Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-29
Cotter 7. Bride Threatens to
Resign From Commission.
HONEST PRIMARIES
MUCH DISSATISFACTION AMONG
RIVAL LOCAL POLITICIANS.
Leader of the Hearst Forces Uses Some
Vigorous Denunciatory English
Regarding Committeeman Norris.

The condition OF democratic politics in tho
District OF Columbia is becoming acute
The subcommittee of the democratic ma
tional committee. stirred from It's three
weeks lethargy by constantly increasing
dissatisfaction among democratic voters
last night gave out it's report, declaring Mr..
James l.. Norris national democratic COM
mitteeman from the District of Columbia,
and defining certain limitations under which
the primary elections commission shall. con-
duct its proceedings. The long impending
announcement of the personnel of this COM
mission has been made. Mr.. Cotter T. Bride.
Mr.. Edwin Seton, Mr.. J. Holdsworth Cor
don and Mr.. Henry s. Matthews being the
gentlemen selected.
But this morning came more startling de-
velopments. Mr. Cotter T. Bride dissatis-
fed and believing honest primaries still inn
possible. it is understood, has declared his
intention of Immediately resignlng from the
commission. Charles w. Slater. leader of
the Hearst forces in the District, declares
Mr.. Norris will not be seated in the ma
uonal democratic committee the report OF
the special subcommittee to the contrary
Notwithstanding. He will appeal the entire
question to the national democratic COM
mittee, to be contested at its meeting two
or three days before the date set for the ma
tional democratic convention. When asked
this morning what he thought of the report
of the subcommittee, Mr.. Slater said:
MI. Slater's Opinion.
1T does not amount to anything. although
it is an outrage upon justice. There is every
evidence that Mr.. Norris was never seated
as national democratic committeeman, as
will be borne out conclusively by the official
record of the last national democratic con-
vention. The convention never intended any
man should be arbitrarily seated, and
1t did intend that the democrats of the
District of Columbia should have a fair and
honest election in the approaching pri-
marfes.
"As far as the rules ard limitations pro-
mulgated by this subcommittee of the DEM
ocratic natio lal committee are concerned
am of the opinion they We're drawn up by
Mr.. Norris and his attorneys. Furthermore.
l believe the members of this subcommittee.
Mr.. John T. McGraw. Col. j. Taylor Ely
son. Mr.. James M. Guffey and Mr. w. b.
Gouriey. will be left at home and will not
participate in the next convention as I do
not think the citizens of their respective
states viii stand for such fixed aud ufl-
fair decision. A fight will be carried into
each of their states by the democratic vot-
ers of this District. IL is a committee OF
mllionaires arrayed against the interests
of the plain and common people who de-
manded what was their right under the
Constitution of the United States and what
they still demand.
Furthermore, the subcommittee had no
jurisdiction or authority and its report fs
not hnai, by any means. 1t is only a
recommendation by two OF the members OF
committee of five. There never has been
a quorum present, nor has there ever been
a majority vote, as far as | can ascertain
The democrats of the District will not SUBJ
nit to ,Jch an arbitrary ruling and a con-
test is absolutely certain. My contention
for four years has been for an honest pri-
mary election, as opposed to the arbitrary
appointment OF judges at the polls by a
committee of twenty-five men This SUBJ
committee has usurped the prerogstive of
the people by assuming the arbitrary pow
er of laying down such rules as will per-
NIT Mr.. Norris TO name one judge in each
OF the twenty-five districts, which means
practically the same condition of affairs as
existed in the last primary election In
the District.
Judges Of Elections
"The democratic voters demand that they
be permitted to select judges and election
officers when they assemble at the polls 70
cast their ballots. There is no doubt but
that a convention of local democratic voters
will be held in each of the twenty-five leg
islative districts Three delegates win be
elected from each district to the local
convention which will III turn elect six
delegates to go to the national democratic
convention in ST. Louis. This matter will
be settled by the committee on credentials
in the national convention itself, the high
est and final authority of the party.
.sI have no objection to the personnel OF
the committee on primary elections. 1ust
selected, as they are honest and able men,
but it is impossible for them to give
honest election under the rules which have
been laid down by the subcommittee of the
national democratic committee"
Mr.. Edwin Seton. one of the members OF
the primary elections committee, when
shown this last statement Of Mr.. Slater's,
said:
while 1 have not carefully read the re-
rort of the subcommittee 1 have discovered
ubj jrh will ne
mitigating rules and regulations which VIII
give the local democratic party an honest
primary. ] also believe the committee or
which / am member has II In its power
to do great good to the party in the Dis
trict OF Columbia As a member of the
COMMITTEES 1 prefer not to discuss the re-
port of the subcommittee"
Report of q Compromise.
The majority of the leading democratsn
the District are of the opinion that the
port of the subcommittee is compromnA
for the reason that while Mr.. Norris y
sele eted as national committeeman, he is a.
feated in his opposition to new rules fer
primary elections. The Slater faction has
lost in its personal fight against Mr.. Norris.
but has succeeded in having certain new
rules promulgated, however distasteful they
may now appear to be- 1t has been pointed
out that Mr.. Norris Is the recipient OF an
entity title, as the national democratic
committee will not meet again until oay
or two before the date of the convention.
and IL enough anti-Norris delegates can be
sent to st Louis Mr.. Norris viii undoubt-
edly be unseated..
Al best his position cannot last over for
ty-eight hours, according to the opinion a.
generally expressed. Mr.. Norris has the
satisfaction however. of being told that he
has been national committeeman for the
past three years, although neither he nor
the committee has been aware of it until
now.
The report has served one purpose, In
nower of both the local democratic central
Committees. The power which has former
ly been vested in these committees has been
transferred to this committee of five, the
fifth member of which is to be selected by
the present four members. Should Nj.
Bride resign the committee viii be In a pre-
In -iIncerfain what c0llrna