The Washington times., 1904-01-10
GRIGGS' ENDORSEMENT
BONE OF CONTENTION
How He Enters Into MaSSa-
chusetts Wrangle.
CARRIED BOSTON DISTRICT
Keliher Elected by Means of an Edited
Telegram, 1t Is
Said.
CARRIED BOSTON DISTRICT

That is the all-Important question in
the Conry-Keliher contested election
case before Election Committee, No. l. /
OF the House OF Representatives. The /
committee may not. and very likely will |
not, decide the case upon this question, |
but that was practically the only issue |
raised between the two claimants to |
the right TO represent the Ninth dis |
trict of Massachusetts in the House.
Griggs is a member OF Congress from |
Georgia, and was chairman of the |
Democratic Congressional Committee. |
Joseph A Conry. the contestant. and !
John J. Keliher. the cOntestee, now hold |
ing the seat are both Democrats. and |
during their exciting canvass in Novem- |
Der. 1902, each sought the Endorsement
of Mr.. Griggs. Griggs Endorsed Conry |
personally. but not officially. and there |
upon the whole contest is based
Democratic Stronghold.
The Ninth Massachusetts, is the most
answering. nOn-purchasable. ever-reli- |
able Democratic district in the United
States. II has more incorporating
Democratic voters than any other dis
trict. not excepting the Tammanyized
districts of New York. There is never a
slump in the district or a question as TO
how II viii vote. Even In 1894. when the
great Republican tidal wave swept over
the country. inundating the Democratic
party. and leaving only thirteen Demo-
cratic members OF Congress. outside Of
the South. from Cape Cod to the Golden
Gate. the Ninth Massachusetts stood
firm. and rolled up the usual Democratic
majority.
Ii is the old Faneuil Hall, cradle of
liberty, district of South Boston. where
the population is nine-tenths Irish and
equally Democratic Formerly ii was
represented in Congress by the Hon
Johnny" Fitzgerald but "Fitz'' mar
ried a wealthy BOstonese and moved up
on Commonwealth Avenue. leaving his
Democratic brethren in South Boston to
struggle among themselves for the honor
of wearing the craftsmanship toga
which he had exchanged for broadcloth
and silk stockings. From his handsome
residence in Back Bay he has looked
down with complaisance upon the inter
necine fight of his fellow-Democrats.
r Comfy His Successor.
Conry succeeded Fitzgerald ard served
one term. He made a good but quiet
record. and wanted the honor of being
returned. Keliher an equally good DEM
ocrat who had served I'm the Legisla-
ture. likewise desired TO represent the
district another local leader also aspir-
ed to the office They conducted a three
cornered campaign for the nomination.
which resulted in the arrival OF the time
for the filing of nominations without ac-
ton of tie convention. which took fruit
less ballots in an efforts to decide.
Then the third candidate withdrew.
and both Conry and Keliher, being with
&l..,l
race as Independent candidates. the one
as a National Democrat and the other
as a Citizen Democrat. There was also
a Republican in the field. but he did not
count. his chances running about even
with the Prohibiuonist.
Got Griggs' Endorsement.
Both Conry and Keliher sought the
Endorsement of regularity. and there is
where Mr.. Griggs. an entirely innocent
party. came into the controversy.
Various tricks and manipulations were
resorted to by the two Democrats TO
induce the voters Of the district to be-
lieve that he was the regular candi-
date. Finally Conry wired Griggs. who
was in Washington. for an Endorsement
Griggs replied that while 1t would not
be proper for him, as chairman, TO
would say nevertheless that, personally,
he believed Conry's record entitled him
to denomination, and that ne hoped
ne would be reelected.
Thereupon Conry edited the telegram
so as to cut out Griggs' personal in
dOrsement. and published the same as
an oficial Endorsement of the chairman of
the Democratic Congressional Commit
tee. That was two days before the
election. Immediately the Keliher sup
Porters set about TO counteract the
effect Of such action on the part OF
Griggs, for II was apparent to them,
at least, as Conry intended IL should
be, that the voters OF the Ninth were
only waiting to hear from Griggs. whom
they did not know. who was the real
thing in point OF regularity in their
district. for the South Boston Democrat
Will accept nothing which does not
bear the stamp OF regularity
Kept Wires Busy.
The Keliher managers kept the wires
busy TO Washington until they finally
found Chairman Griggs at his desk
troubled with trying 10 figure out how
he could carry the House. He had no
interest In contests between Democrats:
what ne wanted to see was Democrats |
drIedb 1AepubuCduE, not one another. /
But the Keliher managers finally got
his ear TO telephone. and told him |
what Conry had done with his tele- |
gram.
Griggs reiterated that he had indorsed |
Conry personally. hut disayowed any
official Endorsement. This conversation
the keliher supporters shaped into a |
message In which Griggs was made to |
disciaim any Endorsement whatsoever. |
either personal or official. and this they
published in bold black type upon the I
front pages OF all the papers on the
morning before election, thus branding
Conry as a falsifier
Keliher Wins Election.
Election day came on and upon count
of the votes Keliher had 253 more than
Conry. and each had more than twice as
many as their Republican opponent
no was in the also ram class. Conrv !
now charges that enough voters were
Influenced TO believe by the publication
made by Keliher that he was a liar Ia
have caused his defeat. while Keliher
maintains that he was also injured bv