The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-12
TUESDAY, JANUARY ~ 1909.
The Fusion Members.

The Fusion Members.
n Tho Democratic cnucus of the General
Assembly will be called upon 10 shs
whether or not Messrs. Owens and PARK
II u the DELEGATES from Norfolk county,
rnnI, h, recognized as members IN soou
Z. rtnudinr Of the Democratic party OF
a y,rr;nia, ana entitled to participate IN
Y ,hc teuberations Of that body TIC
4 1,in,cs. ,,Isputch Is Clearly Of tho opinion
that these delegates should not % so
recognized III cnucus. They have del'eu
.hc authority of the State Central COM
,,,ttcc: hat., refused 10 abide by2lts de-
c,<tnn and have forfeited their right
10 r.,co.litlcii III Democratic caucus.
- q 4 long story, and we have not the
+,,ne nor the space 20 tell 1t all to-das'--a
hI:ef recital Of the main fac's IS suh'-
c;ani FOR our purpose now. In june lS "o'5'
4 fin state Central Committee decided that
Inc Norfolk County Committee was COM
nnrnd of eighteen members known as
sY,.,ebtouts and twelve members known
3, fusion Democrats, and that George
W Tones was party chairman captain
-, - marshall, Commemorative nttor-
ney, vas present and our understanding
Is that he offered in advance TO aolde
bv tho decision, provided he should DO
given time to produce witnesses other-
wise he would not yield. The committee
would not accept these conditions, ana
dur further understanding is TINT cap
tain Marshall served notice that ms
a;le would not submit TO what he re-"
earded as a harsh nlld unfair ruling. The
ft,sionlsts also held that TINS question
1au previouly been referred to tho state
t,xecutiyc Committee, and as that COM
n n;ittce had decided In favor Of their sido
Sit vas not competent for tho central
Co,nmittce to reopen the case.
Tc make this statement in fairness TO
tn. fuslonists, but it seems TO us 10
h.v, nothing to do with the subject undc:
tliscussion Whether or not the COM
mittee did right is another matter. the
fact is that it decided against the tu-
einnista and the committees ruling is
marty law. There is no appeal from it,
ms that committee Is the supreme party
\ ncthority Instead of submitting Major
Y Is, w. Owens, chairman Of the fusion
wing, and his associates on tho commit
to-. dcfied the State Committee and adj
vcrtsed that thcy.awould hold a Demo
cratic primary ..'n yatugust They did
hold a primary, notwithstanding the fact
th;t there vas only one candidate from
their wing for each OF The county offices
K TO be voted for in llbs regular election
Wo arc Informed, however, that there
y wcre opposing candidates for some of Tho
district cIcos. They pollcd something
35,n0,e than s','een hundred votes an
nominated full Democratic ticket. The
straightouts subsequently, held n prlmar!
ard nominated a full, ticket, polling abou
"a MIN, teen hundred votes Tho straight
v cuts charged during the campaign tina
s. thee OF the candidates put up by tn
i NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for treasurer and com
r,issioncrs of the rcvcnue-wcre mer
',aen OF straw" ana would not be vote
Tor in the regular election, and sue
proved to be tho fact. The fusion ticke
OH tho day OF election vas composed Q
H. c. Marshall for Commonwcalth's al
5 trney; Il, w. Owens and w. G, Farke
for House Of Delegates, ah fusion Demo
cats and S. w. lyons for treasurer, an
John D. Moore and l.. N. Nicholas, &c
commissioners of the revenue. all Rcpul
licans.
IA II will be seen from this that Messr
owens and Parker were nominated By
x primary held IN defiance OF the stat
democratic Committee, and elected on
q ticket with three Republicans. How the
car now ask recognition OF tho DEM
95. t;atic caucus is past comprehensive
4 l,ey had a perfect right 10 defy Il
5 party authority ana to run as indepe
II dents, but having done so, they mu
.5a accept the consequences. They cannot
elected as independents and then clai
4 " a1mittance into tbs caucus as regular
elected Democrats. Should the Dem
a cratic party approve such conduct. the
AT Y would soon be no such thing ms party u
cIpline and party crganizauon.
* aistsra. Owens and Parker have !
bel.ed. and they must take their ne'
cine.
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