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

which of said candidates received the
greatest number OF strictly legal votes
In the primary of June %. 1911" The
minority held that no one should be
permitted to be the Democratic stand
ard-bearer who is not a bona fide can
didate seeking the defeat of his Re-
publican opponent: and therefore we
need not go into a discussion and de-
| cision OF the various and numerous
technical violations of the registration
and election laws" There is great
I torc In Il simple therefore" to be sure.
| one of the most delicious things in the
] minority report is contained in this
| admission.
The evidence in this case shows
mat the county committee OF Norfolk
county, as constituted on the 2Sth Of
June, 1911, was controlled by influences
which we might term "fusionism.
hurtful to the best interests of tn.
Democratic party. and If said county
committee had not gone out of office
by operation of law. and a new com
mittee elected at the primary held
september Z. 1911, 1 would be in favor
OF ordering the reorganization of tho
said county committee under tho
strictest regulations.
But since a new committee has al
ready been elected. as provided for by
the party laws. 1 do not see that we
nave any authority in those proceed
ings to set aside said last election"
The plain, ordinary reader, the man
who goes to prayer meeting and think
eth no evil Will realize how really
FUNNY that Is when he understands
that twenty-six of the thirty members
of this new committee which has al
ready been elected, as provided for by
the party laws" Were members Of tho
old committee which was controlled
by influences which We might term
fusionism' hurcful to the best inter-
ests of the Democratic party" and to
which the State Central Committee is
"unalterably opposed" Can't you see
that? Is 1t any wonder THAT there is
unrest and dissatisfaction ana sus-
pic!on and that there must lie an end
to this sort of business II the party is
10 hang together?
We agree with the minority that 1t
would be beneficial to the party" If
some way could be found TO END the
unfortunate factional warfare that has
been continually waged In this coun-
ty.' and we are sorry that the State
Central Committee did not adopt the
report of four-ffths of It's own special
committee. That would have settled
the question according to the law and
the evidence. That would have made
the party in Norfolk county a militant
force in the politics of the State. in
stead OF trading camp where the Of
noes are parceAed out with the Re-
publicans. Whatever necessity there
was for fusionism. for swapping votes
with the Republicans six or eight or
ten years ago. such necessity no lone
er exists. The Democrats of Norfolk
claim to have a majority of 1000, and
yet year after year the head OF the Re-
publican party IN that county and rha
most powerful of the Republican lead
ers in the State bestrides ;he D ol!t!caI
situation like some great Colossus.
S'iu we petty men walk under his
huge legs and peep about to find our
selves dishonourable graves"
1t is pitiful settlement OF the Nor
folk situation; it is, in fact, no set
tlement at all. Yesterday tho chair
man of the majority OF the special
committee said that four OF the five
members of the committee voted with
the so-called machine faction OF the
party in the recent Senatorial race
from which 1t is reasonable TO infer
that the issues OF the recent CAMPAIGN
had nothing to do with Its decision
In this case; decision which must
cause the people in the party, the plain
people, the people who are not in
politics" TO disrrust both the wisdom
and fairness of the party authorities
In dealing with Issues that are so
clear that four out of Ave disnterested
men could see the straight way cut of
most embarrassing and disgraceful