The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-09
Norfolk's Straightouts
Do Not Trust County
Authorities.
CLAIM THAT ALL
A Re INTERESTED
Contestants in Recent Primary
Ask That Matter Be Trans
ferred on July 30 to State
Tribunal-Party Law
Seems to Stand
in Way.

Charging that practically every
member of the Norfolk county Demo
cratic committee is directly Interested
In the perpetuation of fusion rule, the
citizens who are contestlng tho results
OF the recent primary election In that
county have asked for a transfer OF
the hearing of the contest to the State
Democratic Committee. The petition
for the transfer was hled yesterday.
This matter will. of course, be one
for the committee itself to determine.
1t would seem very doubtful II the
committee can take original jurisdic-
ton of contest, under the party law.
which expressly provides: County and
city committees shall have the direc-
ton and regulation of primaries held
Tor the nomination of candidates for
the House of Delegates, county and
city offices. respectively and shall do
eide contests subject to the right of
appeal to the State Central Commit
tee SO 1t would seem that the
county committee must first act, after
which the contestants may prosecute
their appeal.
Up to last night the papers had not
reached State Chairman j. Taylor Ell
Tyson. and he was consequently not
prepared 10 express an opinion in the
matter.
Want Non-Partisnns.
In their petition. the defeated
"Straightout" candidates for county
Offices In the primary lay down this
proposition: THAT st is self-evident
that no person should sit in judicial
capacity In any case wherein such per-
son is interested. biased. prcjudiced or
partisan. or an advocate for any party
in Nd f1,at - a
merely technical. but is of the utter
most substantial Importance, and APP
plies to all matters in dispute, whether
legal. political or moral"
Going into detail the petition
charges that almost all the rlembe
of the county committee are officials
OF Norfolk county. belonging to the
official class" or Interested in con-
tracts with the county. and that In the
event the contestants get into Office.
such members Will almost certainly he
seriously affected in their official and
contract relations with Norfolk coun-
ty. In fact. thisrsentiment is carried
in one case-that of George G. Martin
TO the extent OF an assertion that
IL the "StraiGhtouts" get into office he
Will almost certainly not be again en-
ployed as special attorney for the
county.
The Specifications.
Individual members of the commit
tee and their records are treated after
the following manner, the charges
made being set forth in the petition: l..
NJ Sylvester, chairman of the COM
mittee, was for years the Republican
clerk OF the Circuit Court of Norfolk
county, while Alvah II Martin was the
clerk of the County Court and these
two clerks were intimates: that when
county courts were abolished under the
new Constitution. Martin got the one
clerkship. and Sylvester turned Demo
crat and was elected to the Legislature
as n Fusion Democrat" He Is fur
! Their charged with having had CON
tracts with the county in n quarry
matter. and with having been n ten
ant or assignee of part of the ferry
land Further that he was a special
policeman at the primary and spent
the day in electloneerinc. instructins
the Judges in writing that no oath
was required of the voters.
r. III. Bagby. commissioner of ao-
counts. Is said to be on the most init
mate terms with Commemorative At
torney P. C. Marshall, the Fusion in :
cumbent and Is frequently employed
I as special attorney for the country.
George G. Martin. Il former Republi-
can and brother OF Alvah Fl Martin. is
sometimes a special attorney and n
partisan OF the Fnsionists according
to the petition.
Takes All of Them T.,
John a. Todd. chairman of the SUI
pervisors. has several sons who have
contracts with the county: George
Lindsay examiner of records and a
member OF the Ha rhor Commission. was
challenged at the primary. and was
permitted. II Is said by taking an in
sufficient oath; DIR. r.. L. Corhell
health officer for the county. worked
, actively for the Fusionists using his
automobile to carry voters; John NJ
Wiley was formerly candidate for
county treasurer ana is charged with
havin q allowed a Republican Fusionfst
to defeat him. a C. Cromwell ia sheriff
and conducted voters to the polls at
the primary; W w Cowan Ia special
police officer. as are also T. B. VIII
| liams. j. r. Early and ]. +. Hutchinss
w T. Parker, as secretary of the
school hoard; S w Wilson Is candi-
date for supervisor II. i. Hurdle is
keeper OF the county poor farm; r r.
, johnson Is tho brother of two county
officers; T. w Butt hauls she'll and
rock for the county; w N Williamson
and A j. Baokus. are members OF the
registrar and contractor for plumbing
repair work at the hall: j J.
Morse Is registrar and con-
tractor for supplies to the aims
| house: B o. Fentress is candidate for
commissioner of the revenue and di-
rectly Interested r. r. Randolph is a
contractor for road depairs; r. II Mil
Ter is candidate for supervisor. j. G
Garrett is deputy commissioner OF the
revenue; w. Lynch is member or tho
supervisors; L r. Hall is n candidate
for treasurer. a special policeman and
contractor for freightihg stone; w
l. Wilson Is q candidate for clerk and
| is overseer of the poor.
The only other members are j. F.
RI