The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-04
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1903.
PARTY ORGANIZATION.


The Times Dispatch regrets to know tha'
Tho Democratic Committee of Henrlco
county has refused to abide by the de-
cision of the State Central Committee
IN the Brauer-Todd- Hecher contest, ana
that in spite of the decision Of the Central
Committee that Mr.. Brauer IS entitleu
70 the nomination for treasurer, 1t has Is
sued the certificate of nomination TO
Mr.. William J. Todd.
This seems to US clearly to be viola
ton Of party law and precedent, and 1t
is defiance of party authority which
cannot be justified.
The plan of organiza ton adopted by the
State convention on May g. 1900. provides
that the State Central Committee may
decide all questions at issue which may
arise in election districts calculated to
affect the harmony and interests OF the
party and may, In its discretion, settle
all disputes within the party relating to
organization or nominations which can
not be settled by county or city COM
mittees of the respective localities affect
ed.
Again the State convention OF 1901 adopt
ed resolution committing itself to pri-
maries, and directing the State Central
Committee to provide a primary election
plan for the choice Of party candidates
for members of Congress, members of the
General Assembly and for county and
municipal offices. The State Committee
was given full powers to make such a
plan as 1t should deem best, and 1t was
provided that the party plan OF or
ganization insofar as the same may con-
flict with any of the above requirements
is altered to that extent
In obedience to that instruction and
exercising the power thus conferred upon
1t, the State Committee prepared and
promulgated In August. 1900, primary
plan, in which it Is provided that county
and city committees shall have the d.
recton and regulation Of primaries held
for the nomination of candidates for the
House of Delegates. county and city offi-
GERS, respectively. and shall decide con-
tests, subject to the right OF appeal to the
State Central Committee"
Such Is the party law and there can
be no two. opinions about 1t.
The Heprico Committee contends that
its action IS not subject to review OF
revision by the State Central Committee
because the primary recently held In the
county was held under an act OF the
Legislature approved March 4. 1898, which
gives that committee a standing in law
and exempts it from the supervision Of
the State Central Committee.
But that position cannot be maintained
II party organization counts for any
thing. 1t Is true that the Henrico pr
mary election was held under the statute
and this statute was designed TO CIV,
legal force TO the rules and regulations
under which any primary election hell
by any party In the county may b,
conducted. But clearly the statute wal
not designed to interfere with the rule
and regulations of any party. except 81
far as such party rules and regulation
might conflict with the specific provision
of the law. IT makes no provision for con
tests. all such disputes being left, b.
inference at least, to be settled by tn
party authorities.
In the Henrico primary, Mr.. Braue
received the highest number of votes cas-
for any candidate for the Office of treas
urer. but a contest was subsequent
made by his opponents on the ground tina
he had violated the provisions of tn
Barksdale pure elections law The Count
Committee heard the evidence. and tn
argument in the case. then decided thu
MI Brauer was guilty under two spec
fcations OF the charges and. Therefore
was not entitled TO the certificate Z
nomination. II may be mentioned her
by the way. that II has not been Il
custom In Henrco, so far as our know
ledge goes, 10 Issue Certificates of non
nation" The vote was canyassed, Il
winners We're declared. and these we
accepted by common consent as the par
nominees But that Is neither here n
there. Mr.. Brauer thought that he HI
not been justly treated BY the local col
mittee. Therefore, he took an appeal
the State Central Committee, the highe
party authority. and that committe
which has been clothed by act of t
State convention with fun power 10 81
tie contests reviewed the evidence agar
Mr.. Brauer; heard arguments on bo
sides and clnally decided that the chars
against him were not sustained. and I'll
re was fairly entitled 10 the nomr
ton. But the County Committee refus
10 abide by the decision Of the state Co