Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-11
MIXUP AT BOSTON
Commission at inc Hub Trying 10 Unravel the Two Headed
 Democratic SnaFI.

Boston, Oct 1.-The state ballot law commission, composed of Henry V. Cunningham, democrat, Frank w.. Estey, republican, and Sewell c. Bracket, democrat, began to-day the task of unraveling the snarl into which a dual nomination by the dem- ocratic state convention at Spring field, last Saturday, has thrown the party. The commission is to decide which two tickets, one headed by General Charles w. Bartlett of New ton and the other by Henry M. Whit ney of Boston, is legal, with the pos sibility that both may be declared null and void.
 The convention, which was the most turbulent known in the state in recent years, followed a long and hard fought campaign by General Bartlett and MT Whitney.
 The Bartlett faction had the sym pathy of the leaders and majority of the state committee. The Court Square theater was leased by the committee, and in it the convention was called. The state committee also controlled the machinery of ad- mission. Chairman John P. Feeney called the convention to order, read the call and then declared Daniel J. Riley the temporary chairman. Tur- moil reigned from the very start, but the Bartlett faction held the plat form and carried out program, while the supporters of MT Whitney retired to the rear of the theater and adpoted d platform with the usual proceedings.
 Both tickets with the necessary endorsement by the presiding off cers were filed the first thing on Monday morning with the secretary of state.
 The Whitney men were the first to present their papers at the state house. Secretary of State Olin im- mediately called the attention of the ballot law commission to the fact and requested a decision as to which should be placed on the official ballot for the election next month.
 AS the Whitney ticket was filed first with the secretary of state the burden of proof as to it's legality rested to-day on the lawyers repre- senting General Bartlett.
 Besides which ticket is regular" asked by Secretary Olin the ballot law commission has also received petition from E. Gerry Brown of Brockton, who was candidate for the democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, at the same time being nom- mated for the same office by the in- dependence league. to declare both Springfield conventions illegal.
 The largest hearing room in the state house was crowded with law yers, witnesses and spectators when the hearing began to-day. MT Whit ney was represented by Former At torney General Herbert. Parker; a re- publican, Malachi L. Jennings and E. w. McClintock, his adviser in Spring field. General Bartletts interests were in charge of Homer Albers, a former member of the ballot law con- mission, George L. Mayberry of Wal than, and Harvey H. Pratt, of Abing ton, the latter the candidate for at torney general on the Bartlett ticket.
 No prediction was yentured by politicians to-day as to the probable finding of the commissioners.
 It is understood that whatever the decision, both tickets will be before the voters on election day. If the Bartlett list is declared to have been legally named, the Whitney candi- dates will run on nomination papers, as the Bartlett nominees will do if the decision is against them. More over, on the commissioners finding some authorities say deepnds the le- gal existence of the democratic party for purposes of naming delegates to the national convention and the hold ing of caucuses for state and con- gressional nominations in 1908. It is held that if the commission should declare neither Mir Bartlett nor the Whitney ticket to be legal. there would be officially no democratic party" vote at the state election upor which to base representation Tn next years political proceedings.
 The proceedings opened at about 10:3O a. m. with Chairman Cunning ham presiding.
 The chairman read the conflicting certificates for the democratic nomi- nations and announced that both sides had filed protests. He also re- ferred to the protest filed by E. Gerry Brown. He said that inasmuch as the Whitney faction had been first in filing their protest. their case would be the first heard and the last to be dismissed at the close of the hearing
 Former Attorney General Parker at once began presenting the Whit ney case.
 Colonel Geddes There.