Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-02
tions for the guidance of the primary ele
tions commission.
Chairman Sefton's Statement.

Mr.. Edwin Seftorh chairman of the cleo
tions commission. said, today:
You can say for the commission that
the members will proceed with their du-
ties as outlined by the McGraw committee,
regardless of any criticism or censure
which may be made by any faction or
factiona1 leaders. 1t is unnecessary to
say that the commission will not be intimf-
dated by threats. We will do our duty as
We see it, in the interest of no candidate,
but in the interest of fair and honest pri-
maries.''
Another member of the commission,
when interviewed, was more indignant.
I'VE don't intend to be bulldozed into any
favoritism. We are in for fair primaries
and If the shoe pinches anyone, why, it's
up to them, and not to us. Every one Of
these outbursts merely adds strength to
the opinion of the commission.
The position of the Hearst democrats in
the District is fully set forth in a letter
forwarded yesterday to John T. McGraw,
chairman of subcommittee of the DEM
ocratic national convention, by Mr.. Slater.
Mr.. Slater's Protest.
Mr. Slater says in his letter:
''I must confess that the democrats of
this District are not only surprised at the
findings of your committee, but they are
thoroughly dissatisfied with them, as they
do not believe they are based upon any rec
ord evidence or are in justice to the demo-
cratic party Of the District of Columbia
First, in your report, you state as fol-
lows:
1--WE find that James L. Norris, esq.,, of
the city of Washington was elected men,
ber of the national committee for the Dis
trict of Columbia at the convention held at
Kansas City on the 4th day of July, 1900
This you have no evidence of, but on the
contrary, you have every evidence in the
official record of the democratic National
convention at Kansas City, Mo-, in 1900,
shows that Mr.. Norris was never elected as
national committeeman from this District,
and, furthermore, that a vacancy has ex-
listed on the national democratic committee
in the District Of Columbia and does at
the present time exist.
Second, that the plans for election as
laid down by your committee are unfair
undemocratic and prejudiced, as you know
1t is impossible in the condition the party
is in in this District at this time, or at any
other time. or under any other conditions,
to hold an honest primary election with
only one Judge to count the ballots You
were well informed that the whole contro-
versy which did exist and still exists was
on account of the so-styled District central
committee, which was composed of twenty
two men, refusing to permit the other can
didates to name a judge in the primary
election. or any other election officers, but
they themselves arbitrarily appointed the
same. thus creating a. condition under
which the most fraudulent election of
which l have any knowledge. took place.
and Of which your honorable committee is
well aware, and as Is plainly shown by the
action you have taken, abrogating the old
committee by eiecting an election commits
sion to carry out rules and regulations in
order that we. the democrats OF this Dis
trict, may have an honest primary election
"As to the personnel of the committee
namely Messrs Seton. Bride, Gordon and
Matthews-four more honorable and capable
men could not have been named for the
duties OF trying to secure an honest cleo
tion for the District democrats. Person
ally. can only speak Of these men In
a ~I~.~