Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-08
DEMOCRATS MEET
IN WASHING TN.
Representatives of Party in Session
Today---WiIliam J. Bryan Cen
trai Figure.
COMPETE FOR CONVENTION.
Murphy, sullivan and Tag@art Moving
spirits Talk OF Third Party " rh La
Toilette and Bryan nj Head.

Washington, Ian. s. War was de-
clared ten minutes after the Demo
cratic National Committee went into
session here today, with William
Jennings Bryan leading vote against
the organization Of the committee.
Bryan. when the first name on the
list Of committeeman was called
moved that James Wetherly, OF Ala
bama. be seated. Chairman Mack
ruled that such Il motion was unne-
cessary. as Wetherly had been elected
BY the Alabama state central COM
mittecl y pcint OF order against Bry-
au's motion was upheld, and the
Peerless Leader appealed from the
decision Of the chair In the squab-
Bile that cnsucd, Committeeman John
w. Coughln OF Mass, moved that
the Committee 20 into executive ses-
sion and The doors were closed.
! Bryan's appeal from Mack's dcci.
sion WAS lost. 50 TO l3. after a bit:
ter sauabble behind closed doors.
Bryan's protest was the opening OF
( his battle 10 prevent the seating Of
Col. James Cuffcy. his ancient enemy
as Committeeman from Pennsylvania.
This point is not important now.
/ said Bryan, voicinS his objection, hut
! il will be OF immense importance in
| settling another contest that will
come up later in this meeting. Il
the chair holds that This committee
has no jurisdiction to determine
twhether or not Il man shall he given
scat in it's deliberations. This Ques-
tion should b" thoroughly threshcd
out.
Washington. Jan. S.-W!ta VII
liam Jennings Bryan the central fig
urc of the occasion. the Democratic
National committee today went into
annGa! session 10 decide upon the
city for holding the convention, and
to set The date for the gathering. The
Peerless Leader holding the proxy OF
the committeeman from Nebraska.
aesertcd before The meeting was
called that he would NOT join. III !ha
deliberations unless il became ne
ccssary.'
while BRYAN lo0med as The center
OF interest for the hundreds of Dem
ocrats who foregathercd for The meet
Ing of the committee. three men who
sat down together in little room at
the Sh0reham Hotel for a conference
this morning were The real moving
powers of the meeting. They were
Charles =. Murphy Of Tammany Hall.
Roger (. Sullivan. erstwhiIe boss of
Chicago. and Tom TaSgart. cnsin-
Ger OF he Democratic steam roller OF
1908.
These three were prepared 10 lead
the fight 10 have Taggart named as
chairman OF the powerful committee
on arrangements for he convention.
and they were confident they would
do 50 despite any fight that the Pro
gressives in the committee might
make. With Taggart in this position.
the Old Guard trio will be in a posi-
ton to control the preliminaries Of
the convention. and it is generally
believed will throw whatever in:lli-
ence thcir victory may give them. 10
the support of Coy. .Tudson Harmon
OF OHIO for the presidential nomina-
ton. Supporters of Wilson and 9TH
or candidates were prepared to make
all the fight possible against this pro-
gram. but the Old Guard playing old
time politics. had candidates pretty
vel! lined up.
Murphy came TO Washington with
an idea that he might carry the con-
vention to New York. But today it
was generally believed that he had
abandoned the plan, under pressure
from his associates. and that either
st. Louis or Baltimore would win
the prize. ST. Louis had injured its
chances by an Independent stand in.
the matter of money, and as Balti-I
more offered $50. 600 for the con
vention, il seemed that the Maryland
city would have the votes when the
committee went into session. Chi
! cago and Denver were considered out
of the running.
Supporters OF the Presidential pref
ierential primary were enthusiasticai
; IL confident when the committee went
into session. Senator Chamberlain
OF Oregon. author Of the Primary res