The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-25
ISSUE OF FUSION
WILL Be DECIDED
State Committee to Render
Judgment in Norfolk County
Contest.
CANVASS PRIMARY RETURNS
Contest Over House Seat-Ar-
gument Presented by
Fusionists,

Consideration OF the proposition
whether or not fusion W Demo-
Gratis and Republicans now exists in
Norfolk county will be the principal
Business before the State Democratic
Committee when II meets at Murphy's
Hotel tomorrow night. Delegations
Mill be present representing both the
Fusionionists and ~Straightouts of the
county The subcmmomittee appointed
at a recent meeting to investigate the
June primary for county officers. and
charged with the duty of determining
the existence or non-eHistence of fu-
Eon, will be ready to make Its report
AS to the atu OF this report, the
subcommittee has evidently succeeded
sn keeping Its own counsel much more
effectively than is usually the case
with such bodies. Not an tnkiing of
cts findings is procurable. The chan
hels of Information which, as q rule,
pre- available in political matters are
absolutely ignorant on this point. and
party leaders are in the dark as to the
nature Of the report. -.
Differing Opinions.
There are those who say that the
E%traightouts Will win They are argu-
ang from the action of the State Com
mittee in expressing its opposition TO
Gusion at It's last meeting, and from
such of the evidence as has been pub
aished. On the other hand. there are
not wanting those who say that while
fusion in the past is admitted, It no
longer exists save in the minds and
;predile ctions OF individual voters. and
that the committee must SO find on
fthe face OF the evidence.
But those who talk In this n
.pll say they have no intimation OF
what the report of the subcommittee
contains. While Chairman McAllister
expressed a rather decided opinion at
the hearing, to the effect that he was
convinced OF tho presence of fusion.
It Us pointed out that he is but one
member of the committee.
Perhaps a reason for the secrecy
which the Investigating body has main
tanned rs eNplainable in part by the
experiences of its members in Norfolk.
according to their own statements.
outspoken suspicion was attached by
ardent adherents of both factions to
their every word and movement. They
were watched constantly, and at last
reached the point where they declined
to hold friendly and impersonal con-
versations with known advocates of
either side. A walk on the street with
a Fusionist or a S~traightout. or a cigar
or soft drink taken together, caused
rumors and criticisms which the COM
mitteemen finally lodged by refusing
10 have anything to do with anybody.
Count Primary Vote.
a piece of business before the State
Committee which will take up a good
deal OF time. unless it is referred to a
subcommittee. will be the canvassing
of the returns in the recent primary
for two members of the United states
Senate, The returns will be opened,
examined for evidences of authenticity,
and tabulated with the aid of adding
machines. The vote by counties and
cities will be available to the public
In Wednesday mornings ~spape
Another matter is the contest over
the House seat from Goochland and
F1uvanna counties. between a. II. Tay-
Tor and John rutherford This arose
over the fact that Mr.. Taylor's name
WAS omitted from the ticket in Gooch-
Hand.
: While there have been reports OF
Republicans taking part in the pr!-
mary in some sections, members OF
the committee do not believe tina this
matter will come before 1t. in the
absence OF a contest covering the
point. Senator"AubreN L. Strobe has
indicated nat =" Republicans voted
against him in Nelson county, IL he
has not contested, and has asked his
friends to vote for his successful OPP
rponent. Similar statements have been
made in regard to results for county
offices In King George and Nottoway
But the State Committee will hardly
ibe called upon to Investigate. unless
contests are filed to-day or tomorrow
The Fusionists OF Norfolk count,
have prepared a brief presenting thei.
Ed or the contest, which is styled c
w; Coleman and others against w. L
son were the opposing candidates fui
the office of clerk of the Circuit Court
In this brief the contestees say
counsel for contestants We're askc,
by the subcommittee to stat. for wha
they asked, and they declared tha
tIheir request was that a member o
the Fusion faction should not be
candidate for office, nor recognized a
,srch by the Democratic Committee. |
Is a principle of our American insti
buttons that any man who can vot
has a right 10 be voted for. If N
one is permitted to be a candidat
whose friends have, in the exercise ~
their own individual right. voted 10
Republicans, then we saw that a lare
Percentage OF the voters of Norfoll
County. of both factions of the Demo
cratic party, VIII he denied participa
ton in Democratic elections, hecaus
II is shown that a large majority o
the voters of Norfolk county at IN
Republican for clerk. To say tina
they cannot participate in a Demo
cratic primary is to say that If the
participate al all they must oppose IN
Sennocratic nominee"