The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-17
70 the Democracy ns NorfoI County
NoRFoLK COUNTY, May l6, 1895.

P'c ihoheut, pIe!hcluB III Win u
brief history Of the proceedings which
produced 1t.
1t is we'll known to you that the
county has been for four years past
uuder the rulu uf u political fusion,
brought into oiiiu: by an agreement
between ambitions Office seekers who
desired place aud cmoluments more
than the interest of their parties aud
the principles of those parties. BY
fusion, they nullihed party notion,
whether Democratic or Republican,
and parcelled out to themselves
The offices each had selected.
No option WAS left to voters
other than to ratify this spoils
combine or throw away their votes for
hopeless candidates. The Official and
political results of tins fusion have
been unsatisfactory, very, especially so
| to the masses of the Democratic party.
who value tho integrity OF tho party
aud their own unswerving Loyalty to
its every interest. Hence thsre was
| announced early in this campaign q
determination to resist any repetition
OF the fusion, and the purpose to put
| siraighlout Democratic ticket in the
held for country officers. Those whom
we thus represent were aud are still
firmly convinced that the county
should be controlled by the Demo
cracy, and that the party. If it does
not win victory, had better be de
feated IN Glenn handed fight than by
an unhoiy fusion surrender The
fusionists, however, arc compactly
cemented together to retain their
profitable grip on the Offices AMI power
Of the people. those OF them who
cluim to he Democrats have endeavored
to confuse and stampede the Demo-
cratic party. When district meetings
were called by the regular party nu.
thorities to elect delegates to the Coun
ty Democratic ouveurion, these fu-
slonists, led by Sheriff Cromwell and
bis allies, the relatives OF himself and
tue Office holders under him, went into
these meetings for the purpose of de
ieailng the election of delegates IN ia
| vor OF Il straIghtuut ticket. In other
words, they entered the fell to pre-
vent the Democratic party OF tho coun
~ from petfectlug its organization and
| supporting u Democratic ticket. After
the meetings had been held, thus ham
pered aud confused, The roll of dele.
gGtes showed the following facts: Tn
contested delegates:
| StraiShont Democrats .........l9
| usiun pcmocr y Observation-Disclosures.
Contested re eSat on. .............l3
rnIMAE rAcIr DELEGATES.
Strai-hout emocrats l6
| ius'Ou b'inoc ats. .................ll
h'LL- oNrE~TEp AND SoS-coNrEsrEp.
| S'ralEhtont democrats. ................2d
| Fusion nemUc NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. II
| hus showing That if the uucontesied
| delegates organized the convention ne
sttalghtouta were thirteen TO one. If
the prlmae iacle delegates organized
The hudy the straightouts wonld have
sixteen TO eleven. II all the delegates
contested aud upcontestei, had par
| 'lcipated the stfalghtouts would lave
twenty six to fourteen.
| 1be convention met at Lesner's Hall
on The 18th day OF April, when the
| straightout delegates had 10 fight their
way into the halt against the resistance
OF the constabies OF the county and
| deputies OF the Sheriff, who demanded
| tickets aud otherwise sought to intimi-
| date and shut out delegated Democrats
fiom rightful participation in the
| party convention.
Alter MIR. Nimmo, with a letter of
authority from the county chairman.
| ignored the right Of the county secro
larry To call the convention to order.
| iooh charge and announced the election
| oil n. ii. Hawks, one OF the fusion in
terested delegates, AS both temporary
| ana permanent chairman, and alter mn
| excited depate, wherein our protests
were ignored and dIsregarded, and AT.
ter our fair oilers to have the eouveu-
ton organized by the delegates under
| ally one OF the class!tications set ont
above, and these oilers were refused.
then, and then only, the straightout
| Democrats, from self-respect and re
gard for the true principles and honor
OF The party, proceeded to legally or.
game the convention aGd nominated
the strnlghlout ticket thnt You are now
asked 10 support. The fusiouists seated
all their contested delegates, most OF
whom had no shadow oil right on party
meeting credentials, and then pro
ceeded to reuOminate Sheriff Cromwell
aud Commemorative Attorney Mar
shail-the agreed fusion programme
leaving the other places on the ticket
to be hiled by the Republicans end of
the combine, and this has been done,
| Now, the issue IL plainly presented
10 the voters OF the county of nil par
Ties. IT Is square choice between the
straightout Democratic ticket, nomi
mated by Democratic convention. IN
accordance with Democratic usages.
and fusion ticket. winch represents
no party, no fixed political principles
or status, pledged to no definite county
| pohcy, Bnd seeking only Office and