The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-02
LEADERS OF PARTY
CONDEMN FUSION
Alliance in Norfolk County Has
Few or No Friends on
State Committee.
QUESTION is DIFFICULT
Primary May Be Set Aside, but
Elimination of Practice
Is Doubtful.
QUESTION is DIFFICULT

In view OF the announced determine
tfon of the "Straighout" Democrats Of
! Norfolk county to carry the primary
election contest to the State commit
tee, the attitude of that body towards
Fusiontsm will command public atten-
ton. BY the time the returns began
to come In last Wednesday night, the
young attorneys OF Norfolk city who
conducted the "Straighout" campaign
In Norfolk county, announced that the
appeal would be taken. This, of course,
| presupposed that the county committee
would decide with the Fusionists no
matter what the evidence, since the
| only way the matter can get before
the State body Is on appeal from the
| local committee.
Such @ feeling in clearly Indicative
OF the tense situation in Norfolk coun-
| ty where the party authorities are
thus condemned and their future &C
tions discredited.
Make New Primary Late.
But since II appears that dates have
been set for the fling of charges and
counter charges. and since July 20 has
| been fixed for the taking OF evidence
| on the f1nal challenges, 1t is presumed
| that no. decision of the county COM
nittce can be rendered until we'll into
August Then, with an appeal perfect
sd and the State committee called to-
indeed will be left within which to call
a new primary for September Z. the
date OF the contest over the two seats
In the United States Senate. For a
new primary is the only thing dis
cussed by the "straightouts.'
1t may be safely sald that II there
J is any way in which IL can be done
the State Committee will put its ban
| forever upon Norfolk county fusion
ism. 1t has no friends on the com
miuee, SO far as can be learned.
Every leading Democrat condemns 1t
| III language usually even moro Wig
orus than that employed by Senators
Martin and Swanson and Representa-
tives Jones and Glass in their recent
communications to Norfolk county
leaders. The proposition of n division
OF the offices between Democrats and
| Republicans, when the menace of ne
| gro domination has been but a memory
for nine years. is intolerable to tho
leading Democrats of this State.
Would Cnst 1t Out.
If by resolution. or by punitive &C
| ton. the committee can condemn IN
sionism and cast 1t into outer dark
ness 1t would go there within five
minutes. This is the conviction Of
those who have discussed the oues.
ton with the men highest in the marty
| councils.
But putting fusionism out OF bust.
ness. 1t is fully realized, is a much
more difficult task than talking about
1t The people of the county OF Nor
Ioik nave Individually the right to
| eject their own officials without die
tation from the outside The Stale
committee. or no other power, can di
rect the citizens there to choose
"Straishtout" or any other kind ~
Democrats. If majority of the peo-
pie desire Alvah II. Martin to CON
tlhue to preside in the clerks office,
una una 10 occupy the most lucrative of
| nee OF any sore in this State, IT seems
to DO their affair.
| In other counties the voters soma
times disregard party lines and elect
| oincers not of the party of the ma
Jorityi of the citizens.
! Kno,ty Question.
III they insist on voting that wav
! IN norfolk county. what are we rn-
Ing TO do about it?" asked a partv
leader yesterday. 1T has been sue
sested that we might keep men who
vote FOR Alvah Martin out of Demo-
cratic state and senatorial primaries
II we Try that, where will the line
De drawn? The party plan now de-
mes who shall vote as white Demo
Gratis. Who shall judge of the democ
racy of the voter vino presents him
self at the polls? The State Com
mittee has required a pledge to sup-
| port the nominees in the ensuing gen
eral election. With n secret ballot
how can any one know whether or
not the pledge is kept?
1T has also been said" continued
this Democrats that we might deny
fusionists representation in the Demo-
| cratic state Convention Here the
same trouble would confront us. What
/ we are going TO do about I can't
see