Henderson daily dispatch., 1938-09-23
Election Men
In Davidson
Likely TOGO
Daily Dispatch Bureau.
In the Sir. WnIfer HnfoI

Raleigh, Sept. 23.-Principal resul,
ri the Supreme Court election rou
decision will, of course, be the alnnos,
certain certification of C. B. Deane
of Richmond county, as Democratic
congressional nominee from the eighth
district, but a secondary result is like
X to be custer of the Davidson Coun-
" Board of Elections.
The Davidson group has been chief
target of the Deane barrage ever since
the July primary, and the Deane
charges against it have been almost
entirely upheld by the State Board of
elections.
Under these circumstances. it is not
considered probable that the State
board. now backed by decision of the
highest court in the State, will fail to
exercise its unquestioned power to re-
move the recalcitrant Davidsonians.
Whether this will take place before
new certification of Davidson returns
or whether it will come about after
the present board has bowed to the
State body is problematical.' It is en-
tirely possible that for face saving
reasons the Davidsonians may be al
lowed to do the bidding of Chairman
w. A. Lucas and his associates, then
resign"
But in any event, the Davidson
Board of Elections is generally view
ed rs doomed.
Status of the Deane- Burgin case.
from a practical viewpoint, seems to
be about this:
The Supreme Court has ruled that
the State Board of Elections had a
perfect right to do everything it has
done, the only defect being that the
last returns from Davidson and
Richmond were not legal cause. sign
ed by only two members of the county
boards and not signed at regulay
board meetings.
The next step, therefore, will be for
the State board to direct the David
son and Richmond boards to convene
in regular session and make the
amendments to the returns suggested
by the State body as a result of it's
long investigation. These amendments
will give Deane a 23-vote majority in
the district.
Should either or both of the county
boards balk at making the direct
changes, there is no doubt that the
State board would forthwith and inn
mediately give the baking group the
merry heave-ho, probably with more
than modicum of pleasure in the
case of the Davidson unit.
AS matter of fact, it is known
that some members of the State board
have long urged on their associates
the desirability of taking stern and
drastic measures with the Davidson
board. These members haven't been
going about telling the world or the
press their views, but there isn't any
doubt about their belief that the
Davidson board members ought to be
kicked out.
If it comes down to case of kick
ing out the county board or getting
into another deadlock, the State board
will act-and act quickly and almost
gleefully-to put out the Davidson
board, or it's Democratic members at
least, and put in others who will be
more easily amenable to directions.
On this score the law is quite spe-
cific, and there would be no question
ing of the State boards rights.
But even if the Davidson board
should do a Czeehoslovakian surren-
der act and consent to certify the re-
turns as suggested by the State board
there is more than an even chance
that it will give up the ghost before
the general election. The only differ
ence is that it would resign" and not
be fired"