The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-09
NORFOLK'S PROTEST.
A DELEGA7JON INSISTS UPON A
FAIR ELECTORAL BOARD.
Fraud TO he Put Down Within the Part
Lines-Conceded that Another Board
Would Give Entire Satisfaction.


nan. Il. ID. Doyle. X. c. Murray and X.
s. Poulson, OF that city, went before the
House Committee on Elections at II NJ.
In their statement to the committee they
represented that while the joint commit
tee Of the Legislature had agreed to
recommend A. J. Dalton, G. w. Taylor
and y. Il. Joynes for the electoral board
Of Norfolk they felt that it was contrary
TO the wishes OF a decided majority OF
/ the Democrats OF that city who had IN
! dorsed the names OF II. h. Jones, b. T.
! Loyal and Edward Church, presented by
/ the delegation OF Democrats VINO had APP
peared before the joint committee OF the
Senate and House former occasions.
/ The objections to the appointment OF the
board recommended had been fully pre-
/ scented to the committee. The reason
I was that they were partisans of an ele-
| ment Of the party known as THE ma
chine" The delegation from Norfolk said
I that while IL was with the meeting or
/ the joint committee Tuesday. the state
| ment was made by the representatives
from Norfolk that the board they re-
commended had been endorsed by the
| City Democratic Committee and that they
| had unquestionably been inlsled In max
ing that declaration, from the fact that
there had been no meeting OF the city
| Democratic Committee in the last sixty
days. and they had positively refused oy
resolutions previously 10 endorse any
Democrat against another whose name
was mentioned for the position.
Suit er'. Precinc. Of Norfolk.
The delegation also presented the
strongest statistics, showing that the ma
chine work in the Fourth ward. or So
called Smithers precinct Of Norfolk.
where the highest Democratic vote that
had been cast was 23l for Mr.. Cleveland
I'm 1892 while in November. 1888 the last
gubernatoral and legislative election. ls2
votes claim 20 have been polled for the
! Governor and members OF the Legislature.
and the belief was general in Norfolk
that this extraordinary vote was Sc
cured i'm order that the Democratic vote
OF Brambleton ward might be over
/ shadowed and IT'S basis Of Democratic
representation destroyed by the assist
anCe Of the alleged Democratic negro
votes which were not believed to nave
been pOled at that election. Ihe Deiiio-
Gratis OF Norfolk. In order 10 secure mar
nony and bring about an honest election'
felt that II was imperative that these
wrongs should be corrected, that nun
dreds Of Democrats would be driven 10 a
massive condition unless such course VS.
adopted The Democratic party snouiu,
thew claimed. correct it within itseli, anu
mus demonstrate that II was not at par
with the system OF Republican rascal1S
when that party was in power
Wound h. satisfactory.
Mr Kenam. representative from Nor,
folk. appeared before the committee anu
defended the board which had been recon-
,ner,,ed bv the Joint committee, Messrs
Dalton. Taylor. and Jones. lie did no'
however. hesitate TO remark, upon Deins
ousstione1 bv Chairman Gibson. that the
81 hoard recommended By the delegation had
] moro of the confidence OF the Norfolk peo-
, nie than the board that ne advocated, auu
that it was not 70 question OF doupt p"0
that If that board composed OF gentlemen
of the highest starding. was selected py
tho legislature. there would BE- thorough
satisfaction. tie did not, however IN reply
10 another question from Col. 1lbao'''
believe that there would be that satis-
faction or harmony in the party II the
hoard which he and his teilOw-assoclates
recommended should be elected.
The Sacc :. of thu Party safe.
He felt however that the success OF
the party would be safe fl they were Sc
lec+ed. lie recognized that the gentlemen
who were present as delegation from
Norfolk. were of the highest character
who firmly believed the position mat they
occupied, and be did not question the
sincerity OF their purpose i'm securing
what they considered TO be the best 1or
. the interest of the Democratic party OF
, Norfolk. lie. however, advocated the Sc
= lection of his board because ne be-
ueved that they were endorsed by the ma
= ior.ty OF the Democratic party OF NorioiA'
, hard-working. tOiling, Democratic masses
, who never hesitated TO work with zeal
and activity in all the contests OF the
, partv. and who contributed their means
towards its Success lie was under the
impression that the board had been en-
dcrsed by the City Democratic Commit
tee. and he recognized the fact now that
tnis endorsation was simply by members
- of that delegation signing as individuals
The delegation from Norfolk said that
{ thew were perfectly willing &c rest then
e case upon the admission made by Mr.
r. Kellam; that the board that it had re-
e commended was one that would give un'
!. questioned satisfaction TO the Democrats
?. of Norfolk generally, and secure unlteo
r. support, whereas the other board, accord
% ing to his statement, would not.
;. There would have been an afternoon
g session. but the delegation from Norfolk
j. regarded the admission of Mr.. Kellam as
: establishing their case. The delegation
. then withdrew.
" To Purify the Elections.
The other business of importance trans
r acted by the committee was the considera
ton OF the bill offered by Judge Buforc
4 some weeks ago to require the judges OF
S election 10 admit into the polling booths
z two friends of the candidates voted fol
at each election as soon as the polls arr
I closed, before the ballot-boxes are un
4 locked. and before the count Is com
mence1.
e At the last meeting as reported In these
u columns an amendment was offered b,
Captain Neff that the persons 10 be adj
mitted by the judges as friends of tn
several candidates shall be selected by IN
y judges, his object. as ne explained II
= being TO exclude violent partisans wh
J. would probably create disturbances an
: cause precincts to be thrown out.
t Judge Buford explained that the Ian
i guage OF his bill was exactly that or IN
e Anderson Me- Ormick law, with the eXcel
= ton that under that law the persons I
: no admitted had to wait until the poll
II books and ballots were made 10 corr
G spoud. while his bill 10 amend provide
J for their admission as soon as the poll
y ara closed and before the count is com
menced.
d Judge Buford made the point that II I'll
$ iudges ~ election were dishonest and con
templated fraud, they, In selecting person
to witness the count, would select ON
those persons who. like themselves, woul'
: for n price betray the interest OF IN
friends they had been admitted 10 rep
;. resent and protect; that unfortunately q
}. the reports that reach US from many sec
= lions of the Commonwealth are true) N
: iudoes of elections are not in all case
. men Of honesty and integrity On IN