The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-01
Norfolk County Contest
Goes Over for Hear
ing Tonight.
NOT LIKELY TO
HAVE ONE THEN
Effort to Take Up Case for Con.
sideration by Agreement Fails
on Point of Order Raised by
Judge Duke-Resolution
Drawn to Stand
Hands OFF.

All efforts to go into the Norfolk
county contest by agreement In this
absence OF quorum of the state
democratic Committee having been
frustrated by Judge r. r. w. Duke.
hns!htehce on point OF order. the com.
ulttee last night adjourned to s O'Clock
to-hlsht when an effort VIII be made
10 get together the requisite num- Der
st t"enty-siX for the transaction of
business Only two members w.ra
needed last night 10 make a quorum.
nut these We're not forthcoming.
immediately after the session, state
CHAIRMAN J. Taylor Ellyson sent out
,cIesFapiic notices to an the absen-
Ices. urging them TO reach the city
by tn appointed hvur tonight, Doubts
as TO the success of this effort are freely
expressed since only sixteen OF the
twenty-four present last night would
promise TO attend the adjourned meet
ing. while most OF those who were not
on maud live at distance and some
OF them would ind IL Impossible TO
make the trip in time
Wanted Agreement.
Irving p. Whitehead, of Amherst.
made an effort TO have the question
OF jurisdiction gone into By agreement
both sides waving The point OF no
quorum But Judge Duke. who was
indignant at criticisms OF the commit
lee. insisted upon observance or the
letter OF the law and OF parliamentary
procedure.
Il am willing" shouted Judge Duke.
TO move that the whole matter be
left 10 the decision OF j. Taylor Ellv
son. whose judgment is second to NJ
mans. But am not willing to do any.
thing which Will invite the further in
vidious and Internal criticisms which
nave been heepe6 upon this committee
Look a, The Norfolk contest or last
year We gave them a subcommittee
OF as honoreb Bile men as ever lived. and
We decided the point Look what they
ssid 1SoGt % ] shall INSIST or.,si ths
letter OF the law. / make the point of
no quorum"
Mr. Whitehead ,hen admitted tina,
nothing further could he done re-
garcinS his proposition.
Desired Settlement.
There was evidently disposition on
the part OF members to take up the
matter and settle IL. and even when il
was admitted on all sides that in the
absence OF a quorum nothing could be
done save 10 adjourn 70 4 definite date
ten members voted against the ad-
journment to tonight. the affirmative
vote being fourteen.
The failure 10 secure meeting for
business was disappointment to The
''StraIghtouts." who constitute the con
testants But they will remain in the
city and be ready for to-nights meet.
Ing. The representatives of the Flu
sionists" sat quietly throughout the
proceedings, making no remarks of
any sort. j. Lindsay Heard. OF coui-
sci for the "Straightouts,' agreed for
his side that he would consent 10 be
bound by submission OF the question
OF jurisdiction 10 the members pres
ent.
The contestants secured the cali for
the meeting on petition asking the
State committee TO take UP the con-
test over county officers in Norfolk
county, as a result OF the recent pri-
mary. In which the "Fusionists' were
victorious.
1t mas argued that the county COM
mittee is so bound TO the Fusion
cause that its judgment will be biased
On the other hand. the contestees arr
que that under the party law, the
original jurisdiction. and that the mat
ter can come up only on appeal from
the county committee.
Hill Carter Counsel.
The assembly hall a Murphy's Hotel
was we'll filed when Chairman Ellyson
called the meeting 10 order at S o'clock
last night. Hill Carter. a weIl-known
as associate counsel for the Straight
outs who were also represented by j.
Lindsay Heard. James C. Martin Law
renee Brooke and Russell Bradford
Attorneys for the contestees Were Cap
tain John w Harper. L. w. w. Brock
snbrough. r L. Croker and George
Pitcher
Among wellknown Virginia Demo
orats who were spectators were Sec
rotary of the Commonwealth B. o.
James. Corporation Commissioner J.
Richard Wingfeld. Attorney General
Bamuel W, Williams, Judge L. D. Var
rell. of Greenesville; Sidney B. Barham
OF Surry; Thomas f. Clarke of Din
widde; Colonel a. NJ. Bowman, OF Sa-
lem; Judge Leigh r, Watts. of Ports
mouth ]. Sidney Peters and Arthur C
Hartman.
Representative Carter Glass was In
the hotel, but did not appear in the as
Bembly hall. He has an enga gemsnt to
speak at Portsmouth tonight.
Apparently neither side In f9ctional
politics had anything to do with the
lack OF a quorum. 1t was noted that
onls- oTc of Representative Jones's
friends on the committee was present
This was City Treasurer ]. NJ. Curtis
OF Newport News.
Tried ~ Get Quorum.
When Secretary ]. n. Brenaman first
called the roll, only fourteen mem
bers answered TO their names Two
recesscs were taken to allow of eff
forts to secure members who we're
said to be in the city. and at last the
total was brought UP to twenty-four
two short OF Il quorum Chairman
Ellyson stated that he had commun'
cations from several members. One of
these. from former Lieutenant-Go Cover
nor Edward E,chols, who has never
before missed meeting, was to the