Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-02
Mr.. Seftons Report on Their
d Election.
STATEMENT TO McGRAW
PRIMARIES WERE CONDUCTED
Il
WITH FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE.
Why No Reference to the Boiling
Hearst Delegates is Made
Plea for Suffrage.

ST. LOUIS. Mo, July 2.-The first action
taken here with bearing on the seating of
delegates in. the democratic national con-
vention from the District Of Columbia was
by Edwin Seton, chairman Of the elections
committee appointed undo rauthority of the
national democratic committee to formulate
rules for the holding Of primaries and to
supervise the primary elections in the Dis
trict. Early this morning Mr.. Seton had
an interview with j. T. McGraw. chairman
Of the subcommittee Of the national commit
tee to which all controversies In the Dis
tr1ct were referred. He submitted to Mr..
McGraw report of the committee Of which
Mr.. Seton Is chairman, signed by himself.
]. Holdsworth Gordon and Henry Math-
eson. stating the facts connected with the
holding OF primary elections In the Dis
tr1ct. Thfs report was not signed by
COtter T. Bride.
fore Mr.. Seton left Washington. but Mr..
Bride was not then prepared to approve.
1t Will again be. placed before him when
he arrives here. and 1t Is expected he VIII
then attach his signature to it or add
any addition views he may desire. The
report submitted by Mr.. Seton deals with
matters of fact In relation to the action
of his committee up to the time he called
the primary.
MI. Sefton's Statement.
Mr.. Seton personally made an addi-
honal statement to Chairman McGraw in
the following language: 1.-The political con-
dition existing in the District of Columbia
as you well know-obtains In no other
section of the country.
TT ie parody upon an enlightened COM
munity In this country to say that it is in
capable OF selecting its own governing OFF,
Gals. The people Of the District have no
voice whatever in the selection of its local
officers and have no representative what
ever in Congress. This committee had none
of the ordinary local political machinery
upon which to build in bringing about the
results desired. To tnaugurate set Of
rules which would be entirely satisfactory
to a majority, II not to all, the demo
cratic members OF the District was
no easy task. but your committee
promptly took up the question with
which 1t was charged and did formally
adopt set OF rules and regulations which
when they were given to the public met
with the unanimous approval OF all demo-
Gratis Of the District. Primaries in the
District had reached point where to par
ticipate in them was undesrab BILE, and to at
tempt to discuss them was to excite ridi-
cule. The rules adopted for the democratic
primaries have brought about an entirely
new order of things.
''The last primary election was character
lied by fairness justice and harmony. It
has demonstrates to the people of the Dis
rtict Of Columbia and to the people at
large that the democrats Of the District
are capable, of holding party primary
which Is free from disorder and In which
the majority may fairly win"
The Boiling Hearst Delegates.
Mr.. Seton was asked why he had made in
lis report no reference to the convention held
by the betting Hearst delegates Be
cal se" he replied, this committee was
charged primarily with the formulation Of
MOI nd
aries in the District and by its chairman
called a convention to order.
THAT convention was promptly turned
over to majority of the delegates Of that
mittee ceased Immediately upon the
turning over OF the gavel to~the temporary
presiding officer elected by that convention
This committee has no official knowledge
OF any other convention held after the time
when this election; committee ceased to
exist
'Secondly-Any mention Of another con-
vention. Or. In fact. of any action that
convention so called. to order, would be en-
trely out of place in this report. We have
personal knowledge, of course, of a con-
ventfon held by the Hearst supporters. but
whether our sympathfes are for or against
them could not enter into this report This
committee will not officially participate in
any contest which may be made for seats
In the national convention on the part of
subject to the call of the national commit
tee for any data that 1t may have in its
possession which will tend to assist II in
the determination Of any contest that may
arise"
A Plank for Suffrage.
Mr.. Seton was asked whether there was
any matter beyond the contest over the
seating Of delegates from the District that
would come before the national convention
of local interest to the District. He re-
piled that he would interest himself az far
as possible in securing a plank in the plat
form in favor of local suffrage. Since his
arrival here Mr.. Seton has been appointed
by the committee On arrangements secre-
tary of the committee on resolutions, in
which important position he will be able to
keep in close touch with the formation of
the platform and to exert influence in IA
vor of plank favoring suffrage in the
District
4 imagine that the delegation that is
seated" said Mr.. Seton, will actively
fight for a plank in the platform calling
for suffrage in the District of Columbia
Not being a delegate to the convention,
can take no step as a member Of the con-
yention locking to the insertion of such
a plank, but shall use every endeavor
to bring about the desired results
II believe that the people of the District
ought to have right to select their two
civilian Commissioners. While the present
Commissioners of the District are excel
lent gentlemen. and are capable public off,
GERS yet believe that the people Of the
District should place the Commissioners in
office. After obtaining this result then our
efforts ought to be devoted to bringing
about local representation In Congress"
The recent convention m the District also
had platfefm dsciaring in favor of home
rule, which an the first instance aims at
plank H. TIE national platform for the ap-
pointment of local men for local offices in
the District and after that for the right OF
representation inTGYHgress. 1t Is expected
here that when Mr.. Norris arrives he
will have drawn up plank for these pur-
poses .,oS nj C.. E. K.
AN UNSATISFACTORY SHOWING.