The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-08
Voice Of the People
Ihe Demoerntic prlmnrx I'm Norfnll..

The Democratic Primary In Norfolk.
10 the Editor of The Times Dispatch
nave had an editorial on the subject
or the recent Democratic primary cleo
non In Norfolk county. and OF the
many misleading publications in the
newspapers of this State with regard
hereto. and believing that you desire
20 pc fair In the premises. / desire to
MAKE plain statement of the facts
\ Democratic primary was regularly
called by the Democratic Executive
! committee of Norfolk county 20 be
ned on June IS to nominate county
, ,h district officers in accordance with
.ne pan adopted by the Democratic
party of the State. Well known DEM
ocrats became candidates from both
o1 n.eholnE factions for every county
| ocrats for every district office A very
active and heated canvass of a months
anration was had all over the county.
and when the returns wero canvassed
by the County Democratic Committee.
upon the face of the same IL was
aouna that all OF the candidates OF the
43r rss Democrats for county Of
ICES ices and most OF those for the dis
trlct ofhces. had a majority of votes
cast In their favor. and the commit
re ne 1hereupon so declared and granted
mem certificates of their nomination
Upon this. attorneys served notice that
, mere would be a notice of contest
G c.h PRESENTATIONS oma,ifa presented TO the
Of July. as the time Tor filing The
same: This was accepted rv the Coun-
the time for the contestees to flo treir
answers. and on July 20 the taking OF
,tfe Snaa ny, would be begun and con
the County Committee. whose duty /,
would be to return TO the County Com
sh ndte all the evidence taken and taelr
passed upon by the County Commit
Both sides had judges and watch
nn,,o OF their own selection at every
no one has there been any charEe ~ "
fraud against the organization Demo
f tian IS TO the conduct OF the cleo
'o Knew or s' hsve PpreGi9ct so far as
contrary, many of the anti-orsariza
uon watchers have declared that the
in charge.
This is nothing more nor less than
a RED not aGht between Democrats for
control of the Offices in the county
h iar mere mere, as elsewhere under ,imi-
things in the heated contest have been
said. but. / repeat. l have heard Of
no no one me on the other side who has
s Iro mat the officers OF election in one
nlnBle instance committed fraud in
me conduct OF the election. but their
charges, SO far as we are informcd.
.,S''S'St entirely OF alleged inforclnll-
ties and irregularities Representing
me organization Democrats. assert
that we desire the fullest investisa-
ION by the County Committee, and
tEen, II thought necessary by either
side that the State Central Commit
zee fully and calmly hear the whole
matter and judicially determine IL be-
tween the parties contending.
The morning papers OF Norfolk CITY
nave certainly been, TO say the !cast.
warmly partizan in taking AS the COS,
pei truth the statements of the op-
position, self styled "Stralghtouts." and
minimi2ing those OF the organizction
democrats. styled by the ''Strai-ht
outs" as "Fusionists." and we anDeal
70 you and the Democratic public and
Hress or the State. to suspend iude
ment until the matter has been fairlv
determined by our party AUTHORITIES
I repeat this IS but fight between
Democrats, and must be fairly deter
mined by our party authorities anon
the facts. before either side should be
condemned. and this is all we ask
was a candidate in the recent rri.
mary for the nomination to the Office
Of Commonwealth's Attorney, and upon
the face OF the returns was nominated
by 1913 majority. If this nomination
Was not fairly and honestly obtainGi
Office r q NNRSUATr '''
Portsmouth. Julv