Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-20
COMMITTEE UPHOLDS
WILSON'S CHOICE FOR
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
Refuses to Override President
and RebukeS Charge That
He Is Seeking to Dictate to
Committeeman

ST. LOUIS. June 1s.-A resolution
presented at a meeting of the Democrat
10 national committee last night that
provided that the committee name IL:
own Chairman and secretary from its
own membership and that the Demo
cratic presidential nominee be empow-
cred to select campaign committee and
name its officers, created 4 sensation
among the committeeman gathered "a
affect their organization The resOlu-
ton was defeated BY a vote of as to
after a debate that lasted until after
midnight.
During the debate on the resolution
the action OF President Wilson in suG-
costing the names Of the officers of the
new committee was freely discussed and
National Committeeman E II. Moore.
who presented the resolution, declared
the president should not have the pow
sr to impose his will upon the commit
tee and that Il do not want 10 put IL
in the power OF any man TO create a
presidential dynasty"
After the resolution was defeated the
following officers Of the new commit
tee were elected:
Vance Mccormick. of Pennsylvania.
chairman.
. Homer Cummings. OF Connecticut.
vice chairman
Representative Carter Glass. of vir-
ginIa. secretary
W. w Marsh. Of Iowa. treasurer.
John I. Martin. Missouri. serEeat-at-
arms
MR.. HowELLS PROPOSAL.
There have been reports for several
DAYS that some national committeeman
were opposed to the idea that President
Wilson name the officers OF the COM
mittee. After several contests had been
heard the committee took up the ques-
ton Of permanent organization and Mr..
Moore offered a resolution that had
been given him by National Committee
man Clark Howell. of Georgia. who was
forced BY engagements to leave the city.
This resolution provided in effect that
a campaign committee be created TO
conduct the campaign until after the
election and that in accordance with the
wish Of the presidential nominee, Vance
Mccormick be made its chairman and
that the national committee give its
cooperation TO this campaign commit
tee This resolution was withdrawn
and one from National Committeeman
John 7. McGraw. Of West Virginia. was
then submitted.
. the Democratic national committee name
its own Officers. which shall be select
ed from its own membership and that
the committee also appoint a campaign
committee to have entire charge OF the
campaign
MooREs POSITION.
Speaking on his resolution, Mr.. Moore
said that he had taken this course be-
cause he felt that the committee should
have at least been consulted in the Sc
lection of its officers. Mr.. Moore de-
cIarsd that he did not feel that the
president OF the United States should
impose upon the unwilling will of this
committee a man who shall be in control
OF the committee. He added that he in
tended no affront TO the nominee Of the
Democratic convention. but he did ask
that no affront be put upon the commit
tee.
Il am the sole judge of my own
honor said Committeeman Moore, land
/ do not undertake TO state what is due
e 10 your dignity and your self-esteem- 1
say it is not the part of a true Ameri-
can 10 give orders like a master TO a
serf I think that IL the nominee was
advised OF this resolution he would
agree with me. / know that il makes
me persona non grata to make this
fight We are establishing a precedent
that will never be overridden. i do not
want to put IL in the power OF any man
10 create a presidential dynasty"
Vice chairman Homer 5. Cummings
said that ne deprecated the use of such
language at this critical period in pun
Tic affairs He added that the president
made the suggestion Of the committed
officers as a convenience 10 the commit
tee and that Mr.. MOOre's resolution
would run counter 10 the presidents
designation
Mr.. Cummings asserted that IL the
motion was passed. it would be heralded
not in harmony Mr.. Cummings
said
We should heed the presidents sug-
gestions They are not orders or COM
mands."
WILSON NOT ORDERING.
National Committeeman Hudspeth. OF
New Jersey, said he had talked with
President Wilson over the telephone
about these suggestions. and that the
president said he had only made them
as q matter Of preference
National Committeeman Mack, Of New
York, spoke against the resolution. AZ
this point Colonel McGrsw. Of West
Virginia, said he regretted his resolu.
don had been presented and later in the
aourse Of the debate said that IL some
Of the members Of the committee had
been frank enough 10 make the presi-
dents position clear all the trouble
would have been avoided
A Mitchell Palmer, national commit
teeman Of Pennsylvania. vigorously op.
posed the resolution, declaring il t.
be revolutionary and that IL made for
z double-header proposition in the con-
duct Of the campaign He told the com.
mittee something Of Mr.. Mccormick
activities in public life and then added
The president did a courteous and
proper thing by communicating his sug-
gestions 70 Vice Chairman Cummings o.
, the committee He never dictates He
never gives orders. He has ideas and
convictions and he expresses them I do
not think the president would consider
Il an affront IL you do not act on his