Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-12
Special to Yirginian-Pilotl


Richmond. May 11.-Richmond drew
breath of relief this morning when IL
read in the papers that Mr. Henry Lee
Valentine had been elected King of the
Carnival and had accepted the honor.
AS matter OF fact, the indications
yesterday pointed strongly to the cleo
ton OF Hon. Samuel Stern, president OF
The lnha ~. Rstttirt- etub. and known
far and wide as Mayor of Jefferson
Ward on account of the political power
that he wields in his particular section
of the city
Ar. Stern while most estimable
gentleman. is keeper OF Il pawlbroklnr
establishment. and it was exceedingly
u's.asteiuI TO the people generally to
think that he would be made their king
Consequently the citizens got together
Yesterday and piled up $500 votes for
MT. valentine. ut ten cents a vote thus
eiecting him by considerable majority.
me city is in hustle to-day. for the
oootns. which line Broad street for
niteen blocks, must be completed bv
nliunisht Tomorrow, and there is stiil
nccn to be done 1t was Mt first mo
posed to work on Sunday, but the sab
oath Observance League. composed Of
i'ihiStes and many laymen, has petit
TONED the Mayor and Chief of Police to
see that nothing is done on the Lords
Day.
FORGED REPUBLICAN NAMES.
Attorney-Gcneral Montague to-day
transmitted To the Richmond Electoral
Board the following opinion in relation
10 inc forged Republican names. which
were presented to the clerk of the Hus
.lnSs court to be put on the official ball
lots at the coming election:
Genuemen,-In' the matter. OF tho ro.
quest or Your board as to the power or
SAID BOARD to inquire whether or nor
the notice of candidates for office ia
forged, ann OF opinion that 1t Is com
petent Tor the board to determine
whether the provisions OF the law res
pepsing the notice OF candidacy has
becn properly given, or given Mt ell.and
,hereore, IN the case in question the
BOARD has the power to investigate No
pest 1t can whether any OF said notices
are forSeries. While the board is a
nlIhlSierial body, yet all ministerial!
agents have the right to determine
whether the occasion as have arisen nr
nave occurred Is a condition precedent
10 their action. IF. therefore tbs. notice
is alleged 10 have been forged. and such
allegation IS made known 10 the board
IL is authorized. If 1t sees tit, to inves-
tigate the truthfulness OF the allega-
ton: and, II the proof conclusively
titi-eif-fr-rr-rr- Is L forgery, the
BOARD Is authorized to withhold the
name thereon from the original ballot.
Section Of the act says that the ballot
shall otly contain the names OF all
candidates complying with the provi-
sions as above required" If the notice
be forged. the provisions Of the act
are not complied with. and the board
IN my Judgment has, therefore, the
power TO determine whether such Ootice
be genuine or n forged document.
"Ot course. to justify the Beard in
declaring such notice a forged or ficti-
tious document, the proof should be
so full and clear as to make their
decision unauestioned. Consequently,
am OF opinion that the Board has au-
thority to make the Investigation In
question. but whether or not it will
make such investigation is purely dis
cretionary and optional with the Board.
1t has the authority if 1t chooses to ex-
ercise it."
The Board this morning decided thar
1t would take no steps in the matter
without an order of court This Mr..
Royal, counsel for the complainant.
says. will be forthcoming very soon.
There Is some fear that the matter will
interfere with the election, as the bal-
lot must be printed Monday.
CONsTITUTIoNALc CONVENTION.
Chairman Eliyson said to-day he had
received reports from every section OF
the state. and they were all of very
encouraging nature. The Republicans
do not seem TO be very active In their
opposition to the convention. but Mr..
Ellyson is taking no chances. He wants
the local chairmcn to be v:gilant and 10
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