Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-15
AN ATTEMPTED COUP
Effort to Control the Hearst
Forces.
TO GUST MR.. SLATER
BROUGHT TO A HEAD THIS MORN
ING.
Capt. Collins Repudiates the seceders-
List Of Judges for
Primaries.
BROUGHT TO A HEAD THIS MORN

Hearst democratic campaign committee
has been frustrated. and Capt James A.
Collins, chairman of the Hearst demo-
cratic central committee, has repudiated
that committee conditionally. The smoke
Is clearing away, and Mr.. Slater and Capt.
Collins are pulling side by side
This rupture has been smouldering for
several days. ever since J. Frank O'Meara
and VIM. E. Carr were asked by Mr.. Slater
to leave the offices Of the Hearst demo-
cratic campaign club.
A counter influence began to work, sup
ported it is said, by Mr.. Charles w. Darr
and one or two others, who have declared
for Hearst, but who are opposed to the
Slater and Collins regime. A meeting of
the old Bryan democratic central commit
tee was called, in view of the fact that the
democratic primary elections commission
had declared it would recognize that COM
mittee In selecting the judges for the polling
places in the twenty-five legislative dis
tricts. There were vacancies to be filed in
the committee membership and Mr.. OMeara
was selected to fill one vacancy, temporari-
ly. Other anti-Slater men got in on the
election, and 1t was declared that Slater
had been superseded.
But Captain Collins was elected chairman
bec5u use he had been the chair man Of the
old committee, and Is recognized to be the
prese mt leader of the Hearst forces in the
District. 1t was through Captain Collins,
it Is said. that the seceders hoped to de-
feat the Hearst democratic campaign COM
mittee and incidentally Mr.. Slater.
What Capt. Collins Says.
Captain Collins stated to reporter for
The Star today that he believed he had
been used by the seceders, and that
unless the members of that central COM
mittee came 'nto the fold, and agreed to
authority and the Hearst Democratic Cam
paign Club of the District of Columbia, he
would resign from the central committee
and work with Mr.. Slater to defeat the
object of its organization.
sThese men obtained membership on the
central committee because Of their ex-
pressed intention to support the campaign
of the Hearst Club, and It was with that
understanding that / accepted the re-elec-
tion as chairman. Now it looks as though
an attempt was beinng made to use me-
but am too old a politician for that. These
men will either rally around the standard
which has been raised by Mr.. Slater or they
will be counted out of local politics. There
is only one organization in the District of
Columbia representing the interests Of Will
liam Randolph Hearst, and that is the
Hearst democratic campaign committee of
which l am chairman. Our strength is un-
impaired, and the bolting of one or two
men will not amount to a smuch as a rip
pie on the ocean,"
The Slater people began to see through
the plan this morning, and Just as this light
was breaking, Mr.. Herman ShultieS unfor-
tunately came into the Hearst headquarters
IN the Colorado building. 1t was unfortu-
nate, because Mr.. Shulties is one of the
seceders and Mr. Slater made the accu-
sation. point blank Mr.. Shulties was con-
sioerably embarrassed and endeavored to
make an explanation. Mr. Slater took adj
vantage of the moment and told Mr.. Shul.
n ho arcf
cause, whereupon Mr.. Shulties admitted he
had signed letter to the democratic pri-
mary elections commission, declaring the
seceders committee the only true repre-
sentative of Mr.. Hearst This brought the
climax of the interview, and Mr.. Shulties
was asked to leave the Office.
The Issue Defined.
This incident defined the issue, and Capt.
Collins was sent for Immediately The
situation was explained, and Capt. Col
Inns was unreserved in his denunciation
of the attempt of the seceders to get con-
troll of the situation. He said special
meeting of the old central committee will
be held forthwith and fealty to Hearst, via
the Hearst Democratic Campaign Club, de-
clared, or the power of the old committee
will be abrogated.
Mr.. Edward Seton, chairman of the pri-
mary elections commission, when asked If
his commission would recognize the organi-
zation of the seceders, said he believed it
had authority to submit list of names
for judges.
But again Captain Collins steps in, this
time as chairman Of the seceeders' COM
mittee and chairman of Mr. Slater's cam
paign committee. Captain Collins says he
will manage that by making the old GEN.
trail committee indorse the names the cam
paign committee has selected, and which
are printed below for the first time. When
the rules of the primary elections COM
mission were announced it was agreed
that any political organization bona fide
and showing strength would be recog-
nized as far as submitting list of judges
was concerned. The campaign committee
holds the old central committee is not
bona fide, and can show no strength, not
even complete membership. A meeting
of Mr.. Slater's committee, which claims
the authority. will be held tomorrow even-
ing at the headquarters in the Colora do
building.
The following members will be present:
John 8. Wagner. Harry Sherman, John S.
Brinkman, Milford Spohn, Chas. w. Wins
Jas. T.. Lovelace, Victor Byer, VIM. Hol-
mead, James Gross. VIM. easier, John
Boyle. John III. Miller. Chas. c. Carter, p
H. Shugrue, Amos Casey, James Pum-
Thos. Darlington. Cotter T. Bride, Chas.
w. Slater, Edward B. Rice, Andrew Miller
P. ]. Ryan, James F. Murtaugh and Capt
James r. Collins, chairman.
The list Of names submitted by the above
committee, from which one Judge will be
selected In each district. follows:
List Of Judges and Clerks.
First district-Jas. F. McHugh, Geo. L.
Thompson. Harry shedd, John F. Kelly,
jr., and C. d. Jarrett.
Second district-Maj. Geo. A. Armes
John NJ. Connor. J. L. Feeney. c. J. Breu-
ner and Thos +. Gallefer.
THIRD dfStricf-Wm Gbaolo CI,ric