The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-04
The Danville Democrat Downs
His Opponent, CornetS.
a SPICY DEBATE m HOUSE
LITTLE GIBSON FROM TENNEsS-
SEE STRIKES THE CEILING.
NEARLY SOLID FOR SWANSON
The Minority Attack the Validity of the
Virginia Law, but this was the
only Threpd by which
Cornett Hung.

Washington, Feb. 3.-The contested
election case of Cornett VS.. Swanson,
from the Fifth Virginia district occupied
the attention of the House to-day. Three
Republicans and three Democrats on the
elections committee had reported in favor
Of tb.- Democratic contestee, Mr.. Swan
son and three Republicans offered a min
ority report recommending that the seat
be declared vacant ON the ground that
fair election could not be held under
the Virginia law The majority report
was sustained by Mr.. Mccall, rep,
Mass.), Mr.. Jones, Dem, Va, Mr..
Jenkins, Rep., Wis.,, and the conten-
tons OF the minority by Mr.. Thomas,
rep, Mich.), Mr.. Gibson, rep, Tenn,
and Mr.. Mccall, rep, Tenn When the
vote came to be taken the minority could
not muster enough votes to call the yeas
and nays and Mr.. Swanson's title to his
seat was confirmed by an overwhelming
viva Yoce vote.
On the face of the returns Swanson had
1873 plurality. The case rested largely
on the validity and justice of the them
existing Walton election law in Virgin
ia and involved much the same questions
that were involved in the Yost-Tucker
case which the House by narrow vote
recently decided in favor of the sitting
member. The majority contended that
II the contestant was given the benefit
OF every claim that could be made from
the testimony in the case, as we'll as
every doubt that could arise therefrom,
and if every claim was conceded to him
he would still lack, 1000 votes of enough
to overcome Mr.. Swanson's plurality.
The minority argued that the Walton
law prevented free and secret ballot
and while not claiming that the con-
testant should be given the seat, insisted
that justice demanded its debate declar-
ed vacant.
Mr.. Jones, DEEM, Va, opened the de-
bate in favor Of sustaining the majority
report. He declared that If Mr.. Swan
son was TO be deprived of his seat because
the Walton law was condemned the
House could with equal justice declare
vacant the other seats from Virginia.
Mr.. Thomas, (Rep., Mich.), opened in
behalf Of the adoption of the minority
report He argued that the Walton law
DISTINGUISHED every illiterate voter by
making hSm vote through another, that it
destroyed the secrecy OF the ballot which
it should protect and that because of the
injustice done the election held under
IT'S hOuld be declared void.
Mr.. Gibson, (Rep., Tenn.), indignant
ly resented an alleged statement of Mr..
| Mccall (Rep., Mass.), made in a speech
on the Yost-Tucker case, that the Re
publicans of the north were expected to
''coddle' the southern Republicans. He
paid glaring tribute to the battles the
Republicans of his section had fought in
the name OF their party. He declared
that it was by means of infamous"
Democratic election laws that the negroes
of the South were turned from the party
OF their choice and predicted once honest
elections were established in the South,
the eIuocrats who came to Congress year
after year with contests would be left so
far in the rear that they could not be
discovered with the most improved tele-
scope.
Mr. Mccall (Rep., Mass), replied that
he did not propose to be placed i'm false
position by the NOISY vaporing" Of the
gentleman from Tennessee. He SAID the
meaning of his words had been distort-
ed. All he had meant was that the senri-
mentality with which the southerR Re
puhlicanae had been surrounded should
cease They should not be nurtured Oh
hot house principles. Let their inmate
strength assert itself. This attempted
guardianship was insulting to them.
After some further debate by Mr.. Jen-
kins, tRep, Wis.,, in favor of sustain-
ing the majority report the vote was
taken first On the minority resolution de-
clarmg the seat vacant. Mr.. Thomas
demanded the yeas and nays, but his de-
mand was only seconded by q members.
The resolution was defeated without ii
vision and that of the majority confirm
ing Mr.. Swansons TILE to his seat was
adopted without division.