The Washington times., 1904-03-11
DECISION FAYORS
NORRIS AS LEADER
fractional Fight in District
Democracy Ends.
REGULARS NOW in CONTROL
Contest Beginning in Kansas City Con-
vention Four Years Ago Finished
With Slater Deposed.

The Norris or regular Democracy OF
the District has won a signal victory
for which it has been struggling four
years. The subcommittee Of the Demo
cratic n tiOnal Committee which was ap-
pointed on January y last to hear and de-
eide the issues between the two factions
Of the local Democracy will meet at the
Shoreham this afternoon and hand down
its decision. 1t is already known that
this decision viii be in favor Of seating
James l.. Norris, as member Of the ma
tional committee for the District Of Co
lumbia
The subcommittee viii also appoint a
committee Of five citizens of the District
TO draft, or supervise the drafting.
rules for the government of the District
primaries which viii probably be held
some time EeXt month, for the election
Of sfxty-siX delegates 20 a city conyen-
ton which viii in turn name six dele
gates and six alternates to the national
convention to be held in St. Louis on
July 6. The members Of the committee
which will meet this afternoon and
formally proclaim their decision are Ma
tionaI Committeeman MeGraw, of West
Virginia; Ellyson, Of Virginia; Gourley,
OF New Jersey Mack. Of New York, and
Guffey. Of Pennsylvania.
Recognize the Regulars.
The decision viii be virtually a recog-
milton of the regular Democracy Of the
District which has been in existence
for many years.
The present fight in the ranks Of the
party IN the District began four years
ago, when the campaign was opened
for the election of delegates to the Kan
sas City convention. The primaries re-
suited in the election of an cverwhelm-
ing majority OF Norris delegates to the
city convention. The defeated candi-
dates afterward held a ''rump" conven-
ton and selected a contesting delega-
ton to go 70 Kansas City.
The national committee decided unan-
imously in favor Of the regular dele
gates. but when the matter was taken
up by the committee on credentials in
the confusion of convention matters.
hoping to promote harmony, which it
failed to do, decided TO seat both dele
cations. each member with half vote.
Resulted IN Tie Vote.
With this representation. when it came
to the selection of a rational commit
teeman, there was tie. Mr. Norris re-
ceiVing three votes and Charles W.
Slater, representing the contesting dele
g. ton, also received three. a commit
tee was appointed to determine which
should hold the seat, but for nearly
four years failed TO do its work. and
the question then came up again at the
time of the meeting of the national COM
ulittee here last January, when the time
and place of holding the next conven-
ton were fixed.
The subcommittee of which Mr. Nc
GraW is chairman has held several
meetings here and heard arguments
upon both sides. 1t has had the mat
ter under consideration. since the final
arguments We're presented, for nearly q
month, with the result that it has de-
cided that Mr. Norris is entitled TO the
seat in the national committee 10 rep
resent the District.
Rules for Primaries.
The question regarding the primaries
which has also been in dispute, the com
mittee VIII decide by the appointment
Of a special committee of five Demo
Gratis of the District 10 formulate rules
and regulations. This committee viii
be composed Of representatives Of both
factions Il is probable that il Will act
in sort Of advisory capacity TO the
Democratic central committee, whose
duty Il has always been TO prepare these
rules
The decision which will be reported