The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-01
&
THE BREACH
IS WIDE|N|'lEDl.
-----------------------
Settlement Of the Norfolk City
Primary Case Unsatisfac-
tory All Rouild.
.TREHY MEN WILL APPEAL
\ Committee Specifically Dccliiicd
to Endorse the Primary.
The Effects.
.TREHY MEN WILL APPEAL { :

fhe long and tedious session Of the
State Democratic Committee over the
Norfolk city contest Is ended, and nearly
all the out-of town members OF tho COM
,nlttcc have left the city. The settlement
of the Norfolk case. IL 1t can propsrly
DO 30 called, Is not wholly satisfactory 70
either party but what OF satisfaction
there Is belongs to the Doy faction. which
escaped having the entire election result
overturned and annulcd and new pri-
injury ordered.
Tho net result Is that the 11ey faction.
styling itself the good government fac
tion,o retains all thnt It won IN an elcc-
lion which tho State Committee REFUSED
to endorse. but which by its decision ~
tolcrates us the best solution OF diff
cult and embarrassing position. Inc COM
mlttee's action cannot DO regarded as an
endorsement OF the methods employed p
that notorious election, and the nenbers
OF the subcommittee specifically stated
that they could otScndorse It,
MR.. G1LLIAM's VIEW. #
Mr. Gillian, n member OF the sub
committee which took testimony In the
case, made II very clear and frank state
1nent of the case. rs he viewed II, ana
from expressions on the floor Of the COM
mittee his view was shared by practically
< nil prescnt. IT was In brief that the prl-
mary was wrong In Its inception. mas
much us the methods employed and the
plan outlined raised n presumption OF
fraudulent intent. even before the pri-
mary WAS held. 1t was not an open pri-
mary and was not in accordance with the
intent or thc party plan. Az the same tlfne
MIR. Gillian and his associate on the SUD
committee Mr. Smith, were unwilling 70
stamp MS fraudulent the election In the
First, Sixth and Seventh Wards. although
they and the entire committee admitted
that there was conclusive evidence OF
fraud In the Fourth Ward. and that the
result there should be annulled and q
new primary ordered.
The committee did not add any instruc-
lions az to the plan TO be used In the
new election Representatives or 'he
Trehy faction declare that they Will not
70 into primary conducted by COM
mittce which had charge or the election
now stamped By the highest party tribu-
nal as fraudulent and SO proved. II would
seem. therefore, that the Dcy faction
will merely elect men TO succeed those
yyhosc seats were declared tainted by
fraud.
I. Is reported that the Trehy faction Will
appeal the case 10 the Stale convention
and ask IL 10 oYeTluEll tlie icsuit " ~
urinary OF October 13. 1905. which gives
the Dcy faction complete control OF the
city. The Trehy people still openly and
boldly charge that the so-called good
4 government faction stole the election IN
the First. Sixth md Seventh. as well as
In tho Fourth Wards. Whether the con-
vcntion will undertake to take up the con-
test remains to be seen.
The action of the committee has greatly
nccentuated the bitterness between the
factions, and the next struggle Tor con-
troll OF the party machinery In Norfolk
city promises to DO moro bitter even than
anything In the past.
Among tho prominent men who spent
portion OF the day with the committee
listening to argument In the case were
Congressman William A. Jones. Lieuten-
ant-Governor Joseph Il. Willard Judge
Edgar e. Montague, OF Hampton: Mr..
Fairfax Z. Montague. OF this city; Hon.
Charles r Bland, of Portsmouth, can
didate for the nomination for Lieutenant
Governor, and many others OF moro or
less prominence in politics.