The Saint Paul globe., 1904-12-16
GET INTO STEW OVER
CHAIRMAN STEWART
Prohibition National Committee
Members Make Charges and
Would Remove Him


CHICAGO, Dec. IA serious con-
troversy is on in the Prohibition par
tvs national committee, which met
here today. A. A. Stevens, of Penn
sylvania. sprung a surprise on the COM
mittee by reading motion he had pre-
pared for the removal of Oliver w.
Stewart as national chairman, sup
ported by thirty three charges. The
principal charges contained in the mo-
ton We're: Failure to advise with the
executive committee in preparing for
the recent campaign; recklessly using
$4,000 in circulating a prohibition pa
per published at Hartman, Tenn;
maintaining at the expense of the ma
tional committee a branch headquar-
ters in his legislative district, where he
directed his personal campaign; ignor-
ing the presidential candidate and his
platform; general incompetency in the
conduct of the campaign and personal
arrogance as a chairman of the ma
tional committee.
Committeeman Vaniss suggested that
a vote of confidence in Chairman Stew
arts personal honesty be taken and
then that he be invited to resign. Com
mitteeman Manners, of New Hampshire
moved as substitute that all the
charges be Investigated.
An attempt to table this substitute
failed, by a vote of 2S to 16. Later the
Maniers substitute was voted down
along with Stevens motion to remove
Chairman Stewart from office. Then
Committeeman Dickie moved a COM
promise substitute declaring that
Chairman Stewart had not embezzled
any funds, but that the strained rela-
tions existing between the chairman
and large number of the party lead
ers made it expedient for him to re-
sign. While this motion was under
discussion an adjournment was taken
until tomorrow night.
Stewart Answers Charges
Earlier in the day Chairman Stew
art faced his accusers and re-
piled to their charges made during
the last presidential campaign. He de-
MED every charge against him and in
return attacked John G. Wooley, who
led the fight on Stewart A. A. Stevens
read the report of the auditing commit
tee which Investigated the accounts of
Chairman Stewart. The report made
no direct charges against Stewart. 1t
concluded with recommendations which
indicate that new system of raising
campaign funds and eXpending them
was desired.
Chairman Stewart presented his an
nual report. The results of the last
campaign, he said; were disappointing
as the vote in a number of states fell
below the total of four years ago. The
reason for this decrease Stewart as
serted was5 the attacks of the New
Voice, a prohibition paper, and certain
individuals on the methods of con-
ducting the campaign. Chairman Stew
art accused ]. G. Wooley and his as
sociates of causing all the trouble. He
said:
J.. G. Wooley organized the New Voice.
capitalized for $4,000. The actual amount
of the stock paid for was small Wooley
sold lot of this stock and the proceeds
went into his pocket The result was that
many thousands of dollars were paid in
by loyal ProhibitioniSts all over the coun-
try under the impression that the money
was to be used in building up the party
paper, when, as a matter of fact, it was
not Mr.. Wooley came to me and insisted
that l loan him part of trust fund in
my possession. / consulted with Samuel
Dickie and he agreed that it could not
be done. l refused Mr.. Wooley's request.
Then l learned that Mr. Woofey's friend
ship and the influence of his paper could
make of me in my official position.
The following resolution was adopt
ed at the end of the day by a vote of
% to 20:
The national executive committee re-
cords its opinion that in the conduct of
the national campaign o. w. Stewart has
not been guilty of misappropriating to
his own use, either as an individual or as
a candidate, any funds of the national
committee or of any other dishonest act:
But in view of certain controversies and
for the sake of harmony we deem it un
wise for MIR. Stewart to continue in his
present relations to said national COM
mittee.
Then came hurried resolution of
censure of w. e. johnson, managing
editor of the New Voice, the official
organ of the party, condeTnning him
for "reprehensible conduct in aiding
to defeat Stewart for the legislature.
Then the faction opposed to Stewart
sprung another resolution, calling for
the Immediate resignation of National
Secretary James e. Tate. This reso-
luton was tabled and will be made the
basis of a fight at tomorrows meet