Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-16
HARRISS STATEMENT.

BRISTOL VA, August IL, 1894
To the Editor of the Bristol Courier:
Pursuant to the promise made you in
my telegram OF the 18th instant. / beg
herewith to submit detailed statement
OF the facts connected with the Dickinson
county telegram. On the evening Of the
day OF the convention Mr. c. f. Elan
merry. Of Wise, ana myself were discuss
ing the absence Of any representative
from Dickinson county. II was suggested
by one OF us that we write a telegram
and address II to Mr.. Bruce, of Wise,
authorizing him TO cast the vote OF Dick
enson county for Pr!demorc. We both
concluded that In no event would the
Credential Committee accept a proxy by
telegraph, and the chagrin OF our friend
Bruce, a man OF peculiarly sober and
serious nature. at being rejected by the
committee would be ludicrous and Offer
good opportunity 10 rig him. This
was the soie basis for the telegram. We
then proceeded to the 8. A. and o. depot
where / thought they had a telegraph Of
fee, and from Mr. James w. Parrish 60
cured blank. In the presence Of Mr..
Parrish. whom l knew to be a Marshall
man, and In the presence OF several others
who were passing IN and out. with no
attempt to conceal our purpose 10 per-
petrate a JOKE VITA no disguise OF hand
writing. / wrote the now famous and
unfortunate telegram and read II over to
Mr.. Flannery I'm the presence OF
Mr. Parrish. and we all had a
hearty laugh over 1t. Being un-
able TO secure an enveloje there.
we went to the Western Union tele-
graph office. where We managed to get
one, addressed 1t. and sent II by mes
senger boy TO Mr.. Bruce. From that
-
ported / gave the matter no attention.
When their report was handed in to an
excited and wrangling convention. and
discovered that Dickinson county had
been allowed representation. / was as
tonished and nonplussed as 10 the proper
course to pursue. In the light of sub
sequent events, my duty appears clear
but / knew or thought 10 mention the
facts there would bring defeat and proba-
BILE odium on candidate who was as
innocent Of the matter as Mr.. Marshall
/ hesitated. the roll was called, and
being under the distinct impression
gathered from the press and other au-
thentic sources that ninety-four votes
were necessary to a nomination, I was
-.Iieved to find that ballot after ballot
was cast without that number being giver
to any candidate. 1t never occurred e
me that with the Dickinson vote out II
would only require ninety-one and frac.
ton votes to nominate. As time went
on my relief grew greater. and ! hoped
and believed that after all the Dickinson
vote would not cut potential figure In
the business Of the convention.
That 1t had not. believed until read
your editorial OF the 1lth instant. when
/ at once determined TO assume the re-
sponsibility and relieve others from the
burden OF this charge.
I have stated fully the truth. and the
whole truth. and ! believe those who
know me win 80 accept II: and with those
who do not know me. trust my charac-
ter, heretofore never Questioned. may
give me an unprejudiced hearing.
In conclusion. ] beg that you viii also
publish the written statement from Mr..
Parrish herewith enclosed.
w. e HARRIS
Mr.. Harris and Mr.. q. p. Tlanary came