Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-22
MS RIGHT no THE SEAT HE occu-
PIES AFFIRMED.
OUR ELECTION LAM INDICATED,
ASSAULTS on THE HONESTY OF
yIRGrNIANs REPELLED.
jES. WALKER CHARGES DEMOCRACY.
8is Lance IL broken. However. ON
the BulwHrk of Fact Arninst
W hich lie Levels It-RepubIicnns
stand with the Democrats.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. January u
epecial.)-It was a glorious victory this
evening. when fifty-three Repnbucars
voted with seventy-three Democrats fau
Dat were present. to retain Representa-
usc Tucker in the seat to which ne had
been fairly elected from the Tenth Dis-
Hi,t OF Virginia 1t was also a crush
ne defeat for little Jake Yost. I'm his at-
Tempt 90 grab $1,000 salary for the two
years. term which Mr.. Tucker has so
-selltably and faithfully served. II was
lr,her. well-merited and stlneing re-.
bsko TO James a. Walker. of the Ninth
District Of Virginia. who made the re-
port tn favor Of Yost, and who opposed
majority Of the Republicans on the
Elections Committee in the fight made
on The floor OF the House yesterday and
To-day.
All OF the Virginia members were pres-
cat, and these. with Mr. fuckers friends
oa both sides Of the House. stood man.
fully by him in the fight against the
desperate attempt Of Walker and Yost
to unseat him. Thorp. from the Fourth
District made his maiden speech I'm favor
ui lost with the result that he only
convinced the Republicans who were I'm
favor Of Tucker that they were right.
Heprcsentative Elicit ondeavored TO OBJ
tain recognition to answer the charge of
General Walker that all the constables
appointed under the Walton law were
dishonest and corrupt
10 was strange. Mr.. Elicit said that be-
fore the enactment Of the Walton law
no h.
from the district now represented by
Walker. IL all the constabies in Walk
cr's district We're dishonest and corrupt
and as. in point of fact. all the judges
OF the courts. the election officials and
others were chiefly Democrats. how was
30 that Walker. "A Republican. was re-
turned twice from that district under
the Walton law?
There were frequent references made
10y Walker in his speech to certain al
legged Democratic papers I'm Virginia TO
sustain him in his malignant attacks on
the Virginia election laws, and the Of
fcials by whom they are administered.
The verdict of the House to-day is a
vndication of the fairness of the Walton
law and the honesty Of Virglnia's cleo
tion officers, and a complete refutation
OF the ISLANDERS of their enemies, both
here and I'm Virginia.
Mr.. Tucker was congratulated on his
victory by Republicans and Democrats
alike. and tonight the Virginians are
celebrating the event
Mr.. De Almond DemocraD of Missouri,
ably advocated the adoption of the resolu-
ton declaring Mr.. Tucker entitled to re-
tain his seat. He contended that IN this
case, there being no Federal statute con-
trayenng, the law of Virginia was the
law Of Congress, and should be followed
by the House.
Mr.. Grow Republican,. Of Pennsylva-
mia. the venerable ex-Speaker spoke
briefly upon the principles that should
control the House in determining election
cases. his time being equally deducted,
one-half from each side.
MR.. fuckers SPEECH.
Mr.. Tucker the contestee. was accorded
but fifteen minutes for the presentation
Of his views. He began by paraphrasing
ST. Paul. accounting himself fortunate
that he was called upon this day to an
swer before the House touching all those
things whereof he was accused. Unless
gentlemen had made up their minds, he
said, they must yield TO the force Of the
-tatemehts he would make from the re-
,ord First. as TO the imperfect ballots
This seemed TO be considered by many
The pivotal point in the case, and the
statement WAS JIdut NtoltiuhN Aidt IL |
these were counted the contestant would
have been elected. He denied it. If every |
one of them was counted for Mr.. Nost, |
Mr.. Tucker said he ar. Tucker would |
SIN have a majority Of &c.
The charge that a conspiracy existed !
among election officers in the district 10 |
destroy imperfect ballots. about which so |
much had been said by the gentleman !
from Ohio Clr. GrosvenoD yesterday, |
10 la Wi fp1n- |
dalton.
There were ia precincts In the district, !
ana ia fifteen of these the imperfect bal
lots were destrOyed-that having been the |
law Of the state for many years-and in /
all but three of these the election boards
were unanimous I'm ordering the ballots /
TO Boz burned IF there had been such
conspiracy" asked Mr.. Tucker, las has |
been charged. is it possible that Repubh-
can election officers would have been en-
sagci in it?"
Coming 10 the charges against the spe-
c.al election officials and the ballots fur
nshcd IN Amherst county (where the
names Of the candidates were printed IN
Oh English script and the arrangement
OF the names varied seyenty-five tines,
4ir. Tucker said he hoped IL was not ne
cessary for him in this House to say that
Boo did not approve that ticket; that he
knew nothing Of its existence until il ap-
learcd Ga the contest, and that If the con
testant could show that he had been de-
lrlyed OF a single vote by reason Of its
-se be should be credited with II.
To- conclusion Mr. Tucker read from
losts Weekly, the paper edited and con-
Quoted by the contestant, TO show that
when the election officers in two of the
counties in the district were chosen he
Dad editorially approved the selections
as being satisfactory 10 the people
SPEECH OF WALKER
The concluding speech In behalf Of the
contestant was made by Mr.. Walker
Q.cpubicaD Of Virginia, who made the
minority report. lie made vigorous
attack upon the political conditions In
Virginia he had no objection, personal
OF Otherwise. to The cOntestee I'm this
.a-e. and no fight TO make against him,
9lt upon the policy Of the party he rep
.Dented, hc would wage bitter, unrelent-
Nt. and unccasing warfare. lie was
glad 10 take this opportunity. IN this pub
.c place, 20 enter his indignant protest
.siinst the most unrighteouS and In
itmOus system of laws and elections that
itl ever disgrace0 any people or any
STATE. These laws were enacted upon the
catral idea OF making fraud and de-
g.plion safe and easy, and of hood
nhiug illiterate voters. Their execution
Nas entrusted to men who hesitated at
nothing TO accomplish their nefarious
purposes.
IAs criticism upon the election laws
anl methods Ct the State was In ac-
clfiauce with the sentiment OF leading
democrats aud Democratic papers, who
la4 gone much farther in denouncinS
hem than he bad. declaring them 10 be
lNt embodiment OF petty larceny
Relefrine 10 Mr.. fuckers assertion that