The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-15
WILL FIX DATE
OF THE PRIMARY
State Committee Takes
Up Norfolk County
Case.
NORFOLK COUNTY
CONTEST TO BE UP
Fusion Faction to Come AS Sup
plants, and "straightouts Are
Now the Regulars Primary
Will Be An Early One;
August 10th or 12th Be
ing Likely Dates.

Two most Interesting features OF the
State Central Democratic Committee
which VIII convene at Murphy's Hotel to-
night Will be the fixing Of the date for
the State primary and the action on the
question OF primary In Norfolk county
under the supervision OF the State Gem.
tra Committee.
The first question will be settled by
the selection Of either the 10th or 18th OF
August as the date for the primary. The
12til Is Saturday, and appears to be the
favorite date with the rural population
but II any valid objection Is urged to 1t,
the committee will almost certainly adopt
the 10th, which Is Thursday. 1t Is de-
sired to have the primary on a date that
will not conflict with any OF the scheduled
horse shows. then In progress and on u
day that viii be fairly acceptable to both
city and country people, One objection
urged to Saturday is that many persons
In the city leave town Saturdays to spend
the day with their families at rural,
mountain or seashorc resorts. Either
Thursday or Saturday will be selected. It
Is understood that all the candidates fa-
yorn a fairly early date.
(Thc interninable Norfolk county fac
tional fight will come up. That is now
certain. The clans are gathering for the
fray which as usual promises to be Bit
ter and stubbonly contested. The fusion
faction, as 1t is known will appear this
time as suppliant. The straightouts,
as they are locally known, are now the
regulars, having been given color OF regu-
iarIty by the last preceding State Central
Committee which was dominated by the
II fohr rnS,a Nov, tpc Is,
supposed to be allied. Since then the
committee has been reorganized. this be-5
ing done. at the State Convention in this
+ city last simmer.
Norfolk County Primary.
The question that will be presented for,
the consideration of the State Commit
tee concerns the primary In Norfolk coun-s
ty The outs rusionists or Owens COM,
nlttee faction, as 1t Is variously known,
VIII appear before the committee and
make formal request that primary be
held In that county under the auspices
OF the State Central Committee in order
that a fair election may be insured It
viii be charged that the present Norfolk
County Committee will not guarantee a
fair election. The petitioners will come
here armed with petition signed by
1850 OF the 2,77l qualified white voters
of the county. asking that the state
Central Committee take charge OF the
primary in the county and thus settle
once and for all the long continued
wranGIe in Norfolk county. Mr. r. H.
Bagby is authority for the statement as
10 the petition. fractional lines have been
30 sharply drawn In the county that
bloodshcd has sometimes been narrowly
averted Hundreds OF columns OF news
paper matter have been written about
The controversy and intense feeling has
been aroused. Each side has freely
charged the other with fraud and all man
ner OF misconduct.
Already the clans are gathering for the
battle to-day, and large reinforcements
will arrive to-day on both sides Y p 70
last night Mr.. ]. l.. Heard was the only
representative of the stralghtouts on the
ground. For the other side, the peti-
iioners in the case. Captain Richard G..
Marshall, Mr.. r. Fl. Bagby. Sheriff A. Q.
Cromwell and Mr.. George Lindsay, all OF
Norfolk county. 1t is understood that
ten members of the Owens or fusion
county committee will be here to-day.
and 1t is expected that large delegation
of tho regular committee or straightouts
will arrive also !.
Anfinteresting report In circulatio last
night was that Congressman Carter Glass,
formidable champion OF the straight-
outs. would arrive here to-day, and that
he would probably have something TO say
when this matter came up. Mr.. Glass IS
known as a powerful debater and an in-
passioned and bold speaker. The other
side has some equally bold and lmpas-
stoned, and 1t Is not unlikely that an
interesting situation will develop.
Will Surprise Many.
What the action of the committee will
be cannot be forecast, without knoWl-
edge of the proposition to be advanced
or of the evidence pro or con. Tie mat
ter has not been discussed, and Will come
m unex pectedly to the majority OF the
committee. It is believed. All factions
profess an earnest desire to be rid OF
this perpetual snarl that has subjected
past committees TO SO muon ah''oyat''ue
an Inconvenience
Members Of the State Central Conl-
mittce arc already gathering In the city
Major George NJ. Helms. Of Franklin,
has been here several days, DR. George
". Butts. of the Second District arrived
last night, and Is at The Richmond,
Hrormer Leutenant-G Nlcdward
Echols, momber from the Tenth Dls-
trict, came In yesterday and Is at Muir
phy,s. Mr.. A. A. Campbell. Ninth
District member Of the executive COM
mittee, Is at Murphys. Congressman
James Hay, of Madison county, member
Of the State. Executive Committee, ar
rived yesterday and is at The Richmond
Former Senator Thomas N, Wllllams,
of Mecklenburg. a member for the Fourth
District. is at MurpTy's. Four members
reside in the city or tho adjoining county,
There is every prospect that there VIII
he a large attendance. The use OF proxies
is no longer allowed
This will be the first meeting OF the new
state Committee, and It viii present
many new faces, Twenty-six new inem-
hers have been chosen since the meeting
OF the old committee,
+ There will be vacancy In tho First
n District delegation, owing to the death
OF Hon. Lloyd Y, Smith, and 1t is possible
that Hon. A. p. Thom, who has removed
from the State, may retire from the
executive committee,