The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-08-16

to cast the vote Of Dickens0s, county fer
Prldemore. We both conciaded that in no
event would The credential committee ac-
cept proxy by telegraph, and the chra-
grin Of our friend Bruce, man ofpeculiar'
ay sober and serious nature, at being re-
jected by the committee would be ludicrous
aud otfes good opportunity to rig him. This
was the sole basis for the telegram. We
then.srroceedcd to the S. A. & O. depot
where thought they had telegraph Office
and from Mr. James ". Parrish secured a
blank. In tho presence Of Mr.. Parrish
whom knew 10 he MarshalI man, and
in the presence Of several others who were
passing in and out, with no attempt to con
ceal our purpose to perpetrats joke, with
| no disguise Of handwriting, wrote tbs
now famous and unfortunate tel
egram aud read it over to Mr.. Elan
| nerv in the presence of Mr.. Parrish and
| we all had hearty laugh over it. Being
| unable TO secure AL envelope there We
| ven. to the Western Union telegraph
office where we managed to get one, ad'
dressed il and sent it by messenger boy
to Mr.. Bruce. From that time until the
crsdcntal committee reported, gave the
matter no attention. When their report
was handed in to all excited ind wrang
| ling convention, and | discovered thar
Dickinson county had been allowed rep
resentation, was astonshed and non
plussed rs to the proper course 70 pursue
In the light Of subsequent events my
duty appears clear, but knew or thought
to msptioR the facts would bring defeat
and probably odium on candidate VINO
vasas innocent Of the matter as Dir. Mar
shou. | hesitated, the roll was called
and | being under the distinct impression
gathered from the press and othor authen'
tic sources that 81 votes wero necessary
TO a nominations, was relieved 10 nho
that ballot after ballot was cast without
that number being given to any candidate
It ncvor occurred to me that with the
Dickinson county vote out it would only
require pioety-one and fraction votes
to nominate. As time went on my relics
grew greater, and / hoped and believed
that after all the Dickinson vote would
not cut a poential figure in the business Of
the convention.
That it had not, believed until read
YOUR editorial of the llth inst, when al
once determined to assume the responSl'
bility and relieve others from the burden
Of this charge.
have stated fully the truth and the
whole truth, and believe those who kno"
me will 80 accept it; and with those who
know me will accept it, and with those
who do not know mo, trust my charac
ter. heretofore never questioned, may
give mo an unprcjudiced hearing.
In conclusion, beg that you will also
nublish tho written statement from MI
Parrish herewith enclosed
w. E. HARRIS.
Mr.. Harris and Mr.. G. F. Flanary came
over to the S. A. & O. office and asked
me for o telegraph blank. l gave ar
Harris one and he sat down in my ONCE
and wrote tho telegram, which was after
wards presented to the convention. AL
ter he wrote tho telegram, he read IL u
Mr.. Flanary in my presence. From shii
fact and from the fact that l was fol
Marshall and that Mr.. Harris knew this
| referred that his purpose WAS as he safe
to play q practical joke Oh Dir. Bruce the
Gentleman to whom the telegram was ad
dressed. There were also several Others
in tho Office at the time and there was nt
secrecy whatever about it.
JAS. W. PARRISH.