Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-28
CAUCUS CHARGED With EXCITEMENT
There Were Many Shifts of Votes
During the sailoting and 1t was
Anybody's Fight Up to the Las.
Observation-Disclosures Dropped Out on
Sixth RaIIot-Afcr Election Less-
laturc adjourned.
lspeeIal to The Daily Press

Especial to The Daily PreSs)
RICHMOND, VA, March 27.-Clar-
ence w. Robinson. of Newport News
was elected judge of the Eleventh Jul
dicial Circuit this afternoon 10 sup
ply the vacancy created by the remov-
al ~ the Legislature Of Judge j. w G.
blackstone. Eleven ballots were ia
Ken before the nomination narrowed
down between Robinson and Nathan
iel b. WestcGt of Accomac. and the
former was 't'.inounced duly nominated
by John w. Churchman. of Augusta.
chairman of the Democratic caucus.
The vote stood CO 10 4G The final
vote was taken n few minutes before
six o'clock. and throughout the day
the contest for the honor wa; lively
and spirited. Frequently the SEES
sions of the caucus were interrupted
by disorder and more than once the
chairman threatened to clear the hall
and have the balloting in executive
session.
A distinct surprise was sprung when
early in the day it was seen that Ohio
+. Mears. of Northampton. predicted
winner, and understood to be Gov
ernor Swanson's choice for the vacant
seat, would come out a bare third in
the running. Each of the three can
didates were dropped once and 1t was
anybodys fight until the final ballot
was taken. Judge Montague controll-
ed about % votes. and after he was
dropped on the sixth ballot his
strength was about equally divided
among the three remaining candidates.
Eleven ballots were necessary to bring
the contest to close and indeed the
,,,1tt n,. I'M I1n. .1.Nr
by midnight but for the adoption OF
n resolution Immediately after the
midday recess. Under the terms of
this resolution all four OF the candi-
dates were placed in nomination with
the understanding that as soon as
man had twice received the smallest
number of votes he should be finally
dropped. Operating under this rule
Judge Montague was the first man
to lose out Judge Montague's with
drawal did not appreciably effect the
standing of the candidates. as on the
next ballot it was seen that he had
not endeavored to throw his influence
TO one man in preference to another.
The vote now stood between Mears,
Robinson and Westcott, with the lat
ter presumably the third position
man.
A ballot was taken and Robinson
landed in third place, this was due 70
the fact that several who nd voted for
Mr.. Robinson changed 10 Mears in the
hope of finally putting Westcott out OF
the race. Robinson's losing put tho
three candidates on the same footing
as each had lost n single time. On
the next ballot, Westcott led over
Mears by n, bare majority of two votes
and this brought the matter down to
the final ballot. Robinson had led
throughout the day and was before
the recess declared n winner. His
friends rallied around him on the last
poll and he won in walk, most of
Mears' strength Icing thrown To him.
Immediately after the caucus had
concluded its work the Senate and
House met separately in their respec-
tive chambers and duly elected Robin.
son judge of the Eleventh Circuit
bench. Applause and cheers greeted,
the election and minute later Speak
or Byrd and President Ellyson, of the
House and Senate. respectively. de-
clared the 1908 General Assembly adj
journed.
Much Uncertainty at Beginning.
Half an hour before the time set
for the meeting none could say on
whom the honor would fall Indeed,
there was no way of telling. for all
sorts OF conflicting rumo;s were afiolt
and the friends of each of the four
candidates were persistently claiming
victory.
1t seemed. however, to the disin-
terestep observer that Hon. ". u.
Vested t, of Accomac, q former mem
her of the constitutional convention,
had rapidly gained ground within the
last few houls, and that, too, despite
the, fact that rumor yesterday said
the nomination would so TO Ohio f..
Mears. Of Northampton.
The atimirers OF. Commemorative
Attorney Robinson, of Newport News.