Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-05-23
GLASS.JAAIE|s .l.'
CONTENTION
e~ --~
May Be No Vote For Mem
Der Of the the National
Committee.
MAN MAY BE NAMED
Power Vested in State Delegation to
the National Convention Which
Meets in St. Louis.

The contest for Democratic na-
tional committeeman, now going on
in earnest between the friends Of
Congressman Carter Glass and Ror-
er A. james, of Danville, may never
come to vote in the Democratic
State Convention at Roanoke on
June End.
1t has been disclosed within the
past few days by Virginians promi-
nent in politics in the State that the
right to elect member of the Demo-
cratic National Committee really lies
in the power of the State delegation
to the national convention, and that
although the State convention has
the authority to recommend to the
State delegation who should be nam
ed as national committeeman, the
delegates to the national conven-
ton are not bound by that recon-
mendation and may act contrary to
it.
The Democratic National Conven-
tion has always elected as members
of the national committee the NOM
inees of the State delegations. In
some States the practice has grown
up, and Virginia is among them, for
IT. C4a4o ,o-,,oof;o,, +o oxprarc n
preference for some man as national
committeeman for the Statee and the
delegation from that State may or
NAV not follow the suggestion.
In Virginia this practice has been
followed ever since Hon. j. Taylor
Ellyson has been a member of the
State delegation, and the State dele
CATION has been pleased to follow
the suggestion.
= The Baltimore convention of 1912
embodied in it's platform the follow
ing declaration regarding the nation
al committeeman:
Committeeman who are hereaf-
ter to constitute the membership of
the Democratic National Committee
and whose election is not provided
for by law shall be chosen in each
State at primary elections"
1t was proposed some months ago
to have the Virginia Legislature ad-
opt a law for selecting the national
committeeman by primary, but no
thing was done. So that to all in
dications the selection of the national
committeeman still! remains with the
State delegation, in accordance with
the old Democratic party law.
If the selection of the national
committeeman is left to the State
delegation it is almost certainty
that Rorer James will be named
without q contest. From. reports it
would appear almost certain that
James will have good majority of
of the Virginia delegates to the ma
tional convention without account
ing for Senators Martin and Swan
son. who will be delegates at large.
1t also seems probable at this time
that James will have majority OF
the delegates to the Roanoke con-
vention, attributable chiefly perhaps
To the fact that most of the delegates
were chosen before Mr.. Glass enter
ed the race, and just happened to DC
organization men.
If it turns out as expected that
Senator Martins friends have the
majority of the delegates to the
Roanoke convention they can prevent
the taking of vote on the naming
or recommendation o. q nationa
committeeman.
1t is now generally accepted thai
either Congressmaa Charles Carlir
or Mr.. Houston, of Hampton, will be
named by the State Executive com
mittee, which meets the evening be
fore the convention, as temporar,
chairman, and that the other will be
elected permanent chairman. Both
are strong friends of the organiza
ton. M
Therefore, in view Of the fact tha
d the Baltimore convention platform
declared that the national commit
teeman should be elected at q pr