The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-13
The Appeal Of the Straightouts,

Hi On September the Sth the Democratic
d State Central Committee met to con-
slider the inevitable Norfolk contest, and
decided in favor of the Fusionists The
n Straightouts claimed that they did not
Y have an opportunity to present their
4. side Of the case fully, and that since
then there have been new developments,
Which make new situation. The nom-
K inee OF the Fusionists for clerk of the
Circuit Court in opposition to Alvah II.
Martin, Republican, is W. r. Dudley,
\ who was formerly clerk in the office
s8of s. W. Lyons, Republican treasurer,
and family connection Of Alvah II.
Il Martin. The Stralghtouts declare that
tee. above mentioned. they have dis
covered in the Norfolk county clerks
4 ONCE tho record Of a decd Of trust from
w. r. Dudley to Alvah III. Martin, trrs-
tee, to secure S. w. Lyons, Republican,
more than $500, representing an amount
WHICH Dudley was short in his account
4 as deputy for Lyons. They allcge that
\ Dudley was put up by the Fuslonists as
Straw candidate. and that the Fu-
sionists are all expected to vote in the
Y regular. election for Martin, and not for
Dudley Moreover they represent that
& they are in tho embarrassing Dredica-
ment of being compelled under the party
pledge to vote for Dudley and that no
self-respectlng man can be expected to
do so They represent that they must
vote either for Dudley or Martini Or for
4 mn independent or not at all.
Another point raised by the Straight
outs is this At i've precincts the Flu
sionlsts bolted and held primaries Of
their own, while the Strnightouts held
the regular primaries. The State Cen
trail Committee decided that the Fusion
lists had the right to hold separate pri
mnrles, but did not rule that the pri-
maries held at these precincts by the
straightouts were irregular. But the
strlightouts claim that the ballots cast
by their men at some Of these precincts
we're not counted, while the ballots cast
by tho Fuslonists We're all counted, and
that In that way. the ,Fusonists elected
u a large majority,.oe tire county commit
tee. whereas count Of all the votes
would have given tho Straightouts a
majority.
"a. We have no knowledge OF tho facts,
but In the light Of these developments
We think the State Committee should
give the Straightouts a. rehcnring, and
are gratiied to learn that special meet
ing has been called for Saturday night
for this purpose II the committee, under
misrepresentation of the facts. did the
Straightouts an injustice in making the
count, of course 1t should and will
correct the error and right the wrong.
/, Again, If 1t can be shown that Dudley
is STRAW" candidate. running in the
\ interest Of n Republican. and that he Is
/! not the kind Of man an honorable Dem
ocrat can conscientlously support, he
should be taken down by the State Com
mittee and another candidate put up
as provided in the primary plan. IN
the event of vacancy occurring after
the nomination Of n candidate, and be-
fore the election says the PLAN "thel
n the committee, whose duty It would be
to hold a primary TO MI such vacancy
shall determine the manner in whicl
such vacancy shall be filled"
We are not prejudging the case bu
there seems 70 us to be abundant groune
g for rehcaring
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