The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-08
THURSDAY. OCTOBER 8. 1903.
THE HENRlco DEMOCRACY.

THE HENRlCO DEMOCRACY.
In view of the fact that the Demo-
cratic Committee of Henrico has refused
10 abide by the decision Of the State
Central Committee in the Brauer-Todd-
Hechler contest, and has declared Mr..
Todd to be the nominee of the party, IN
Bpite Of the fact that Mr.. Todd did not
receive a majority, or even a plurality
OF the votes cast in the primary election,
st is proper to call public attention to tho
attitude of Messrs. Brauer, Todd and
Hcchler before the State Committee, and
the pledges that were then made for
them by their respective lawyers.
When the question of jurisdiction was
raised, Mr. Meredith, representing Mr..
Brauer, contended that the State Com
mittee had full authority to act, and that
his client would accept the verdict, what
ever it might be.
..Mr. Brauer is Democrat" said Mr..
Meredith, land If the State Central Com
mittee fails to declare him the nominee
he does not propose to go to the courts
or to contest the matter further, but to
abide its action. That is our position. 1t
is a matter Of Democratic party policy,
nothing more nor less
Messrs O'Flaherty, Fulton and Coal
ter, counsel for Messrs. Todd and l1ech-
Ter, denied that the State Committee had
jurisdiction. lwhereupon Mr.. Patton, Of
the committee, inquired where the appel
ices Stood He asked
If this committee declares Brauer is
not the nominee do they contend that
1Iechler or Todd would be?
Mr.. Fulton: Charges have been filed
against Mr.. Hechler, from which he Is
CT titled to eXoneration. It's up to tho
County Committee to decide what 1t
will do before our clients answer that
question finally. / do not know what
they will do. whether they will bow to the
State Committees decision or not If the
County Committee accepts this commit
tees decision, we do not know yet what
VIC will do.
Mr. Coalter: The State Committee
would be assuming appellate jurisdiction
they do not possess in this case II they
declare Mr. Brauer the nominee
Mr.. Parker: l did not think there was
but one Norfolk county in the State,
but I see I was mistaken. There is an
other. 1t is Henrco. You have gotten
into mess there, and we are trying to
straighten you out and TO do what Is for
the best interests of the party.
Mr.. Watkins thus stated the situations:
The petition fled here asks for q remedy
OF an alleged wrong. AS to whether
Hecher or Todd js entitled to the nomi-
nation, this committee has nothing what
ever to do. We are hearing the Brauer
case. and nothing else. If you appear
here and make charge against Brauer
DO, Va ,,n md 40
cepted the jurisdiction of this committee.
When you appear and undertake to take
Iart in this case. you are bound by your
action, and must abide the result We
have nothing TO do with the question
whether Mr.. Hechler or Mr.. Todd is en-
fitted to the nomination. We are trying
The Brauer case on his experimenting
more.
After considerable further legal fcnc-
ing, Mr.. Patton offered the following,
which was adopted unanimously:
'.Resolved, That after such nvestlga-
tor. as this committee decides TO make,
II finds that the certificate of nomination
should have been awarded 10 w. II. Brau-
err il will in that case declare him the
nominee for treasurer of Henrco county"
Messrs, O'Flaherty, Fulton and the other
attorneys accepted this, and the argu-
nient OF the case on It's merits was gone
into.
Such is the report Of that part of the
proceedings as they appeared In The
Times Dispatch of Saturday, by which
Il is made clear that counsel for Messrs.
Todd and Hecher agreed to abide by the
result. Counsel did not undertake to bind
the County Committee. but they did bind
their clients, and the State Committee
decided that Mr.. Brauer was entitled ia
the nomination. In spite of that fact
however the County Committee subse-
quently awarded the certificate of nom.
iration 10 Mr.. Todd, and Mr.. Todd has
not yet declined it, on the contrary, 1,
IS publicly stated that he will run, and
that Mr.. Hechler will aid him In his can
didacy with the understanding that Il
Todd is elected, Hechler will be his dep
uty.
And so 1t would appear that Messrs
Todd and Heehler have also dehed th'
agreement 10 recognize its jurisdiction
and 10 accept It's decision as hna,
once more We ask If the example
of the Henrico Committee is to be fol
lowed by other committees throughou
the State, and II the example Of Messrs
Todd and Hechler Is to be followed b.
other appelees who so before The Stat
Committee what is to become Of part,
organization in Virginia?
The Democratic party Of Iienrico 4
In danger. It's integrity, ii not, indeed
It's very existence, is threatened, TIL
new County Committee Will meet o.
Saturday. and 1t should use its best en-
oeayors to bring about an amlcabe SET
Element OF this serious dispute befor