The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-20
A Southampton View.
a,.,,. ; ~, Z ,,Y,,ns- patch:

Editor. Of The I1mes-Dis Pa'eti. -,
sir,-r have read with great pleasure
| vm,r, editorial OF some days ago on Nor
folk county r,usionists, tho ortlclt on the
same subject from Mr.. Copeland Y ana
yo,,r editorial III yesterday s issue, anu !
wish TO 8conrra tuate the Democracy OF
Norfolk county that the leading metro
politan newspaper Of the state mas ~
formed itself on this sub1ect, ahu, acllis
solely on that information, mas come ~,
unequivoculy against fusionlsm at ~.
against tho recognition as Democrats ~
tho Democratic party of Virginia Of men
who CAL themselves Democrats, but VINO
continue their unholy alliance with he-s
T sny this because believe the sltla-
tion In Norfolk county Is a standing dls.
grnco and menace to the Democracy @
the State and 1t ought to be broken up.
and r know how potent the Influence Or
| ,rha rimes-Dispatch can be In this direc-
tinn, r have no special concern for y or.
folk county but have much concern 1or
what Is donc in the name and under TIC
guise Of Democracy.
Tho burning question now is W ii ia.
| shall be done in the immediate future:
! The right Of tho Fusonists 10 SIT IN tt'o
| Democratic legislative caucus has peei'
raised and its consideration postpohea
| for a tlnne. think l can read between
1.-the lines thnt there is n disposition on
/ fine mart OF members Of the caucus 70
shirlt tho responsibility Of looking into
this matter and deciding it onits merits.
| They seem to look on it as a mere fac-
| tIonal fight. among Dempcrnts, Ignoring
the fact that the .Guestion involved IS
! m oro serious than ,tquestlon Or. parry
/! regularity and 4hEolueS Che very integrity
I If thc Demoera tic partytof the State. It
| IS the duty of Nom berslof the caucus 10
look carefully into this matter and de-
J eide 1t according to$right and just and
| for the best interests ofsthe Democracy
Of Virginia. Thesfestering sore of fusion-
!. ism ought to be removed, and Owens ana
I Parker ought to be denied tho right 10
seats In Democratic caucus Il am not
discussing their right to seats ~ ulS'
House Of Delcgates).
If this is done twill be the last we
! viii. hear of fusion in that county. Inc
Z, great bulk of those who are really Dem
| ocrats. recognizing that they can no
! longer hold on to fusion and claim to pc
Democrats, will renounce fusionlsm ana
| come back into the real Democratic fold.
The circuit Judge, seeing the handwrlt-
ing on the wall, and bowling, as q good
4 Democrat, to tho decision of the Democ-
j racy Of the State will. appoint an cleo
toral board in Norfolk county, composed
4 Of real Democrats. who will have none
l OF fusion, and in 4 year fusionism IN
| Norfolk county will be as "a tale that is
told" Some who now call themselves
4 Democrats may never come back, out
j such are to-day Democrats only IN name
and tlbs party can easily 90 "lthou'
them.
But II the caucus and the State conven-
tons continue to recognize these men as
4 Democrats the resulting evils will be IN
a told. Man all over the State when they
find themselves In tho minority In the
Democratic ranks, will form coalitions
= with Republicans for the control or soca
office, sending so-called Democrats to
q tho Legislature so as to maintain
standing in the party, and thus control
the election machinery. Negroes VIII bt
= unjustly and unlawfully placed on thf
registration books as an aid to the COAL.
i ton, and finally tho whole State practl
cally will DO controlled by minority o.
Democrats in coalition with Republicans
and negroes.
am not oyerdrawlng the picture, 7
Ia q very real evil that exists and threat
ems us. This Is not mofe tactiohu
fight among Democrats In Norfolk coun
. ty. 1t Is a fight for the very lifo
Democracy there. IF the Democratic eau
Gus brushes 1t aside because 1t IL tlret
OF Norfolk county and don't want 70 %
botlssred with 1t, then the caucus VIII D.
false TO its constituency and VIII fni
utterly to meet the onl'gauons lnat re- 81
upon it. appeal to tho members OF IN
caucus, many of whom are my persona
friends, so face this question squarsl'
; and say clearly whether or not men wh
s defy the highest party authority and hol
! their positions by virtue OF open alliahc
n with Republicans and negroes. shall 2
o recognized as Democrats, II such y !
\ 10 tho standard OF Democracy then 70
= the Democratic party o. the state Kno'
!. it, &c, PARKER