The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-05
GOBER THE NOMl-
NEE FOR JUDGE
OF BLUE RIDGE CIRCUIT.
NORRIS CONTEST SET ASIDE BY
VOTE OF 23 TO IL.

state Democratic Executive Com
mittee Adopted Resolutions by A.
A. Lawrence of Chatham Accept
ing the Returns of Fnnnin and
GiImer Counties and Declaring
GOber the Nominee BOyISin
Wright's Resolution for New
Primary Defeated by Four Votes.
Atlanta, May 4.-Judge George f.
Gober was declared tonight by the
State Democratic Executive Commit
tee to be the nominee of the party for
Judge of the Blue Ridge Circuit. The
contest made by Hon. N. A. Morris
was rejected. This conclusion was
reached after the committee had gone
into secret session. on motion of Hon.
Warner Hill. ii is said. for the first
time in the history of the party, and
after a warm discussion during which
sixteen votes were cast for a new pri-
mary in the circuit. Twenty members
opposed this plan.
The resolutions favoring Judge Co
ber's claim were introduced by Hon.
A. A. Lawrence of Savannah, and
were adopted by vote of % TO II, aft
er having been amended by Hon. Clark
Howell, the amendment being to the
effect that the alleged frauds in Fan
min county about offset those in Gill
mer county, and that therefore the
sum total of the alleged frauds would
not affect the final result of the pri-
mary in the circuit.
Wright Wanted New Primary.
AS a substitute for the Lawrence res
o!ution Hon. Boykin Wright of Angus
ia, offered a resolution providing for
a new primary in the Blue Ridge cir
cult and the manner in which it should
be conducted. Mr.. Wright strongly
urged this resolution and was support
ed by other members Of the committee
who thought there had been sufficient
fraud in the election to demand this
course. Mr.. Wright's resolution, how
ever, was lost by vote of 20 to 16.
The original resolution by Mr.. Law
renee was adopted after amendment by
Mr.. Howell This resolution cites the
facts that the official returns showed
majority of 1856 for Judge Gober; that
alleged irregularities occurred in Fam
min and Gilmer counties; that Mr.. Nor
ris did not properly commence a con-
tive Committee; that the notice served
on that committee was too indefinite
to serve as a basis for a contest; that
if the vote of both Fannin and Gilmer
counties was thrown out the result
would not be changed, and that the
state committee has no original juris-
dction to entertain the contest of Mr..
Morris. On account of these facts 1t
is declared that the vote both of Fam
min and (aiiuner poInfiae shall ha
cepted and that the chairman of the
State Committee snail certify the re-
suit as stated to the state convention,
declaring Judge Gober the nominee for
Judge.
Gober Won by Eleven Votes.
The aye and nay vote on this resolu-
ton was as follows:
For the standardization Nc
Whorter, A. A. Lawrence, Clark How
ell, NJ. j. Yeomans, l.. d. Shannon
Phil Lanier, J. S. James, S. T. Bla-
Moses Wright, L. M. Heard, e. j.
Wellborn, Il. F. Ousley. S. c. Atkin-
son, ]. Il. Foye, J. S. Turner, proxy
for S. T. Wingfeld, ]. r. Oglesby, a.
G. Stone, II. j. Rowe, j. w. Goldsmith,
James Taylor, proxy for John A. Cobb;
]. II. Witzell. Against the resolution
II. w. Hill, ]. r. Gray, j. J. Sspalding,
Howard, c.. D. Thigpen, J. r. Phil
lip, M. l.. Cornett, John priplett, A.
II. Russell, w. G.. Hamilton.
After n seven Hour Fight.
The State Committee was in session
from - O'Clock noon until 7:30 O'Clock
at night. When the committee met II
was finally decided to give counsel on
each side not more than two hours
each to present their respective
claims.
1t was decided to accept three prox-
les which were presented and protest
against two members, j., II. Witzel OF
Fannin and j. Z. Foster of Cobb. who
were active partisans of Judge Gober,
was overruled.
Judge John T. Pendleton opened for
Mr.. Morris. He was followed by J.
II. Tye and Spencer r. Atkinson for
Judge Gober. while Luther y. Rosser
of Atlanta concluded for. Mr.. Morris
The same charges of fraud were made
as appear In the contest filed by Mr.
Morris, and the answer filed by Judge