The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-30
QUIET PREsAGEs
STORM THAT IS
TO CONE TO-DAY
Both Turnbull and Watson
Forces to Be at Meeting
of Committee
IRREGULARITIES TO
BE GIVEN AN AIRING
Byrd Primary Law Will Also
Be Threshed Out and De-
eisien Given as to
Its Meaning
by ROBERT GLASS

-
AIS quiet along the Appomattox to- M
night, neither the Turnbuli nor the
Watson leaders saying anything nor
displaying any feverish activity, but s
working quietly in preparation for -
the bitter factional war that may be M
lnaugurated tomorrow night, when the
district Democratic committee meets
at the Chesterfield hotel to canvass
the returns from the Fourth district
primary held last Saturday, a week VI
ago.
On the face of the returns as res
ported by the county judges of elec-
tons, Judge Walter a. Watson res
ceiNed majority over Congressmau ~
Robert Turnbull Of eight votes out of
total of nearly 9.000--s,S94, to give
the exact number. Four thousand. M
four hundred and forty-three ballots 4
were counted for Mr.. Turnbull and
4,451 for Judge Watson. BY this SLIM a
margin Judge Watson holds the lead III
in the closest political fight waged 10
Southside Virginia in years, and un-ll &
less the contest, which now appearD
to be inevitable, should reverse the
result the ex~jadEe will be grante<N 81
the certificate of nomination and Win
be the next congressman from fhGlH
Fourth district of Virginia, replacin9
Robert TaFabafl, who has served tNv0~
terms in the lower house of the Nae
tionai congress. 3sssa ~
Contest Seems Certain.
But there will be contest, unless
a. change should come over the spirit a
OF the dreams of the Turnbull fob
lowers between now and tomorrow
night The Turnbull leaders are not q
talking for publication, but they say
enough privately to make II plain
that tonight. with the time to start
the fireworks but twenty four hours
in the future. they are fully defer-
mined OF contest Judge Watson's right
to the certificate of nomination.
When the committee meets Monday
night to count the ballots, both cam
didates will be represented by coun-
sci or in person, possibly by both,
Judge Watson is at his home at Jen-
nings Ordinary in Nottoway county.
but is expected in Petersburg turnor@
row morning. Congressman Turnbu1I
is awaiting developments--and incl
dentaliy helping them along--at his
home in Lawrenceviile. Whether
either of the candidates will be pres
ent at the meeting tomorrow Is un-
settled at this time, but both Will 81
b.. represented, probably by legal
counsel
Quiet But Active.
Things are quiet, but that does
not mean that things are not doing.
1t means merely that they are being
done quietly, but energetically. Both
Turnbull and Watson men are work.
ing hard at collecting evidence for
use in the contest before the district
committee in the almost certain event
that one will be made. Affidavits are
being collected from voters in sew
eral counties to show that one or the u
other of the candidates received &
larger or smaller vote than appears
on the face of the returns. Friendo
are scouting throughout the distrtct
the Turnbull men seeking evidenco
on which to base a contest, and the
Watson men raking the district for Id.
formation with which to refute thfG5
testimony and incidentally searchimGs
for material from which to mAk0A
counter-charges a#
The exact nature OF the evidences
upon which the Turnbull people Ax.S
pect to base their demand for hear.
Ing by the committee is uilknowAsaSAa
While there is much talk of irregn-S
larities In the voting. and even Ok#$55
fraud. in both camps, managers 0f5
the candidates and their close pei
sonal friends are taking the name OK n
a famous sparkling beverage as their y
motto and keep on saying nothing.
Everybody admits that contest Ii 81
more than probable. but none Of the
managers will tell on what grounds.
1t Is conceded that the official count
will hardly. wipe out Watson's majori-
ty, although Turnbull men refuse to-
give up. They insist on discuSsfnR N
the possibilities rather than the prob
abilities. but plainly pin Their hopes
OF ultimate victory upon success
fully conducted contest. 81
SaE Negroes Voted. sxs:ssgs I'D
Asked this afternoon III there would
be any charges OF fraud made before II
the committee. Nat Harrison, one of D
Turnbuirs Petersburg managers. natd Al
that he did not know the exact ns~
ture of the evidence to be introducoA NIX ##
wre that The voting OF RepuhlfCaIA
and negroes would be shown. or alK as
attempt would be made to show III &8
But while the leaders and tho6@
close to them are saving wood TIL x#
saying nothing, individual suppnx4Q n
are not SO reticent. Naturally g W
Turnbull men are the ones who RI
doing the most or the TALKING
they are the ones who believe n
man has been unfairly tfefeatadss
Watson people content theln
with saying that IL irreEuIay3t
fraud can be shown, then
ahead They do not want M
nofsination. they declare. ana ~
does Judge Watson. Some Az
tieprecatA talks Of contest
ground that II II useless becaMoG
,iesa hut eninst ok them fAk9
tion that good atrtnx IA 81
Judge Watson clear title M s
nomination aud for that reax
are willing to have the Nb}16
fiie IFS notice Of intention ~ 6x1
The battle ground when. tiA H