Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-04
COLLINS IN CHARGE
Succeeds Slater in Command
Of the Hearst Forces.
PEACE AGAIN REIGNS
RATCHET BURIED BY THE DEMO-
CRATIC FACTIONS.
Confidence Expressed That the New
Elections Commission Will Deal
Fairly With All Interests.

Charles w. Slater has relfnquiSbed the
leadership of the Hearst forces in the Dis
trict of Columbia, and the reins of COM
mand have been gathered in by Capt James
A. Collins, chairman of the local Hearst
democratic campaign committee. This
change is in entire accord with Mr.. Slater's
wishes, and the strenuous policy he has in
augurated will be followed out almost to
the letter Mr.. Slater will continue as 1.-THE
man behind the gum" as it were, devotins
his whole energy and effort to the election
of delegation which will go to the ma
tional democratic convention instructed for
William Randolph Hearst for President.
Capt. Collins is an old campaigner, and is
well known in the ranks of the local de-
mocracy.
The local democracy, by the way. has
assumed the prerogative of a chameleon,
in that it changes it's hue and color with
every change of the temperature, and
thermometer is absolutely necessary if one
one would keep tab on the political at
mosphere. Last Friday the dogs of war
were chained and the dove of peace basked
in the warm sunshine of the spring plum
ing its FURNISHED wings at ease" Every
thing pointed TO harmony. But Saturday
the cold north winds carried with them the
germs of discomfort, the dogs of war were
unclaimed and Mr.. Slater. as leader of the
Hearst faction, declared the conflict
again on.
-Ioday II appears that ag I'm the uoNe VI
peace is perched on the windowslu or ire
Hearst Campaign Clubs headquarters IN
the Colorado building. The hatcnet has
been buried and Captain Collins ys, I'VE
have no quarrel with any one"
Confidence in, Commission.
In explanation of this lightning change
sketch Captain Collins declares that the
now famous democratic primary elections
commission of the District will grant GER
tain of the contentious of the Hearst sup
porters and that for the good of the demo-
cratic party in general, and Mr.. Hearst in
particular the smoke of battle must be
cleared away. The most painful thorn IN
the side of the Hearst faction was that
perhaps the commission would apo mt
three judges for each of the twenty-five
legislative districts in the District of CO.
lumbia, but perhaps it would appoint only
one judge" This perhaps was what was
hurting the anti-Norris people, but tbs
morning they had assurances that tn. COM
mission would appoint three judges, with
due regard to the presidential candidates,
giving everybody a show at the polls and
insuring honest primaries, in so far as the
local democracy Is concerned This is the
oil which has quoted the troubled water s
Furthermore, the Hearst Democ ratio Cam
paign Club it is understood, has submitted
a proposition to the primaries commission
providing for lenient Interpretation OF
the rules laid down by the subcommittee
of the national democratic committee. The
Hearst people have every reason to believe
that the commission contemplates fair and
unbiased treatment, accord ng to the state
ments given out today, and unless the next
few days reveal a Skeleton in the political
closet" 1t is probable that the local demo-
cratic see-saw board will rema n tilted to-
ward the side of peace.
believe" said Capt. Collins today,
that the primary elections commission
realizes 1t cannot act arbitrarily in the
matter Of the appointment of judges The
members must necessarily look back to the
power whence they get their authority to
act. The power, of course, is the individual
voter. and his power demands recognition
at the polls. The issue in the District Of
Columbia has received itself into William
Randolph Hearst. The local voters are
either for or against Hearst. and about
1900 of the $4,000 democrats are on the
for Hearst" band wagon. The Hearst
people want fair deal at the polls, and
they are going to have it without any more
political bloodshed. l had a conference
with the chairman of the elections COM
mission this morning and my opinion has
been nodded as the result of that confer
ence."
Formal Report Wednesday.
All doubt as to the action of this COM
mission must cease within a few days, in
view of the fact that the rules of the Nc
Graw subcommittee specify next Wednes-
day as the date for a formal report. Mem
bers of the commission have been working
on the rules and regulations which they
will suggest, and have decided to make
what new departures are necessary to in
sure honest primaries. Mr.. Seton said to-
day that the method for holding the pri-
maries will he determined before any at
tention is paid to the political affiliation of
the men who are to enforce that method.
Mr. Cotter T. Bride, another member of
the commission, could see no reason why
everything could not proceed peacefully.
He said the commission intends to be fair
and just, and he believes every faction and
political faith interested will be thoroughly
satisfied with the result.
Going from the anti-NoTris forces to the
Norris forces another queer rumor Is en-
countered. One of Mr.. Norris strongest
henchmen said today that if the Parker
boom holds its present prestige few days
longer Mr.. Norris will withdraw his al
legiance from Senator German, at least for
the purposes Of the present campaign. This
would mean that all the German strength
would be added to the Parker forces. to
accomplish the defeat of Hearst. or any
other democrat who may poke his head
into the arena of presidential aspirations.
Many of Germans friends in Congress are |
wearing Parker buttons, for the reason |
that they believe Parkers star is in the |
ascendency. Consequently 1T Is regarded |
as not at all unlikely that Mr.. Norris win |
come out in few days for Judge Parker. |
striving to carry Parker delegation to
the democratic national convention.
Mr. Norris, when asked about this rumor. |
was communicative. He said his posi- |
ton will be known when the time comes, |
and that the democrats will rally around |
one standard which will lead them on to |
kerr" said Mr.. Norris, "or for German, or |
for Olney, or Mcclellan, or any other good |
democat who has the confidence of the |
party" Mr.. Norris did not mention the
name of Mr.. William Randolph Hearst"
pEpupTJcAN PRIMARIES