choosing their party nomi.
nee for congress to represent the first
Oregon district and all the vacancy
caused by the death OF the late Thos.
II. Tongue. the Democratic state cen.
tral committee met IN the parlors Of
the Hotel Imperial at 1880 o'clock this
afternoon. Chairman Sam White Of
Baker county. presided and stated the
business OF the meeting. There were
10 OF the total 20 members present
Question Of Convention.
Tho question OF convention was
the first business Of the meeting. sew.
eral speaking on the manner OF choos.
ing delegates. Without opposition II
was decided that counties in the first
district alone have voice in choos.
ing the congressional nominee. this
being the FIRST time such action has
been taken by the Democratic party
In Oregon. nominations in the past
having boon made in the past by n
convention called from the whole
state.
The very limited time remaining
before nominations were necessary
was a vital point April 10th being the
most reno q period possible for de.
lay. II was suggested that county
committees name delegates 10 the
district convention, thus eliminating
the dclay necessary for holding regu.
latlon primaries.
Walton for the People.
II am opposed 10 any such action.
said Judge Walton The Democratic
party represents the people aud Il
should never be- sad that the Demo.
Gratis did anything that might appear
as machine or one.man rule. Lot us
have primaries, and let the people
speak,"
There were other speakers, several
taking tho stand that farmers could
not AFFORD to leave their business at
this time Of the year to attend pri.
maries. etc
II was decided. ON vote. that the
manner OF the choice OF delegates be
left entirely for the county commit
tees to determine. each committee he
ing given full power In It's own coun.
~.
Four Leading Questions.
There were four leading questions
before the Democratic state commit.
tee, az follows;
Shall there be convention. or
shall the committee make nomina.
tlon directe
How shall the delegate be select.
eds
wha' representation from the coun,
ties and how basedg
II was realized that the time inter.
venting between the committee meet.
ing and the date upon which Il was
necessary that the nomination be
made was very short and that every.
thing must be done In the most expe-
ditious manner possible. I'VE can.
not take our time; We hust handle
this thing," said Chairman White. and
his opinion received an echo IN the ac'
tions OF brother members,
with this object In view. much OF
the business Of the formal meeting
was In reality determined upon be
fore the session began. The mem-
bers discussed at length, In the lobby
of the Hotel Imperial, the quickest
way to choose delegates, and at the
same time enable the Democracy OF
Oregon to be fully represented. II
was practically decided that each
county committee would be asked 10
select the delegates. except in such
sections as this method met opposi.
ton, In the latter event primaries
would be held
Another point that was given much
attention outside the meeting was the
manner and method of conducting the
congressional camPaisn Several
plans wero discussed, but the one
most favorable was that special
committee be selected 10 transact this
political business. entirely separate
Rnd apart from the regular commit
tee.