Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-09
.bR Yam AFTER
GUfFEY'S SCALP
|N|.C0MM|I TEE
Nebrslskan Sails in at Meet
ing of Democrats to Gust
the Committeeman From
Pennsylvania.
. MANY CITIES WANT
COMING CONVENTION

Baltimore Seems to be in the
Lead, but St. Louis, Den
yer and Chicago are Max
ing Bids for Honor.
Washington, d. c., Jan. S.-The lie
was passed in the democratic national
committee meeting late today and Will
liam ]. Bryan made a threat to zap
peal to the people" If overridden by
the committee in his fight to unseat
Col. James M. Guffey, the national
committeeman from Pennsylvania.
This threat, coming Immediately after
the Bryan-LaFollette conference of
yesterday, renewed gossip as TO the
possibility of third party. ~
Col. Guffey hurled the charge OF
liar at Congressman A. Mitchell
Palmer, who is contesting his seat.
The latter replied that he had spoken
the truth and that only Guffey's age
prevented him from making per
sonal matter of the affair.
When the national committee went
into session here this afternoon Will
liam Jennings Bryan at once became
storm center in an attempt to have
James NJ. Guffey of Pennsylvania
thrown off the committee.
The roll call Of the states had but
started when the trouble broke.
James A. Weatherly of. Alabama was
recently selected by the Alabama state
committee to succeed John T. Tomlin-
son, deceased When his name was
called today Mr.. Bryan asked II there
was n protest. None being received,
the Nebraskan, who had been given an
ovation when he entered the room,
moved that the selection be approved.
National Committeeman Brown Of
Vermont declared that affirmative &C
ton by the national committee was
not necessary, that the matter lay en-
tirely in the hands of the state COM
mittee Chairman Mack sustained this
point Of order.
Il appeal from the decision Of the
chair" shouted Mr.. Bryan.
He declared that it was plain there
was a purpose to head off the protest
against Col. Guffey and that the mat.
ter ought to be thoroughly discussed.
At this interesting juncture motion
to 60 into executive session was car
ried and the doors were closed, The
Pennsylvania fight was plunged into
at once Representative A. Mitchell
Palmer, contesting Guffey's place on
the committee, was in the room, up
holding the Utah proxy.
Mr.. Bryan's appeal from the ruling
In the Alabama case was defeated
by vote of 80 to 13. This Indicated
that the committee was clearly against
the Nebraskan in his fight on Col.
Guffey and that the latter would be
retained on the committee beyond all
question. A s-.a
Old Liners Back Mack.
Chairman Mack apparently had the
backing Of all the "old line" demo-
Gratis on the committee in making the
ruling from which Mr.. Bryan ap-
pealed. Mack and Mr.. Bryan dined to-
gether last night, but 1t was apparent
that the men who have directed the
affairs of the committee for many
years had determined that COL Guffey
and Committeeman R. E. L. Mount
castle, whose place was also con-
tested, would remain on the national
board.
Immediately after his arrival today
Governor Wilson set about to prepare
a statement explaining the alleged let
ter he wrote to A. II. Joline several
years ago suggesting that method
should be devised of getting rid of
Bryan"
Baltimore After Convention.
The committee set 8 o'clock as the
time for hearing the representative
of the various cities bidding for the
convention. AS the time approached
Baltimore's chances seemed increas-
ing. 1t was said supporters of Cover
nor Woodrow Wilson were throwing
their strength to Baltimore. Governor
Wilson reached the city today.
When Mr.. Bryan, .holding the
Nebraska proxy, reached the commit
tee room he was greeted with ap-
plause. Each time he moved from one
seat to another to greet a friend the
applause was renewed. No other mem-
Der of the committee was given a
demonstration.
Retieent About Candidate.
Although there are boomers" In
town for all the avowed presidential |
the members of the COM
mittee seemed reticent in discussing
the situation. There seemed to be an
opinion that the democrats might well
afford to wait until after the republi- !!
cans have made their nomination in |
Chicago. It was argued that II Mr.. Taft |
were renominated 1t might be expe- |
dient for the democrats to choose an
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