Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-01
CLARK MEN CONTROL
Have Things Their Own Way
in National Capital.
CALL ISSUED FOR PRIMARY
Members Of District Convention to
Be Elected May %.
CONTEST OVER INSTRUCTIONS
Friends Of the Speaker Expect to
Send a Solid Delegation to
Baltimore.
CALL ISSUED FOR PRIMARY
CONTEST OVER INSTRUCTIONS

District democratic primaries will \be
held May q to elect sixty-six delegates
to city convention May %, at which
time six delegates and six aiternates to
the national democratic convention at
Baltimore will be chosen. This much
was decided at a meeting of the demo-
cratic central committee at Flynn's Hail.
Sth and X streets northwest, last night
Democratic politics in the District now
take on the aspect of fight between the
friends OF Speaker Clark and those who
are opposed to an Instructed delegation
to Baltimore. 1t is not Clark and anti
Clark fight. but the Speakers adherents
say Those who are not with us are
against u.s. They are prepared to take
up arms in that cause. The other side. is
perfectly willing to vote for Clark if they
are assured he will have the call at the
convention, but at present are showing a
marked aversion to going on record for
any one.
The Clark democrats in the District
are determined to elect city convention
that will be sure to send an instructed
delegation to Baltimore, and the fight at
the primaries will hinge on that issue.
Newman Compromise Defeated.
A compromise to hold a presidential
preference primary was offered last night
in a letter from Edwin A.. Newman,
democratic national committeeman for
the District of Columbia. In this letter
Mr.. Newman said:
Il am urged by my friends to stand
for reelection to this position. Other
democrats well qualified and able un-
lrhfo6lv fbo 7 al
come the chance to have my name, with
others. submitted for a referendum vote
of all the democratic voters of the Dis
trict of Columbia in the coming primary,
and to accept the result as the best ex-
preston of the wishes and desires of our
people,
The Clark democrats do not desire a
vote of this kind. Preferr.ng an out and
out instructed delegation, they say that
q preferential ballot will not bind any
delegate. The Clark men seemed to rule
the meeting last night, for acton on the
Newman proposition was postponed.
The meeting last night was an executive
one, and about twenty-five democrats
who had expected to hear the speeches of
the committeeman were asked to leave
the hall. AS soon as the doors were closed
a lively SIX rmish followed to fill vacancies
in the committee membership. The fifth,
seventh, eighteenth and nineteenth dis
tricts were without representation.
Heated Debate Precedes Election.
The death of ]. w. Thomas had left the
fifth district without a committeeman.
James Magruder was elected to succeed
him after a heated argument. Capt. John
s. Miller was opposed for membership
from the seventh district, but won on the
final vote. j. W. Considine, for. the nine
teenth district, and A. j. Sanford in the
E. ghteenth district were opposed, but
these democrats were permitted to hold
their seats.
Rules for the conduct of primaries win
be formulated tonight. The members Of
the democratic central committee are:
Thomas j. Moore. W. Nick. Clayton,
John Cady. F. J. W.ssner, James Ma
gruder. J. D. Robinson. ]. E. Miller. ]. N.
Hodgkins, B. G. Brown, T.. B. LIE Cuyer.
J. G. Campbell. w. J. Costello, J. Fred
Kelley, F. J. McQuade, r. E. Mattingiy,
w. H. Wills. A. j. Sanford, J. w. Con-
s.dine, L. E. Burdine, l.. H. Dansch and
NJ. s. Coffey.