The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-16
5 ia tie Committee De-
eide S to Investi-
gate Coalition
SUBCOM MITTEE is
NAMEy FOR TASK
Resolution Condemning Alliance
With Republicans Receives
Unanimous Vot e-Meeting
Assumes Original Jurisdic-
ton in Primary Elec-
ton Contest.

Expressing its unalterable opposi-
tion to fusionism in Norfolk county
Is we'll as everywhere else in Virginia,
the State Democratic Committee, in
session at Murphy's Hotel last night.
appointed subcommittee not only TO
investigate the June primary but also
10 probe the charge of fusion and to
report on this phase OF the matter TO
the next meeting Of the State body
1t is not expected that the committee
Will meet again until the latter part
of September. when IL will canvass
the returns from the coming senatorial
primary. and receive the report as TO
the Norfolk investigation.
The 'Stralghtout" faction in Norfolk
county received the action of the COM
mittee. which was unanimous. with
the iiveliest expressions of delight.
They feel assured that this proceed
ing sounds the death knell of the alli-
ance which has existed for a quarter
of century. whereby the county
Offices have been divided between
Democrats and Republicans. Fusion
ism found not a single champion
among the committeeman. who. on the
other hand. seemed to adopt the view
of Hill Carter. OF counsel for the con-
testants who referred to the coali-
ton sore on the Democracy OF
Virginia. destined, unless removed by
the surgeons knife 70 containinata
and poison Inc party.
Plan of Investigation.
After hav!ni. first voted TO take
original iur!s 1Ict.on of the contest
from Norfolk county. the meeting APP
pointed a subcommittee to prepare
resolutions regarding the procedure of
the investigation. The subcommittee
composed OF Irving P. Whitehead. of
Amherst: j. z. West of Suffolk, and
Edward Echols. OF stanton, reported
the following resolutions, which We're
adopted:
"Resolycd, That q subcommittee of
ave be appointed by the chairman,
three of whom may nT, TO thoroughly
Investigate thc primary held In Nor
folk county on June IS, 1911, and
port to this committee with It's recon-
mendntions.
"Resolved, That whereas this COM
mittce Is unnlterably opposed TO fusion
ism In Norfolk county or elsewhere in
this State, said subcommittee Is esPe-
cinlly instructed to Investigate the
charge of fusionism In Norfolk county
and TO report to this committee it's
finding along With It's recomme atIons.
1--WE recommend that the expenses
of the Investigation be borne by the
contestnnts."
Committee rs Named.
The following subcommittee was at
once named by State Chairman ]. Tay-
lor Ellyson to conduct the investiga-
ton: j. z. West of Suffolk, chairman;
Manly H. Barnes. of New Kent: Irv-
ing P. Whitehead. OF Amherst; William
NJ. McAllister, OF Bath. and Henry Q.
Humphreys, of Bedford, The commit
tee met after the State body adjourned
and elected Mr.. Whitehead as It's sec
rotary. The sum OF $3.50 was agreed
upon as the maximum expense. and this
is to be sent to Chairman Ellyson be-
fore date is fixed for the subcom-
mittee to meet and begin the investi-
cation
For more than two hours the com
mittee listened to arguments from at
torneys representing the contestants
and contestees on the subject of the
State Committees right to assume
original jurisdiction. 1t was the con-
tention of the contestees, or Fusion
lists" that the matter could come up
only on appeal from the county COM
mittee. The whole story of fusionisrn
In Norfolk county was dragged into
the limelight. beginning at the time
when, in the days of a negro majority
In the county. an agreement was
reached by which the white Republi-
cans were to vote with the Democrats.
and as result OF which the offices
have been divided between the parties
for more than twenty years. The Re-
pubiicans have been given the clerk of
the Circuit Court. the county treasu-
rer and one commissioner of the reve-
nue., and the Democrats the sheriff
the attorney for the Commonwealth
and the other commissioner.
Denies Fusion Exists.
However, a positive statement was
made by Captain John w. Happier. at
torney for the contestees. that fusion
ism no longer exists in Norfolk county
This remark was greeted with laugh
ter and derision by those Of the on
posite faction
AT the last test OF strength between
the "Fusionists" and those who have
sought to bring about a different state
OF affairs by electing a set of Demo-
cratic officials. the "Fusionists" were
again victorious. following bitter
campaign. The Fusion" candidate for
clerk was declared the nominee by
majority Of only nine votes. and the
others won by majorities ranging to
nearly 300 for Sheriff A. c. Cromwell.
contest was at once instituted by the
defeated Straightforward but has never
been completed. Claiming that all the
members of the county committee were
SO allied with fusion that a fair trial
would be impossible. the Stata Demo-
cratic Committee was asked TO take
original jurisdiction and to investigate
and settle the matter. 1t was this
question which was before the COM
mittee last night "
Thirty Were Present.
Including those who came in late.
thirty of the members of the commit
tee answered to their names All the