The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-15
NEGRO VOTE WILL
NOT Be COUNTED
Fourth District Congressional
Committee Agrees to
Eliminate 1t.
GAIN IN VOTES FOR WATSON
His Lead Increased Four on Re-
count and Five on Con-
= tested Ballots.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.1

Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l
Petersburg. Va, October l4.-After
argument by counsel for both Judge
Watson and Congressman Turrbull, the
Fourth District Congressional Com
mittee late tonight eliminated the
negro vote from the primary held on
September 81. With counsel for both
sid6 in the contest fighting every
inch Of the way, Indications are that
this session OF the committee will COLI
tinue till late to-morraw morning.
With all members except II. +. Hutch
eson, of Mecklenburg. present. the COM
niitee met in the Hastings Court room
at 2 o'clock this afternoon.
The afternoon gave results in favor
of Judge Watson, he having galGed
four votes on the recount and fVe on
the contested ballots, which made his
total majority seventeen over Congress
man Turnbull The majority on when
the certificate IF nomination was
awarded two weeks ago was eight.
After a recess of an hour and hail
for supper the committee resumed It's
hearing at 1880 o'clock. Aft1davits anS
dispositions taken by representatives OF
both parties to the contest were Seao
during the night. The reading was
slow. being interrupted from time TO
time by the raising OF points In law
up,n the documents. Dispositions
showed that several negroes voted In
the diSeeut counties in the primary.
This raised the argument tina, the ne
r-o WAS not entitled TO vote IN ths
primary Chairman Gillian read an
outr;on By At,orney-General Williams.
Of virginia in which il is declared the
negro cannot vote. The negro 'ote
was ruled out. 1t was long after MID
r7,Sb. before the last of the depcslt!ons
s.-aa into sight, ana day Will have bro
ken before they are concluded
TIE district committee hopes to De
sb1. 70 take a short recess before az
gunner, by counsel is begun at
O'Clock n the morning. Eacn side Is
limited to an hour and half for afsu-
Hsat
The committee. at the very begin
ming Of its afternoon session, agreed
10 allow correction OF the inforHaA
ties in the returns from Broadnax IRE.
cinct. In Brunswick, and waived all
contention as to informaiities OF IKE
kind In other counties, complying WIN
the law in giving a broad and ioera'
construct IN in such cases. Tue COM
,n;,tee ruled that tho recount OF tne
ballots by the committee at the meet
Ing he,a October rs showed a gain Oh
seven votes for Watson and a gain "a
three for Turnbull. sh owing net gam
of four in the district for Watson.
Net Gain for Watson.
Mr. THOMPSON moved that upon tho
tabulated recount. outside--of the con-
tested a, challenged ballots, gain OF
seven is shown for Watson and gam
Of three for Turnbull. net gain u
four for Watson, which, ADDED 10 tie
former count. increases watson ND
iority, that 1t Is the sense OF the So1n
rni,tee that on the face OF the returns
watson's majority in the o'stf'c' -
twelve.
rh. e,st tabuIated returns gave
Watson 4.45l in the district and Turn
bull 4...s. a majority of eight Tor wat
son OIL, OF a total II 1854 The motioh
was adopted.
The Challenged Ballots.
The matter Of the challenged oallots
VAS then taken up, Of which there were
abou, fifty challenged by both SIDES.
Lengthy discussion occurred. IN
which Mr. Buford. for the confession.
and Mr. Byrd for the contestee, partici-
n,.ed "a 10 what constitutes an invalid
ballot. and how sne law should be con-
etrued as to such ballots Mr. Byrd
contended that the law should De
literally construed, and that while II IS
Is much the duty OF the voter to pre-
mare his ballot in q booth as II Is to
scratch II properly. the voter snouio
no. be deprived Of his right or OF his
intention Mr.. Buford held that the
ballot should be counted In accordance