The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-16
Chalmers
~ MOTOR CARS
Gordon N!.gaszs!.Ss Company
RICHMOND. VIRGINIA
NORFOLK FUSION
GETS VITAL BLOW
CONTINUED From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
though all declined to serve on the In
vestigating committee. to which thev
were successfully appointed by Chair
man Ellyson.
both sides fully agreed to abide by
the results OF the Investigation and
! the State Committees action tbaran,
This means that should the commute
IND that the "Fusionist" nominees
were clearly nominated. the Straight.
outs VIII support them, and the tes,
VIII come as to how many of the "Fu.
slonists" rally to their own nominees
instead OF going to Alvah II. Martin
the Republican clerk.
IN iact, the attorneys for the
StTaishtouts' declared that the CON
test was really that of c. w COLI.
man. their candidate for clerk. apain.,
Alvah II. Martin. ''s'
NOBODY seemed to know what tho
committee Intended to do, and ~
looked as though it were swayed M
last by remark of Chairman Ellvs
son at the conclusion OF the arrum.n,
to the effect that he had becoms no,
Viheed that an investigation was Tho
pest thing as a war measure"
Argument Is HID.
D. LINDSAY Heard. the FIRST speaker
Tor the contestants admitted thai or.
dlharily the local bodies should settle
eupJect 10 an appeal to tho
State Democratic Committee. Rut no
thought this an unusual case He c,,n1
as pFecedents two cases, one OF them
peinG the Maynard Young matter or
last year. For authority he read from
the hles of The Times-pisnatch
statements from The Times Dispatch
on political matters" said MIR. Heard
may be regarded as authority in the
same degree as law book in on
legal matter" He said that tho mon
nominated BY the "Fusionists" for tho
ofhces of clerk and treasurer OF Nor
iolk county were put UP merely as
straw men. with the intention that
they should be defeated by the Repub-
lican incumbents.
captain Happier, who replied to Mr.
Hehrd. said that the plea of the con.
testants had been based on statements
not backed up by proof. and asserted
mat no man has the right TO saw thar
tusionism now exists in Norfolk coun-
~ He made a legal argument against
,he assumption OF original Jurisdiction
BY the State Committee.
Set bad Precedent.
He was followed by his associate
George Pitcher. who made the point
that II the committee took original
jurisdiction. II would be confronted al
every turn BY appeals on local cases
inc contestant always claiming that
the local committee was prejudiced
against him.
HIN Carter closed the debate. speak
Ing for the contestants He said tho
decision in this matter should not he
iett TO men who had already agreed
mat Alvah Martin shall be clerk OF n
democratic county. He said the com
mittee undoubtedly had the power 10
investigate. IL II had but the will. and
that If ii was remanded TO the local
mi 90
There followed many questions. and
TO set the remark OF Mr. Carter straight
II was explained that both sides would.
without question. yield to the author
NY of the State Democratic Commit
tee.
Mt West then offered his resolution,
put 1t met with some minor objections
from MI Whitehead. r. c. l. Mon
cure. OF stafford proposed q substitute.
to the effect that the committee had
no legal right to assume Jurisdiction
ana providing for a subcommittee to
take up the matter If 1t came UP on
appeal This was voted down with
hardly an affirmative voice.
Mr.. West started an argument for his
resolution. saying that this was no
time for hair-splitting. He thought
'he committee mad the power TO take
up any matter affecting the interest,"
and harmony Of the party, which was
certainly the case in this instance
At this point Robert Gillian. of
Petersburg. and II. +. Hutchinson. of
Meckienburg, stated that they had to
catch train. The committee then. on
motion OF Mr.. West voted unanimously
10 investigate. SO that these two might
leave before details were arranged.
The appointment of the subcommittee
on plan followed
There was plenty of public interest
IN the committee meeting. Among
weli-known Democrats in the hall wero
the following: Judges w. f. Rhea and
j. r. Wingfied. OF the State Corpora
uon Commission; State Treasurer A.
w. Hartman. Secretary OF the Com
monwealth B. o. James. Frank B. Wat
kins, who acted as sergeant-at-arms:
Hill Montague. Edwin p. Cox, Senators
"A. e. Hartman and E. c. Folkes, former
Adjutant-General Charles j. Anderson,
R Lynch Montague, Rev. ]. Sidney
Peters. Samuel l. Ferguson, of Apo
mattox manager for Senator Martin;
Dr. Charles u. Gravatt, of Caroline.
president Of the Virginia Democratic
League and c. B. Garnett. manager of
the league; Philip St George Wilcox,
OF Warwick county: W. p VIM. of
Mecklenourg: a A. Campbell. of Wythe.
ana c, r. Coleman. of Spotsylvania.