Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-08-12
Republican Committee is
Embroiled in Judicial
Contest.
DiSGHACEFUL CHARGES OF COR
RUPTION IN MONROE COUN-
TY.-WATCHNiAN GIVES
TRUE VERSION OF
THE SITUATION.


ecutive committee of Monroe county
az Union last Saturday. August
turned out 20 be a noteworthy polite
al event and was signalized by the
most astounding charges OF corrup-
tion emanating from prominent and
lifelong republicans As is generally
known this committee meeting was
held for the purpose OF prescribing
the date and the method OF selecting
delegates to represent Monroe county
In the judicial convention vet TO be
called, which convention Is to- nomi-
nate republican candidate for Judge
Ina this Circuit. The rival candidates.
Judge II. \. Ritz. the present incum-
bent. and Hon. /. c. Herndon had
both been i'm the county for "a week
or moro prior to the meeting
number OF friends were cooperating
With each and there was much swing
ing around the circle in advance
Judge Ritz was called 10 Bluefield
on Friday by imperative official bust
Iess, but Mr.. Herndon remained here
directing his lieutenants in person
For days the situation had been grow
Ing more and more heated. and the
whispers that money was being i'm
properly used grew loudcr. culminat-
ing at last in the naming OF individ-
un!s and the direct charge from 9th
er republicans that they had sold
out" In some eases the alleged
amounts were named and circumstan-
c's given with remarkable particular
NY
When Saturday came. not only was
every one of the - committeeman
in Union, but republicans from all
over the county swarmed hither. TAX
Ing the most aggressive interest in
the matter. But that was not all
Celebrities from Mercer and Mellow
ell counties put In an appearance and
we're very much In evidence Indeed
some of them had been busy in the
county FOR several days-aIl for the
purpose OF winning favorable action
from the committee From Mellow
ell county in the interest OF Mr..
U.pdon came Circuit Clcrk w. 3.
Payne. Judge Strother Of Mcdowell
Criminal Court. +. l Long. Chair
man Of the republican judicial com
mittee. eN-Attorney General r.. =.
Buckcr. Capt r. h. Smith and Mr..
James Harvey Chambers, brother of
the late Judge l.. l.. Chambers. From
Mercer county i'm the interest Of
Judge Ritz Came A. j Hearn, and
Justice John A. Chambers. The Ritz
men from Monroe were disposed TO
resent the masterful and dominating
activity OF the visitors from Mellow
ell although admitting that all had
some claim OF influence with the Mon
roe people, except Circuit Clerk
Payne and Judge strother, who, they
insisted. were total strangers. why
the two latter came was dark. In
scrutable mystery TO some others
claimed they could solve it.
AS time passed. the confidence Of
the Ritz men who seem TO have re-
lied upon their admitted majority i'm
the county. began to give way. and
they denounced the influences at
work against them
The committee met at 2:3O in the
afternoon, and the first round was
quickly over u resulted in first
blood for Hcrudon Statements are
somewhat conflicting but we are
reliably informed that it was by a
vote of s TO Q that the committee
ordered district meetings TO be held
ON saturday. Sept s., for tho purpose
OF ,Iocilug delegates 90 the judicial
convention This we believe IS what
,ir Eerndon wanted Union district
vain meet at Union and choose 2 del
n,ates Sweet Springs district az Pine
Grove and choose delegates. Second
Crock at ,airWcw schoolhouse ,
choose 2 delegates. Wolf Creek dis
trict 3j Wolf Creek. and choose @
doiapatcs. Springfield district 81 Hun.
tor's Springs and select 3 delegates.
md Red sulphur district at Ballard.
ire comprise all Of the vote cast for
Governor Dawson as the basis Of
torosntation but IL the vote cast
for President Roosevelt is settled up-
1p as the basis of representation then
gnc county win Doc entitled to one
more delegate who Will probably be
Crock at airview school house aud
mittee adopted a rule requiring that
candidates for dolcgate-at-large must
Doc certified TO its chairman not later
nan 30 DAYS before the date set for
such district meetings The committee
Furthermore made q precedent by go
lg cut side its own membership for
cTccrs. making s. G. Nelson Of Al
dcrsou Chairman. and Geo y. Bare,
OF Anderson, Secretary, neither OF