The Washington times., 1904-05-09
Springs Trick to Get
Control of District
Convention.
PROTESTING DELEGATES
Norris Men Discover the
Plot-There Is Confusion
Worse COnfOunded'

The followers of Representative VIII
liam r. Hearst have planned a clever
coup TO turn defeat into triumph, and
il possible rob the supporters OF the
Hon James L. Norris of the victory
which they won in the primaries last
Thursday night. The trick was played
this morning when the election com
mission met in the Lehman building 10
issue certificates of election 70 the
siXty-siX delegates chosen in the pri-
maries, and they were caught at IT by
the Norris men just in time 10 prevent
the success Of the scheme.
At the primaries on Thursday night
there were carried. on the face Of the
returns. fifteen districts by the Norris
faction and seven by the Hearst fac
ton In all fOrty-five Norris delegates
were chosen and twenty-One Hearst uel-
egates, thus giving Norris a majority
of twenty-four in the District conyen-
tion, which VIII be held at the Lafay-
cite Square Opera House on Thursday
Certified by Judges.
This result was certified by the judges
in the various districts to the election
commission. which was about to issue
the certificates accordingly when the
Hearst followers appeared with a bun
die OF afidavits and proceeded TO file
protests from eight districts carried by
the Norris faction.
The Hearst people were represented
by Jackson H. Ralston as counsel. and
alleged various offenses. including re-
peating, voting of non-residents. and
other crimes against the rules of the
election commission. Their plan was to
prevent the issuance of certificates 10
the twenty-four delegates from these
eight districts thus leaving fourteen un-
contested districts, seven represented by
Hearst delegates and seven by Norris
delegates. and leave the matter OF con-
tests TO the committee on credentials.
They proposed that the convention
should be organized by the fourteen un-
contested delegations. and that the COM
mittee on credentials should be appoint
ed by Chairman Seton of the com
mission, who will call the convention 10
order.
Seton Favors Hearst.
Mr.. Seton has manifested strong
leaning toward the Hearst faction. and
the latter trusted 10 him 10 name a
committee on credentials which would
be favorable 10 Hearst and thus effect
the throwing out of the twcnty-four
duly elected Norris delegates from the
contested districts, which would enable
the Hearst crowd TO reverse the sltua-
uon- and seat forty-fve Hearst delt--
gates 70 twenty-one Norris delegates.
The Norris faction had advised against
contests among those Of their delegates
who were defeated on the face Of the
returns. even though il was evident IN
several districts that frauds , 3 been
committed. These frauds IL H. serted
we're especially true in the Second dis
trICt. where the Hearst faction voted
veterans from the Soldiers Home, and
I'm the Eighteenth district. where more
than 40 votes were cast and only tW-n-
Jy-nine for Norris delegates entirely
Oul OF proportion with the voting il
OtEer sections.
One Protest Filed.
One protest was. however. filed by a
defeated Norris delegation. which had
the effect Of Upsetting the cleverly laid
scheme Of the Hearst people. leaving
seven contested Norris delegations and
six uncontested Hearst delegations. a
majority for Norris in the convention
OF three votes.
When the Norris followers learned Of
the trick by which il was attempted
10 rob them Of their victory they were
highly indignant, and this afternoon
represented by W. Cranch Mcintyre and
J. Fred Kelley went before the com
mission which had at the morning ses-
sion been equally divided as 10 the man
ner Of procedure Mr.. Gordon and Mr.
Matthews cOntending that the certiG-
Gates should be issued upon the face Of
the returns. and Mr.. Seton and Mr.
Bride tghting 10 withhold certificates
from the twenty-fOur Norris DELEGATES
against whom protest was made
Mr.. Mcintyre cOutenGed. us did AIr
al hs.g
notice or contest, and that had they
been advised that the commission would
not issue certificates upon the returns
Of the judges they too. upon behalf
OF the Norris faction, would have MED
protests. At the morning session Nh.
RalstOn declared that his side had no
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