Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12
SEEMS AFFAIR." OFF
Democrats of Washington Evil
IDENTITY at loggerheads.
TWO FACTIONS IN FIELD
Mr.. Kelley and Mr.. Carr Issue OPP
posing Statements.
VIEWS OF BOTH COMMITTEES
Fraud Alleged by Dual Central
Body-'tProdigals," the Com
ment Of Central Chairman.
VIEWS OF BOTH COMMITTEES

Mr.. j. Fred Kelley. chairman or the
democratic central committee of the Dis
trict of Columbia, when asked as to the
probable outcome Of the efforts being
made to restore harmony in the demo-
cratic ranks in this city. said. in abiding
to the published interview with Mr.. Will
liam L. Carr, in yesterdays Star: Its
a case Of the prodigal coming back four
years after the fatted calf has been
carved, distributed. and, In all probability.
digested.'
Continuing. he added: when the demo-
cratic national committee took charge of
the District of Columbia. after years of
contention. the subcommittee appointed
February 90. 1904, by the national COM
mittee. to which the questions of the pri-
maries and the District convention were
referred. reported. setting a date for the
primaries for that year and the date for
the District convention. at which con-
vention,' so the report reads. there shall
be selected six delegates and six alternates
to the national convention Of the demo-
cratic party to be held at the city of ST.
Louis, on the 9th day Of July, 1904. and.
here. said Mr.. Kelley. is the important
thing to note. the election by said con-
vention of a democratic central committee
for said District shall consist of one men,
subdivisions of said District. The said
committee. when so elected shall be the
Official organization OF the democratic
party for said District
Second Paragraph of Report.
That said Mr. Kelley, was the sec
ond paragraph of that report" The sew
enth paragraph. laid down as rule that
the central committee elected by said Dis
SbolI
venient after its adjournment, organize
by the election of u chairman and other
officers. and when so orga nized shall be
recognized as the regular democratic or
ganization for the District Of Columbia
AT the convention held the 18th of
May. 1904. In pursuance of the call. the
central committee was elected by the
convention. May %. following. the COM
mittee elected by that convention of May
II, all the members being present. met,
ORGANIZED and elected. without protest
officers. as follows: ]. Fred Kelley chair
man: Philander A. Bowen. first vice chair
man; Frank J. McQuade. second vice
chairman: Smith Thompson. jr.. secre-
tary; Thomas l.. Connor. corresponding
secretary: George G. Draeger. financial
secretary; NJ. b. Scanlon. treasurer; ]. F.
Freeman. sergeant alarms. and Dennis
z. Gala han. doorkeeper
THE committee. as thus organized.
then began to exercise the functions
mittee. without protest, counterclainl or
objection of any person or persons what
soever. At the convention. which was
held in the District in May. 1904. Mr..
Carr. Mr.. Harry w. Sherman and others
were regularly elected as delegates and
We're carried on the rolls as such, but
they bolted the convention and or
gained a rump convention.
The claims now made by them. with all
their grievances. were laid before and
carefully considered by the national con-
vention and Its proper committees at st.
Louis which decided adversely to them
at every stage ard in every phase of their
case. The District convention. which
elected the present democratic central
committee for the District. took the view
that 1t had the right and authority to
select any man for any one OF the twenty
two legislative districts to represent that
district in the democratic centra! COM
mittee, and 1t exercised that right accord
ingiy.
Now. as the members of that commit
tee whose seats are contested by Mr..
Carr and his friends hold them by the
same title and authority as we whose
seats are unquestioned, the democratic
central committee feels that 1t is power
less to yield to the demands-and we GER
tainly will not yield to the solicitations
Of Mr.. Carr and his friends. That is the
case in nutshell.
1.-The democratic central committee of
the District of Columbia is the regular
organization Of the democratic party in
the District of Columbia"
Further Statement by Mr.. Carr.
The other side Of the local democratic
situation was also further aired last
night, when William E. Carr, chairman OF
the dual central democratic committee
enlarged upon his statement. which ap-
peared In The Star yesterday, and in
which he spoke Of the intention of his
committee to hold separate primaries in
the District. and to send a contesting
said that in order to gett an expression
from the Kelley committee he and his as
Sociates addressed a communication to
the Kelley committee. asking that they be
given the seats in the committee to which
they were entitled
This request was denied" he said, land
very naturally. as seven of the persons
whose votes were recorded against grant
ing 1t were occupying seats to which they
are not entitled, having been placed there
without notice to us.
"Our purpose In calling a meeting of
the central democratic committee as al
ready announced. is in the interest of
party harmony and peace. with the hope
that the District Of Columbia may send
to Denver one delegation and the whole
party may work without feeling for the
party nominee. All we ask is a square
deal and fair play. We are in favor of
the candidate Of the majority.
Primary Election Contemplated.
eff these gentlemen. who have a right
to take their places on the committee re-
fuse to do so upon being invited, we will
Of course, fill their places, arrange for