Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-25
NOT B|ND|NG0N PARTY
Congress Without Authority
Over Party Machinery.
VIEWS OF CHAIRMAN NEW
Board of Control in Sole Charge of
Republican Primaries.
ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES
Local Organizations Discuss the
Conditions-Colored Ministers
Declare for Senator Foraker.

| No law that Congress may pass and the
| President sign. giving the District Com
missioners control of the election machn-
cry of the Republican primaries this
spring. will be effective or binding. &C
cording to Chairman Harry New of the
republican national committee, who is
making brief business visit in Washing
ton. Mr.. New was most emphatic in his
statements to a Star reporter on this
matter.
| 1t has come to my attention." said Mr..
New this morning. that bill has been
introduced in Congress to give the Com
missioners Of the District control of the
| primaries that will be held here in the
spring to select delegates and alternates
for the Chicago national convention of
June To- Let me tell you something. AS
matter Of fact. even if the House and
| Senate passes the bill and the President
signs it. It will be of no effect for the
| election of delegates.
| IF District delegates should be elected
| under the operations Of such a law they
would not be admitted to the Chicago con-
Vent1on. The republican national COM
mittee has made it's own arrangements for
| the holding of the primaries here, and. &C
cordlng to the call sent out for the cleo
| ton of the delegates. these are the only
| arrangements that can serve the purpose.
Furthermore. the national committee at
| Its meeting last December, when the time
and place for holding the national con-
| ventlon were decided upon, appointed a
local board of elections to make all the
| arrangements for holding the primaries
| and electing the delegates.
Board Has Sole Power.
This local board of elections is the only
! body that has authority to hold the pri-
| rnaries here. OF course, if the District
Commissioners and others wish to enact
legislation tn ha holding ne rri.
marleS for the convention Of 1912 or 1916,
| that is distinctly another matter. But
for the primaries of 1908 no powers can be
| conferred upon any one or upon any body
by delegation or legislation or otherwise.
when the committee appointed the
board Of elections for the District con-
sisting of Sidney Bieber, chairman and
two other members. it had every conf
dence In the ability Of these gentlemen
to arrange for the primaries and for the
election of the two delegates and two
alternates to which the District is entitled
1t still has that same confidence ard be-
lief
And one who will take even little
trouble to ascertain the true facts of the
matter can easily understand the impossi-
b1lity OF attempting to legislate into the
hands of the District Commissioners any
supervision whatever over the holding Of
the primaries for the Chicago convention. -
Candidates Endorsed.
HOpeWel II. Darnellle and W. Calvin
Chase were Endorsed as delegates and Will
liam F. Odell and Charles H. Marshall as
alternates to the Chicago convention at a
meeting in True Reformers' Hall. 18th
and Q streets northwest. last night, under
the auspices of the Home Rule United
Republican Clubs. Randall Bowie presided
and Perrte w. Frisby acted as secretary.
The resolution of Endorsement was offered
by James o. Holmes of the seventeenth
district and was carried without dissent
AT a conference of colored republicans
at 71S 9Th street southeast yesterday. at
which the Lincoln Republican League. the
Young Mems Republican Club, the West
washington Republican Club and the
Brightwood Avenue Republican Club were
represented. former Senator John NJ
Thurston and James w. Poe were indors-
ed as delegates to the Chicago conven-
ton. Among the speakers were S. Il.
Thompson.s e. H. Hutton. c. l.. Smith.
Jerome Dunmore, E. w. Rembert, Samuel
s. Wheeler, Amos Thomas. c. l.. Ennis
and X. l.. Briscoe.
At colored ministerial meeting and
reception at Galbraith A. NJ E. Zion
Church yesterday, presided over by Rev
F. j. Grimke. a resolution was adopted
setting forth that the ministers will sup
port any delegates to the Chicago con-
vention who may be approved by Senator
Foraker. Another resolution was adopted
| urging the District Commissioners to
the District of Columbia. A committee,
consisting of Revs. A. c. Gurner G. w.
| Lee, ]. H. WEIGH. J. W. Smith. W. H.
Davenport, L. l.. Corrothers and j. r.
Clark. was appointed to wait on Senator
Foraker and ascertain his views and also
to call on the Commissioners with regard
TO the Jim Crow issue.