The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-28
BAD FOR THE PARTY.

The political situation in Norfolk
County is very remarkable and alto
gether disgraceful Ii has been a con-
tinuing source of irritation for years.
It affects the peace and integrity Of
the Democratic party and the good or
der of the State. The whole political
life of the community appears to be
permeated with fraud. Dead men have
been voted in close contests. unworthy
combinations have been made with un-
worthy men. and not the welfare of
the public or the unity Of the party
but the spoils of office, have been the
stakes al hazard Appeal after appeal
has been made to the State Central
Democratic Committee for the settle
nent OF Issues of local Importance, and
the whole heart has been made sick by
tho elimination and recrimination of
the warning factions. with the result
that the Central authorities OF the
party have left the condition really
worse than they found it.
Last June there was a primary cleo
ton in Norfolk County for the nomina-
ton Of county officers. in which 1t was
charged that the most glazing Frauds
had been practiced-frauds in regis
tration, frauds in voting frauds in
combinations made with the common
enemy. Appeal was made to the Cen
trail Committee, which adopted a high
sounding resolution declaring its I'M
alterable opposition to fusionism in
Norfolk County or elsewhere in the
State, and appointed committee "es-
peclaily instructed to investigate
charges of fusionism in Norfolk Coun-
~ and to report to this Committee their
findings, along with their recommenda-
tons" This special committee was
composed OF five men, men of character
and influence, men without precon-
ceived pretudices, men determined to
get at the bottom of things, and It
looked at the time as If the Central
Committee really meant buslness";
that 1t had grown tired OF the constant
caterwauling on the coast and had de-
ternlined to put an end to this peren-
NAL annoyance.
The special committee did its work
thoroughly and we'll. Its members, all
good Democrats and men of affairs in
their several communities, for the good
name OF the party gave their time and
labor freely to its mission. 1t met
and sat and sat and met and sat again.
examining witnesses and taking their
testimony until 1t filed fifteen hum
dred pages of typewritten matter, and
then, after sitting the testimony. ac-
cording to its Instructions reported its
findings, along with its Recommended
tons. to the Central Committee. Two
reports were made: q majority report
in which four members of the special
committee Joined, and minority re-
port signed by the other and remain
Ing member OF the committee. the
eleVenth mGn'on the jury. After several
speeches..an9. without any adequate ex-
amination Of the record, the Central
Committee accepted the report Of the
minority member and Issued its orders
10 carry out his recommendations 1t
is a lame and impotent conclusion tina,
can be defended on no ground credit
able 10 the party or helpful TO the con-
fused situation IN the infected region
Both reports agree substantially that
there is fusionisn between the Demo
cFauc machine and the Republican ma
chine in Norfolk Countrywide very thing
to which the Central Committee is "un
alterably opposed: and the Central
Committee decided by vote of 90 TO
that the general results OF this tn.
Sion Ct the primary election last June
shall stand. The majority of the spe-
c'al committee recommended that the
primary election held In June be de-
ciared null and vo'd; thA. a new pri-
mary be ordered for the nomination az
all county and district officers: that the
oHlces OF 81! the members of the County
committee elected at the last primary
De declared vacant; that the Dem
ocrauc candidate for sheriff, because
of his intimate connection with the
1usion movement, be excluded from
participation as a candidate at the new
election recommended by the maioritv.
and be placed on probation. and thot
this new election be conducted undec
the direct authority OF the Centra,
Committee, to the END that i, might
be free from the fraud and fusion and
irregularities that have admittedly pre.
vailed in past contests in the party
The minority member OF the special
committee reported that while the
evidence is not sufficient to show
Ut was sufficient TO show four men
out Of FIVE. don't forget thatD thai
said alliance tthe fusion TO which the
Central Committee is unalter&bly op.
posed is openly recognized by the
Democratic County Committee. yet tho
fact that there is an understanding
among the people that certain Demo.
Gratis are 70 so INTO the primaries anc
then bolt the ticket and vote for tn,
Republicans in the general election. /,
fully and abundantiy proven TIL,