The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-07
The Norfolk County Contest and
the Virginia Legislature,

The Norfolk County Contest and
the Virginia Legislature.
Editor Of tfhe Timcs.Dlspateh:
| gir,-1'he Legislature OF Virginia has
cot Il bad precedent BY permitting tho
|idelcgatcs from Norfolk county 10 enter
| the Democratic caucus. 1t has given d
lCominttee. 1t las Invited the improper
ana Etinneressary registratiol Of negroes
and opened wide tic door to fraud 1t
has practically stated to The ambitions
young rion of9the land that SUCCESS la
only possible In doubtful counties W b
coalition with negroes and Republicans.
For the first tlms.in tic history of the
Democratic party IN Virginia 1t has vlo-
lated the hitherto clean record Of our par
ty.s rho effect Of this action viii be
to lessen our strength; In fact, premi-
UNI Is offered to political trlckery ana
fraud There Is no apology and can be
no excuse for the manner In which tho
delegates were elected. The evidence Is
before the public, and 1t Is an awful
rcord. No man cnn controvert 1t. The
writer Is Il member OF the legislature.
He comes from the Quiet scclnsion OF the
country, and his people are astoundcd
and mortified at the result Who can
Justify the three sham candidates OF the
Norfolk county primary ticket? WHO
car Justify the illegal and Unnecessary
registration Of negroes? Facts are Stub
born things; their effect Is not tempor-
airy, but permanent. ,rhe Democratic par
~ stands d strong chance OF losng tweh-t
ty thousand votes IN Virginia by this
ficiarles Of the tIhholy coalition To occu-
py u scat upon the floor Of the House
and to enter the Democratic caucus.
charge thatHit was the uhholy coalition
ci "Blfel and Black George Unfor-3
tunately that coalition has been success
fui .s5s
Bonus lucri odor;ex re qualibet is to-
be the future motto of the Democratic
party. Perhaps I had better translate
il. it means that the smell Of gain Is
Ecod from whatever source 1t may come.
Does any aspirant54for the high office
gain by admitting the work of tho Nor
folk county delegates to the floor Of the
House? WHO KNOWS? Who can tell?5
If this Is true, and he Is found out, 1
cali his attention to the words which
brought cold sweat to the fnce Of T3el-4
3tcgethcr Meme NIsno tekel unhnrsin"
are the memorable words. If there be
such an asplrant for high office who has
gained BY tho action or the Legislature,
L ask him to note the phraseology and
mark the application Of this language.
Let him ponder and reflect upon It; 1t.
vii! do him good.S4I make NO charge
against any one; Ta$namc no one be-
cause i do not know who to name; but
for the life q me sa I cannot help doing
a sight of thinking,aaI am a. plain man
IN the country; albel unused to the ex-
preston OF my sentiments through the
columns Of the public press. / confess
that I am struck aghast at this fatal
work Of our Legislature. represent the
plain people OF the country.
Now, a word OF advice to my brother
members Of the Virginia Legislature. We
must. call another Democratic caucus Mt
an early day and undo this execrable
work. Tho omino,ls sounds of the dis
.tant roar Of the thunder in the country
can already. be plnirly heard. Unless
they are needed, they will develop into
q political cyclone. tza1'o be forwarned is
to he foreartned.n4ag If we leave Rich
mond without undoingSthis fatal who
can foretell the results315 All tshrough n
southside yirglrlla,rh banner, ! Ct "Bli1el
and Blatls wifi be ur,furled to
the breeze. Negroes and Republicans will
seek to be enrolled under is banners
ana they will be enrolled; and according
TO the precedent which we have estab-
lished, the beneficarles Of that coalt-
ton will DO entitled 7, to ia seat In the
House OF Delegates and toTan entrance
into our cauous My@God what an a"-
full consummation! Will the thirty years
work OF the white Democratic party In
Virginia have been done In vain? Is
Avail Martin a Democrat? Did he over
vote a Democratic ticket in his life? Did
10, the coalition refuse positively to vote
at the regular election for three Demo-
Gratis for whom they had voted at the
primary election? The answer is they
did not vote for them. Are we to leave
tho 1900 straightout white Democrats
or Norfolk county with the endorsation
OF the state Democratic Committee with
out any protection at our hands? !
Know not what. the residents Of the city
nay say, hut the country people are not
fools, and they will never forgive nor
condonc the action of those legislators
who gave to the Norfolk county delegates
i. seat upon the floor Of tho Huse and