The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-01
Official Vote by Counties
ny ALEXANDER FORWARD.

Petersburg. Va. September 30
Having received on the fact Of the
otHciai returns "a majority o; eight
votes, Judge Walter \. Watson, OF NOT
toway, was Tonight awarded TIE ceI-
tiacate Of nomination as the Demo
cratic candidate for Congress from the
Fourth Virginia district.
Attorneys for Representative Robert
Turubali the defeated candidate, noted
an appeal TO the Democratic state
COMMITTEE from. the action OF the
Eourth District Committee. They pre-
ferred no, TO make statement TO-
ulzat, but there are rumors Of al!
sorts OF irregularities saio To nave
been praeticea on both SIDES.
It win ne necessary 10 aasten the
proceedings incident to the appeal.
sine. qua sixteen days remain IN which
10 ME the name Of the nominee with
the Secretary OF the Commonwealth IN
order that il may appear upon the OIL
cisI ballot in the November election.
Canvass Of the Official vote BY pre-
cinets was made tonight in the Cnes-
terrified Hotel in the presence OF a
large crowd Of Interested citizens.
Keeling was intense and was mani
Tested BY expressions or approval ana
cisapproval from the audience as
points were made by the attorneys
Both Judge " atson and Mr.. Turnbull
were present as were all the members
OF the district committee, Robert Gil
liam. OF Petersburg, chairman; w c.
Winn, OK Lunenburg; II. r. Hutchinson.
Of NeckIenburg; A. IL Norris. Of Sur
reg. and J. Taylor Thompson. Of Prince
L5ward.
Watson the Nominee.
When long after midnight. the COM
m.ttee voted unanimously to declare
Judge Watson the nominee. banner
On which was painted rooster and
the words Watson Is winner" was
displayed and the supporters of the
No,toway candidate broke into cheers
Many tcchnicaIities were advanced
by Mr. Turabulrs attorneys to prevent
the award Of the certificate tonight
An afidavit was produced in which a
member Of the Amelia County commit
tee was quoted as saying that the
judges OF election made Up the re-
turns from memory at the courthouse
and no date appeared on the certificate
from wilkerscn's shop Precinct
But the committee overrGled these
matters, taking the section of the Byrd
Law which says that the statute shall
be construed Literally. so that the will
Of the voters shall not be defeated by
an informality.
Most Of the time Of the meeting was
occupied in discussion OF the motion
Of the Turnbuil side that the poll books
should be produces before the vote was
canvassed. This was overruled
While the attorneys fer the Con.
gresham carefully avoided charges oil
wrongdoing. IL was evident they had
many matters in allegiance to be spruns
1t the proper time. Both sides wear
airs OF mystery over things that shall
shortly be revealed.
Lengthy Debate.
All OF the DEBATE which consumed
two and one-haif hours OF the com.
nitfees time early IN the cvcnins
resulted from a request made b. coua.
Sci for Representative Robert Turn.
bull for production of the poll books
before the returns were canvass.d T.
p Bvford. OF Brunswick. opened IN,
discussion. He argued that tn. ole
primary plan should apply and thai
the county and city committees shouic
erxt canvass the returns and then sen<
them 20 the district committee. other.
wise he argued. IL was TO no purpos,
tia; the Law required the preservation
o: :.ie poll books. They constituted
the sole evidence. he said. as TO whs
Osss eernl;tcd TO vote and who were
s---~.- che privilege.
Mr.. Buford also coatendc tina,
Chairman Gillian had no right q
change the plan adopted b. the com.
mi,tee. which was TO have two pol
books q; each precinct and to hav,
the returns canvasscd by locs! com
0ittSes.
Replying for Judge Watson. Il. n
Mann relied upon the provisions o.
the Byrd Primary Law - reauirinl
che returns certified 90 the dissric
shsirmau. To call for the poll book,
60 subs;ansiasc The returns. he salt
would be a reflection upon TIE honesty
- the judges. Neither ne nor Judss
watson. he said ha1 any objection q