The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1915-09-18
WILL RUN IT OVER AGAIN
Walker and Coleman to Decide Super
visOr's Race Sept. 3O-Warm
Committee Meets.

Without question the most inter
esting local political meeting held
in the county since reconstruction
days was the one Thursday to con
slider the first problem of its kint
that has faced the County Demo
cratic Executive Committee |
was to consider the contest be
tween G e. Coleman and Johr
Walker, the former protesting
against the election returns 10 th'
matter of the election of mem
Der uf the Board of Supervisor
from District
AS a result the returns of the
second primary of Aug Oath were
overturned and special election
ordered for Sept. 80 in the case be.
tween John Walker who was de-
clared the nominee and e. c. Cole.
man, present incumbent. who
lacked one vote according to the
committees decision, of securing
the nomination as representative
of the Beat 5 District.
Coleman. in a petition after
the committee declared results
charged various irregularities and
asked for the committee to recon-
vene to hear his charges, among
which was the permitting of a
young man under age to partici-
pate in the election, Coleman al
leging this vote to have been cast
for his opponent.
Both contestants for the seat
were present at the meeting Thurs
day; but were represented by
counsel, Hon j. W. Cassidy ap-
pearing for Mr.. Walker, while
Judge q. P. Jones plead Mr.. Cole
mans cause.
The arguments developed a good
deal of warmth toward the latter
part of the meeting when all
phases of the question we're fully
before the body, the members of
the committee being divided at
times and impressively expressing
their opinions as they saw it
Attorney Cassidy for Mr.. Walk
er certified and strongly argued
that Coleman's charges in the petit
tion were insufficient and indefin-
ite and not enough to base charges
on and that to go back of the re-
turns after the party had passed on
the matter by county election COM
missioners, bailiffs, managers and
the secret primary ballot would
cause a hitherto unheard of prece-
dent and entail endless complica-
ticns. -s.a-.
Attorney Jones for Coleman cit
ed sections of the law as authority
for his contention, as well as alleg-
ing that more votes we're cast at
the Red Star Precinct than the
books showed there we're qualified
voters at that place, also citing
that the County Committees decis-
ion would be final in the matter on
account of a decision by the su-
preme court, which acknowledged
no court power above the commit
tee in a democratic primary. A
recount was also asked.
A motion to disallow the petit
ton and that no action be taken on
the matter and the vote as former
ly declared by the committee 2l4
for Walker and 2l3 for Coleman be
reaffirmed and the petition of Cole
man finally dismissed was voted
down by large majority, this ver-
dict without doubt being brought
about by the clear putting of the
case by I. Brady. attorney and S.
j. Reeves, members of the commit
tee, the last named vehemently
concluding his talk by stating that
there was DO doubt that county
politics in general neeued investi-
eating. His remarks added
weight, emphasizing as they did
the grand jury report Of last week
and the returning of indictments
for election violations
In conclusion, and as the best
way to settle the controversy both
contestants joining IN the request,
through counsel, run off was or
dered for Sept. 30 to decide the
contest with the same balliffs and
managers as formerly.
Chairman W. r Norton was the
only member voting no" to the
last proposition, Mr.. Norton asking
that his vote be so recorded on the
proposition ON account of the fact
that he did not believe Coleman's
petition had any legal standing,
that he believed Walker the nomi-
nee and that the action of the COM
mittee at the meeting Thursday in
the premises was null and void.
The committee adjourned to
meet again and declare the result
of the election on Oct. ] at l0a m.