Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-23
NORRIS SLATER FIGHT
SUBCOMMITTEE TO ADJUST MAT
TER TO MEET NEXT WEEK.
Slater Preparing Evidence of Fraud at
Democratic Primaries-Norris Case
in Charge of Senator Blackburn.

1t is expected that the subcommittee OF
| the national democratic committee appoint
ed to determine as to the rights Oh MF'
James L. Norris to be seated as member
of the national committee from the District
of Columbia and to inquire into the meth
DDS of and draw UP plan for the demo-
cratic primary election here will meet at
the Shoreham Hotel next Wednesday.
At that time it is expected that there will
be quite lively combat between the FORCES
of Mr.. Norris and those of Charies w,
Slater. The subcommittee has sent TO en-
cago for all papers bearing on the case that
were presented to the national committee
four years ago but up to the present time
it has not been learned that these papers
have been found. The papers of the natlon,
al committee were very VolumihouS anu
were stored without sufficient oruer 10 per
init any particular document to be found on
short notice. In fact it is quite doubtful
whether the 1000 affidavits that were MED
with the committee by the Slater faction
can be found for consideration py the
present subcommittee.
Mr.. Slater Preparing Evidence
Mr. Slater, however, is preparing evidence
bearing on the case and when the suocom-
mittee meets will present his statement
independently of any documentary evidence
that the subcommittee may receive from
Chicago. At the last meeting of the sub
committee Mr. Slater was unprepared, stat
ing that this case was entirely embodied III
the evidence already in the hands OF the
national committee and it was on his re-
quest that an effort has been made 10 secure
those affidavits.
In the absence of sworn affidaV1ts that
were secured four years ago, it is under-
stood that Mr.. Slater will ask the sub
committee beside hearing his own statement
of the case to call certain witnesses IN the
fat, tlior yxrit h
DDS of the last primary election. Among
these witnesses and perhaps the most ri
portant of them ALL Will be Lieutenant
Daily of the metropolitan police force. An
effort will be made through these witnesses
to prove that the election held by the rega-
lar democratic organization here, acting I'M
der instructions of the democratic central
committee, We're fraudulent. and did not
give an opportunity for the democrats OF
the District to fairly express their views at
the polls. If the subcommittee cares to go
into the matter thoroughly, vast array
of witnesses will be called, but it is not
believed that that course will be adopted
The Norris Faction.
The Norris faction has already presented
it's side of the case in full, to show that
under all proceedings that have been taken
by the national committee Mr.. James l..
Norris should be given his seat in the ma
tional committee the committeeman for
the District OF COlumDld. lney claim tflat
there has been no action to prevent the
seating of Mr. Norris, while the Slater fac
ton wishes to have the position of commit
teeman held open until another primary
election may be held, and the delegates
chosen at the primary election have had an
opportunity to select a committeeman.
In presenting Mr.. Norris side of the case
Senator Blackburn did not go into the mat
ter of charges of fraud at the election, as
that has not formally been made an issue
in the case. He declared in a general way
that the elections were properly conducted,
and that they We're not the subject of criti-
cism. He will wait until the other faction
alleges charges. and it is understood he will
demand a specific statement of these
charges. together with proof. After that
has been done the Norris faction will I'M
dertake to show theiS side of the case. and
from the feeling that exists on both sides
1t seems likely that there will be very
stormy meetings when the subcommittee
gets together.
The popular interest among democrats in
the District is centering most particularly
upon the plans for the primary election to
De decided by the committee There is a
plan on the part of good many democrats
Tor additional polling stations and addi-
uonal safeguards against possible collision.
Both factions speak confidently of their
ABILITY to win out in fair election