Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-25
COSTELLO GROUP
WINS IN HEARING
Contest Committee Decides
to Stand by Report in
Favor of "ReguIarS.'
H. a STAN Correspondent of The star

Sylyania and LOUISIANA. oeCioeo adsa
NIGHT In adhere TO its recommendation
to the national committee that the So
called Costello, or regular, delegation
be placed on the temporary roll Of the
convention, as reported exclusively IN
The Star, Saturday,
This recommendation was to be APP
proved by the national committee at
meeting today, which assures the Cos
tello-Colpoys delegation being seated
when the convention opens. After the
credentials committee has been APP
pointed the protesting delegation VIII
have another chance TO night LOT
recognition and threatens to carry IT'S
fight to the floor of the convention II
the credentials committee does not act
favorahlv. 1t is not at all probable that
this will have any effect on the con-
vention. and the Districts six votes VIII
be cast for Smith on the first ana all
other ballots until released by the
Smith manager by the Costello-Coipoys
delegation.
Basis Of Decision.
The decision Of the contest commit
tee. headed BY Bruce Kramer, natlona!
committeeman from Montana, is oaSeo
On the finding of the primary IN whlch
the regulars" were successful. brecK-
inridce Long. third Assistant Secretary
Of State. spokesman for the regular
deleration Quoted the rule adopted by
the Democratic national convention In
1920 on motion Of National Committee
man Coughlin of Massachusetts as
chairman of a committee which mao
heard a protesting delegation from the
District of Columbia, which was unah-
innously adopted. as follows;
THAT the primaries for the Demo-
cratic party in the District OF Column
bia be. and they are hereby ordered 20
be held under the direction OF tne
Democratic central committee OF the
District of Columbia. of which commit
tee Robert E. Mattingiy IS chairman
and John B. Colpoys is secretary, ana
that the election of said delegates be
conducted under the rules and regula-
lions heretofore formulated by the
Democratic national committee for the
conduct of such primaries,
The regular or CoStello-C olpoyS
delegation was represented at the hear
ing by National Committeeman Cos
tello, who is also delegate; John B.
Colpoys, who was secretary OF the CEN
trail committee when the resolution was
adopted and is now secretary succeed
ing Mr.. Mattingly, who resigned when
appointed Judge Of the Municipal
Court: James w. Bryan, Breckenridge
Long, Mrs. Marie D. Marye. John r.
KiIleen. Rowland B. Mahaney and Dr.
John T. Ready, all delegates elected a.
the primary held on May %,
Delegates In Opposition.
The opposition was represented by
Col George W. Pratt, James J. Slattery,
Lester Pollock, p A. Sugrue, Clifford r.
Allen, Roger L. Calvert, Joseph A. DAILY,
Roland F. Defere, James r. Duhamel
and william c. Murphy-an OF whom
were elected delegates at the primary
conducted on June IA.
Col. Pratt was the first speaker OF
the contestants and said he was not
interested In personalities, but only in
regularity Of voting. He said he had
been voting the Democratic ticket for
Al years. He said that he mao
been unable TO find any member
of the alleged State central committee
and had sought counsel OF former Sen
ator Underwood and National Chairman
Clem Shaver. with Robert N. Harper
and Mrs. Pollock he had formed a
eor1nnittee 70 meet with National Com
Ynitteeman Costello, and Chairman Col
uoys Of the central committee, Harry
Wells. secretary of the central commit
tee. James B. Boyer former chairman.
who has been member OF the COM
rnittee for 20 years. mad Russell Balder-
son.
They had asked four questions-that
they be allowed TO appoint judges at
each polling place. that the fee charged
candidates be reduced 10 barely cover
costs of the primaries and not provide
q fund for the conduct of the campaign
after the nomination by the national
convention. and for a list Of the MEM
bers Of the State central committee.
Irregularities Alleged.
Col. Pratt stated that many irregu-
iaYfttes were noted by himself and those
co-operating with him, such as there
being n precincts and only II names
On the central COMMITTEES. He protested
that the fight against the Costello dele
cation is not being made By the Al
smith for President Club but by a
Democratic campaign committee or
ganizsd as result Of mass meeting
81 Democrats which he had called. This
campaign committee had conducted pri-
MARES of its own on June IA, With 30
precincts, 40 Judges and 30 clerks. The
purpose Of this campaign committee, ne
said. was TO establish in Washington
. militant Democratic party"
He told the contest committee, II
you uphold the so-called regular dele
cation and the method under which
they were selected, you viii make
Costello and Colpoys national commit
teer1an and party bosses in the Capital
forever" He protested that the votes
east in the Costello -COlpoys primary
were not counted at the polling places,
but carried OF and counted else"
where"
This was wrong. ne .said. because a
candidate ik entitled 10 see the votes
counted and know how he was beaten.
Ea hEA
terext TO be seated in the convention
"a delegate because he had attended
every convention since 1904.
Question Of Legality.
James y. EIatteTy, as secretary Of the
Democratic campaign committee select
- At the mass meeting. said that the
issue 10 be decided was whether the
ear issued by the alleged central COM
yy.ftte mr. by the Democratic campaign
rouauaitsee was legal. He emphasized
ehat while the central committee call
said polling places would be set up In
each Of the ~ precincts only 10
we're actually opened. he said the call
nv the central committee was invalid
because il did not give any ADDRESS at
w,hich those who desired 70 register as
Graduates for delegates or for the
rattonal committee could do 80 and
resv their fee, thus restricting the slate
r. handpicke6 few He declared that
ssfia Democrats OF the District OF Co
fan,f,aa want 10 have some one else than
~ Castillo for national committeeman
snh b. bring about militant democracy
fhat will be supported morally and
financially by the people Of tne
District" -.
x~rsrriraal objections 10 the Costello
GnInOys primary was that the votes we're
not counted where cast
chairman Kramer then emphasized
that The 1--WE points the contestants dr.
sired io impress upon the contest com
ws.tt,.s aeeuaed To DF