Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-09
THE LIE IS PASSED
DURING HOT CLASH
OF THE GUFFEE WAR
National Committee Sustains
Ruling of Chairman Mack
That State Committee Shall
Name Delegates
(By Associated Prsssl

0fxH~44
people" If overriden by the committees in
his fight to unseaI Col James n. CUFF i
fey. the national committeeman from
Pennsylvania This threat. coming Inn
mediately after the Bryan-La ToElstxe
conference OF yesterday. renewed gossip
as to the possibility of third party.
Colonel Guffey hurled the charge o.
liar at Congressman A. Mitchell Pal-l
mer. who is contesting his seat The
latter replied that he had spokGa ths
truth and that only Guffey's aga pre-
vented him from making a personaA NAB
ter Of the affair.
Mr.. Palmer had freely charged In his
speech TO the committee that Colonel
Gufffey had affiliated with Senator Pen
rose. the Republican leader OF Psnnsy.-f
vania, and that he had been disl0yal to
his party. Mr.. Bryan took I'D the argu<
ment in Mr.. Palmer's behalf. He declar-
ed that thrice had he had been the can-
didate of his party for the presidency
had expressed their confidence in him
If the national COMMITTEES declined to
listen to him he wousd appeal 70 the
people.
The private secretary to senatoA, Cunn-
minis was at the hotel where the com-
mittee met ana talked with several Of the
members.
The bitter fight IN the Guffsy case wasl
Unexpectedly prolonged. delaying the ser
lection of a convention city indei1nitsly.l
Senator Stone. of Missouri. = hfe-longl
friend of Mr.. Bryan. spoke in behalf Of
Guffey. Mr.. Stone held proxy. His Cpl
position to Mr.. Bryan's views was re-
garded as significant
r. E. L. Mountcastle. OF Terlnessee.l
was declared entitled to his seat With
only one dissenting vote. His place on
John ]. vertree, who was chief COUNSEL
for former Secretary Ballinger in the
Ballinger-Pinchot investigation.
Despite the protest OF Mr. Bryan and
his threat to appeal to the people the
committee voted in favor Of Guffey 80
to Is
When the Democratic national commit.
tee went into session here shortly before
1 o'clock this afternoon William Jenningsi
Bryan at once became a storm center III
an attempt to have James NJ. Quincy, Of
Pennsylvania, thrown of the committees.
The roll call OF the states had only
st-started -ttlse-
James A Weatherly. Of AIabaina. was
recently selected by the Alabama state
committee to succeed John T Tonllin-
son. deceased When his name was
was a protest. None oefng received
the Nebraskan, who had been given an
ovation when he entered the ROOM
moved that the selection be approved.
THE STORM BREAKS
National Committeeman Brown. OF
Vermont. declared that affirmative ac-t
ton by the national committee was not
necessary; that the matter lay. entirely
in the hands of the state COMMITTEES.
Chairman Mack sustained this point Of
order.
1T appeal from the decision OF the
chair" shouted Mr. Bryan. t
He declared that II was plain there
was purpose to head of protest
against Colonel Guffey and that the mat
ter ought to be thoroughly discussed.
At this juncture a motion to 50 into
executive session was carried and the
doors were closed. The Pennsylvania
! fight was plunged into at once Repre-
sentative A. Mitchell Palmer, contesEing
Guffeys place on the committee, was in
the room holding the Utah proxy. The
committee set 8 o'clock this afternoon
as the time for hearing the representa-
tives of various cities bidding for the
convention. AS this time approached.
Baltimore's chances seemed to be in-
creasing. It was said that the supports
ers Of Gov woodrow Wilson were
throwing their strength to Baltimore.
Governor Wilson reached the city to-
day.
Chairman Mack apparently had the
backing of all the "old line Democrats
on the committee in making the ruling
from which Mr.. Bryan appealed. Mr.
Mack and Mr.. Bryan dined together last
night. but It was apparent that the men
who have directed the affairs of the
committee for many years had deter
mined that Colonel Guffey, and Commit
teeman r. z. MountcastIe, OF Tennes-l
see, whose PLACE is also being Contest
ed, should remain on the national
board.
Attempts were made last night to dis
suade Mr.. Bryan for making war in the
committee and up to the time he went
into the meeting today his course wasl
said to have been undetermined. The
fight was precipitated, however, with q
suddenness that surprised every one.
BRYAN'S APPEAL LOST.
Mr.. Bryan's appeal from the ruling in
the Alabama case was defeated by a.
vote of SO to 1s This indicated that the
committee was clearly against the Ne.
braskan in his fight on Colonel Gufrey.
and that the latter would be retained
on the committee beyond all question
With the Alabama case disposed OF,
the committee took UP the Guffey-PaI-
|
one hour on the argument. Mr.. Bryan
made a speech, declaring that the COM
mittee had a perfect right to view the
actions of state committeeman. He
cited precedents in other bodies, notably
the Lorimer case. in the United States
senate. The senate, he said, could not
elect Lorimer, but it could determine his
eligibility If a man were disloyal to his
party, Mr.. Bryan contended, that the
national committee should not receive
him as member. Is.
Five cities are asking for the national
convention Baltimore seemed to have a
slight lead early today with st. Louis
pressing hard as the nearest competi-
tor. New York, Denver and Chicago
also had put in claims. The time of
the convention, probably viii be two
weeks after the Republican national con-
vention. to be held in Chicago, June
Is.
Democratic leaders from all sections
of the country are here for the COM
mittee meeting and the Jackson day
dinner tonight. Business at the house
end of the capitol, where the Democrats
are in control practically was at q
standstilL The committee meeting prom
ised to last until late in the after