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Show PS HOUSED BI UiilllUS VDTE Progressives Agree to Support Sup-port Congressional Candidate Can-didate of Democracy. CHARGES REFUTED Man Who Had Previously Made Charges Fails to Confront Accused. After four stormy sessions during the past thirty days, the Progressive congressional con-gressional convention of the Second district dis-trict met yesterday afternoon in its fifth session and indorsed by acclama- , tion the nomination of James H. Mays ; as fusion candidate for congress from this district. Nono of the bitterness of j former sessions was in evidence yesterday, yester-day, largely due, probably, to the fact that all the insurgents were conspicuously conspicu-ously absent. Mr. Mays appeared on the floor of the con vontion and answered the charges made against him in connection with his renomiiiulion at former sessions and was received with the heartiest ap-jilan.iO ap-jilan.iO bv about, two score delegates. Tho charges were taken up singly by Mr. MavH and annwered much the same, except a little more in detail, as they were answered bv C. G. Patterson at a special meetiug of the Progressives held at tli" Auditorium about two weeks ago. " have been charged with announcing announc-ing mvself as a Democrat in congress," Mr. Mnvs said, "and with affiliating witlh thb Democrats in legislative activities. ac-tivities. In reply I will say that the Democratic legislative programme contained con-tained practically all tho progressive ideas embraced in tho Progressive platform plat-form and there was nothing to do but join with the party that was favorable 'to such ideas. 1 have absolutely no apologies to offer for the action of the Democratic congress or for the stand took." Charges Refuted. With reference to the laud fraud charges, Mr. Mays repeated, what had been said bv Mr. Patterson about the proposed activities .of the company of which Mr. Mays is a member, putting the entire matter before the govern-, govern-, nient department heads during tho administrations ad-ministrations of Koosevelt and Taft. and asserted that the proposition met with the heartiest approval from all departments. ''Now, the charge that I appointed the brother of the present United States district attorney as my private secretary to stop prosecution in connection connec-tion with land frauds is far more serious seri-ous toward the district attorney than toward me' Mr. Mays declared. "I appointed Paul Kay my secretary because be-cause 1 believed him qualified for the position and because I oelicved that he needed tho job. A. son of S. R. Thur-iiian, Thur-iiian, chairman of the Democratic state committee, also applied for the position. posi-tion. He was equally well qualified, in my estimation, but 'he already .had a position in Washington that paid him practically the same as the secretaryship secretary-ship would. Under such conditions, I belie veil it proper that the position should be awarded to the man most in need of employment. At the time of M r. Ray 's appointment Mr. Thurman was the only other applicant. "This charge I do not take seriously, serious-ly, so far as T am personally concerned, but I repeat that it is a serious reflection reflec-tion upon a government official in the responsible position of district attorney. attor-ney. In so far as I know, there was no prosecution contemplated in connection connec-tion with any alleged land frauds, nor is there at this time." AVhen the convention was called to order by Chairman Allen T. Sanford about two score delegates, all of whom had been supporters of Mr. Mays at former sessions, were in the room. W. D. Livingston, C. A. Weaver, George Holmherg and other leaders of the insurgent in-surgent element were not in attendance atten-dance nor in evidence around tho City and County building. Accuser Not There. "While Chairman Sanford was telling i the convention the purpose for which it I had met Mr. Mays walked into the j room and was greeted by hearty ap- I plause. Mr. Sanford gave way to Mr. Mays, who immediately inquired if the man who had preferred the charges against him was in the room. He was not. Mr. Mays made no further reference refer-ence to the matter at that time, but later expressed the opinion that it would be, and was, a rank injustice to prefer charges against any man on a convention tloor when the" accused was not present to offer a defense. After Mr. Maya finished his explanations expla-nations he asked if there were any 1 questions. Chairman Sanford propounded propound-ed one or two to bring out further details de-tails in connection with Mr. Mays 's explanations, ex-planations, after which Mr. Mays was indorsed by acclamation as the fusion nominee for congress from the Second district. Practically the same element that has opposed the renomination of Mr. Mays opposed the fusion of the Democrats and Progressives in Salt Lake county at the Progressive county convention Friday, without further concessions from the Democrats. When further confessions con-fessions wore denied and the majority of the delegates voted to accept the proposition of the Democrats, this same insurgent faction bolted the convention and the general understanding is that the "bolters''' will not bp governed bv the action of the congressional convention conven-tion yesterday. .hit what they will do has not been announced. Tho indications are that pome of them will return to the Republican Repub-lican fold and that others will support such members of the Progressive partv as appear on the fusion ticket and support sup-port Republican nominees largely for ot her offices. |