Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-07-22
DEMOCRATS SPLIT
Reformers in Majority on
State Committee.
HOLDS SEPARATE MEETINGS
Majority Elects Guthrie Chairman
and Minority Ritter After De-
walt Resigns Both Indorse
Woodrow Wilson.

Harrisburg, Pa, July 20.-The Dem.
ocratic state central committee split,
two meetings being held in spite OF
efforts to prevent the holding of sepa-
rate meetings by the contending fac.
tons.
The reorganization end of the CON-
mittee, however, had more than two
thirds of the members at its meeting.
and proceeded regardless of the fac
ton which recognized Arthur Dewalt
as chairman.
During the day efforts were made
by Democratic congressman to induce
the Dewalt people to agree to enter
the Guthrie meeting in case they
found they had a minority. but these
oyertures were rejected by the leaders
of the faction opposed to the reor-
ganizers.
The Dewalt branch of the commit
tee then took steps to bring about a
union of the party by naming COM
mittee of three to meet George w.
Guthrie, chairman of the reorganizers.
Guthrie Named Chairman.
Each branch of the committee ef-
fected a complete organization. The
reorganizers, who had present fifty
six of the eighty-one members, which
they declare constitute the committee.
reelected Guthrie, former mayor of
Pittsburg, as chairman; ratified all
that had been done by the reorganiza-
tion committee and the committee of
seven; rescinded the action of the
state committee in selecting Colonel
James M. Guffey, of Pittsburg, as ma
tional committeeman to succeed James
Kerr after his death in 1908, and APP
proved the election of Congressman
A. Mitchell Palmer, Of Stroudsburg, as
national committeeman by the COM
mittee of seven.
The reorganizers' meeting was en-
thusiastic and only on few occasions
was opposition manifested to actions.
One member voted against Guthrie,
casting his vote in favor of Congress-
man William r. Wilson, of Tioga, and
another declined to vote at ALL
A proposition to interpret the rule
regulating representation on the state
committee was defeated and the ques-
ton referred to a subcommittee,
which is to revise the rule.
When the motion to abolish the
present executive committee of nine
in favor of a committee representing
each congressional district was
brought up it was opposed by one
member, but overwhelmingly carried.
DewaIt Resigns.
Friends of Dewalt, who contended
that eighty-four constituted the state
committee, mustered thirty-eight at
the opening of their meeting. but az
forwards declared that forty-one were
in attendance. Walter Il. Ritter, OF
Williamsport, was elected state chair
man, and Arthur Dewalt, who claimed
to be chairman under the rules until
next January. resigned.
The minority report of the commit
tee of seven. opposing the deposition
of Dewalt and Guffey, was accepted.
and after some speeches a committee
consisting of Flynn, Elk; Piatt, wyom-
ing, and Alderman. Westmoreland,
was named to confer with the oppo-
sition.
Both factions Endorsed Woodrow
Wilson. governor of New Jersey, for
the Democratic presidential nomina-
ton. and both elected Samuel Kunkel.
of Harrisburg. chairman of the COM
mittee.
Because of the presence OF the.
large number of members, as shown
by two roll calls, the reorganizers in
speeches made at their meeting claim
ed to be the legal state committee and
speakers who pred !cted Democratic
success as a resui, of the action OF
the committee were received with en-
thusiasm.
The Guthrie people we're so much
in the majority that they tabled
claim Of some of their supporters to
be the legal delegates from Allegheny
county