The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-03
DIVORCE BREWING
ONEASTERN SHORE
Row On Over Election of Legis-
lators in Accomac and
Northampton.

After union OF many years, marked
by felicity and good will and due re-
gard OF each others rights. the coun-
ties OF Accomac and Northampton are
both seeking a political divorce. These
two counties make up what Is known
as the Eastern Shore. being cut off
from the rest OF the State by the
Chesapeake Bay. The business inter
ests of the people are identical, and
, their social and commercial relations
have been of the closest.
Accomac has much the larger popu-
lation of the two, and under the lcgis-
lativc apportionment as II exists II is
entitled to one member of the House
OF Delegates In addition, Accomac
and Northa mpton together elect an
other member of the House as Joint
representative. Together with Prin-
cess Anne. they make up the Thirty
seventh Senatorial District.
Old Arrangement.
Almost from time immemorial 1t has
been the custom to give Accomac the
senator Northampton taking the joint
representative. AS result. Accomac
has always had one member of each
house hy virtue OF its preponderance
Of population. In return for getting
the joint representative Northampton
has permitted her sister county to
choose the Senator.
The existing situation, which threat
ems to disrupt this friendly relation,
seems to have arisen through n mis-
take. misconstrued by the other party.
and which no one seems to want 70
take the initiative in correcting. In
making arrangements for a primary.
the Northampton county Democratic
committee called IT for the purpose OF
making nomination for a member of
of the House and a member of the
Senate. This apparent desire on the
part of Northampton to help choose a
member of the upper body was. con-
strued BY the Accomac county com
mittee as wish to dissolve the ar
rangement which has existed by cour-
tesy In retaliation, Accomac called
primary for the nomination OF a
Senator. the direct member, and also
the Joint representative.
May RetaIinte.
Accomac would have all the best of
II IN such n fight. since II can outvote
the county to the south. were 1t not
for the presence OF Princess Anne in
the sena torial district. This county.
removed from the Eastern Shore. wa
tackled on to the district to make uni
form the population OF senatorial dis
tricts. Princess Anne has this year
a candidate of her own. and the North
ampton people say that II Accomac
proposes 10 take away their Joint rep
resentative. as 1t has the power to do.
they will retaltate by voting for the
Princess Anne candidate for the SEN
ate. so as to take the Senator away
from Accomac.
Citizens OF Northampton say they
had no idea, in providing for voting
on Senator. of depriving Accomac
OF its ancient rights, but the latter
took Il that way. and In the resolu-
ton of its committee it was declared
that Northampton had taken the initia
tive in disturbing the time honored
agreement.
It seems that II some kindly fudge
were to attempt to effect reconcil:a-
ton the divorce proceedings would be
withdrawn and political harmony
would once more reign.
II Accomac persists and elects the
two members OF the House. 1t would
mean the elimination OF William Bull
lit Fitzhugh from the halls of the
General Assembly.