Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-10-05
DECLARES PRIMARY VOID.

lCSIlkdtCd bhO aiOkO0 AAo00o IA NhN
democratic primary election in the
Second (Norfolk) congressional district,
the gist OF which is the following:
Having listened patiently to the evil
dence produced and thoroughly con-
sidered the whole, your committee
recommends that the primary of August
%, 1910, held in the Second con-
gressionaI district for nomination OF a
candidate for Congress, be declared null
and void"
The committee has not yet decided
what it will do with reference to hold
ing a new election.
The last move in the investigation OF
charges of fraud made in connection
with the conduct OF the Second district
democratic primary was made in Nor
folk yesterday by Commonwealth s At
torney John G. Tilton, who asked the
clerk OF the Corporation Court to issue
subpoenas for 61S persons to appear be-
fore the grand jury on October II.
Those on whom he desires the subpoenas
served are persons whose names are
credited with having been voted in the
Second precinct OF the Second ward OF
Norfolk.
Citizens counsel in the investigation
before the committee named by the
democratic state central committee in
troduced much evidence to show that
many Of the names had been fraudulent
ly voted. The Commonwealth at
torney says he intends to subpoena be-
fore the grand jury every person in
Norfolk who is recorded as having
voted.
Judge Balm, Of Portsmouth, and
Judge Lawless, OF Norfolk county, will
likely institute court inquiries into the
election as conducted in their iuris-
dictions. The law on the subject OF
fraud committed in connection with an
unlegalized primary is as yet somewhat
vague.
In its account of the meeting OF the
state democratic committee last night
the Richmond Times Dispatch says:
After listening for three hours to
passionate and apparently completely
disregarded argument from the attor-
news for the separate contending polltl-
cal elements in the Second district, the
state democratic committee consumed
fifteen seconds last night in voting to
sustain the report of the investigating
committee, which recommended that
the August primary be declared null
and void. Only one dissenting vote
was cast-by Paul Garrett, OF Lees
burg.
To the Second district committee
was given the task OF selecting the
method of nominating party candi-
date. It was given powers to modify
the party law in case it decided to hold
primary, because OF the lack of time
to comply with the regulation in
detail.
After the adjournment Of the state
committee meeting, the district chair
man, Colonel G. Fenton Day, called a
meeting of his committee for II O'Clock
Saturday morning, at the Monticello
Hotel. in Norfolk. This was over the
protest Of J. E. West. OF Suffolk, who
wanted the committee to meet last
night for consideration of the ques-
ton.
Mr.. West was openly disguised. He
told the newspaper men that they
could say positively that this delay in
settlement OF the question meant that
no primary could possibly be called.
In fact" he added, L believe
nothing at all will be done"
1t is probable though that conven-
ton will be had Adiutant-General W.
w. Sale, a member OF the Second dis
trict committee, said that he had Just
returned from visit in a distant part
Of the state, and was not prepared to
vote on the question without consulta-
ton with the people of the district.
Following the meeting OF the com
mittee, Senator E. E. Holland, Of Suf-
folk. announced his candidacy for Con-
gress from the Second district, subject
to the action OF the democratic conven-
ton. This is taken to mean that he
will secure the support OF the citizens
movement in Norfolk, and it is believed
he will also command large support in
the counties.
Senator Holland is exceedingly pop
ular with his colleagues in the State
Senate, where he did much valuable
work i'm committee and on the floor
during the last session.
As stated above, the argument Of the
attorneys present was disregarded by
the state committee. Mr.. Young's rep
resentatives wanted the report OF the
investigating committee overruled and
his certificate OF nomination confirmed.
The counsel for Mr.. Maynard asked
that new primary be held, in which
only he and Mr.. Young should take
part. The three attorneys for the Cltl-
1ens' Committee wanted both Mr.
Young and Mr.. Maynard eliminated
from the second primary.
Thereupon the state committee pro-
ceeded to turn down all these requests
one by one. 1t declared the primary
OF August 90, and consequently Mr..
Young's certificate, null and void. 1t
said that the primary or convention to
be held should be open to all demo-
Gratis otherwise qualified. 1t also by
this action refused to eliminate the
contestant and contestee. The district
committee completed the job by ar
ranging things so that there can be no
primary at all.