The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-27

airy, secure their nomination and then
acqu!esced In the Wholesale desertion
of said candidates by the very per
sons who voted for them in the prim-
airy. 1t is quite evident from the tes-
timony that these straw candidates.
do not expect, and in number OF
cases do pot seek to be elected in the
general election. | do not think the
evidence in this case warrants your
committee in finding that Messrs,
Cromwell. Marshall and Fentress.
brinr out and put in the field these
STRAY candidates" but | am of the
opinion that the evidence shows that
these straw candidates" are induced
to run in the Democratic primary by
the Republican incumbents Of the Of
fee.
There has been taken In this case a
great mass Of testimony to establish
the testimony TO esshrdluetacmwypfm
the existence of numberiess irregular
tiles charged and counter charged
There is no charge OF actual fraud in
the primary and We are safe in say
ing that ii was the fairest election
held in that county for years. by
process Of elimination We could doubt
less arrive at, and decide which OF
said candidates received the greatest
number of strictly legal votes in the
primary OF June Is, 1911. but / have
deemed this course unnecessary.
held that no ono should be permitted
to be the Democratic standard bearer
who is not bona fide candidate seek
ing the defeat OF his Republican oppo-
nent. Therefore We need not go into
a discussion and decision OF the vari-
Gus and numerous technical viola tons
of the registration and election laws
Inc evidence in this case clearly
shows that J. K, Hall, candidate for
treasurer; w. l. Wilson, candidate
for clerk; w. L. Evans candidate
for comm tssioner of revenue for Dis
trict No. l, and S. W. Wilson. can
didats for supervisor for Washington
District, in the primary of June rs,
1911, were never bona tide candi-
dates, but were put forward in the
interest OF Republican, candidates for
the respective Offices To my mind
this fact Is conclusive OF the case
l hold that they should not be- given
the certificate OF nomination, and the
positions be declared vacant, and REQ
ommend that primary he ordered
and held under the supervision OF
the State chairman to fiji the vacan-
cies in which said primary said straw
candidates" be declared ineligible to
run for office.
bona hde OF any of the other can
didates and the evidence clearly
showing that they received a majority
OF the votes cast in the primary of
June Is. 1911. I recommend that GER
tificates of nomination be awarded
each OF said candidates so receiving
majority OF votes as appears from
the face of the returns.
County Committee.
This is the hardest problem | have
had to deal with, and / have tried to
reach a conclusion consistent with the
evidence that would be beneficial TO
the party, and to some extent end
the unfortunate facsfonai warfare that
has been continually waged in this
county.
! The evidence in this case album
dainty shows that the county COM
mittee of Norfolk cEunty as consti-
tuted on the 2Sth day OF June, 1871,
was controlled by influences (Which
we might term fusionism) hurtful to
the best interests of the Democratic
party, and II the said county COM
m1ttee had not gone out of Office by
operation Of law and q new committee
elected at the primary held Septem-
Der 7. 1911, / would be In favor of
I ordering the reorganization OF the
sid county committee binder the
| strictest regulations But since
new committee has already been elect
| ed as provided for by the party law.
| do not see that we have any au-
| thority in these proceedings to set
| aside said last election. Especially
| Is this true. since the rights OF the
said committee so elected at the pri-
mary held September 7, 1911. is BEG
ing contested in other proceedings
now pending before the State Central
Committee.
| Respectfully submitted,
J. r. WHITEHEAD.
Take an Hour Each.
| 1t was agreed that each side, which
was represented by counsel. should
have an hour in which to argue the
case before the committee.
J. Laurence Brooke. j. Lindsay
Heard and James G. Martin spoke for
the contestants. They explained the
Norfolk county political situation and
declared that A. c. Cromwell was
the head and front of the fusion
situation and without his retirement
the war on fusionism would be futile.
John N. Sebrell replied In what
at times was a strong argument from
! the fusion viewpoint. He attacked the