Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-10-28
Leaders in Smyth County are
Trying to
BARTER REPUBLICAN VOTERS.
They Assign Various Reasons for Their
Conduct, but Corruption is at the
Bottom of 1t.

A strange political condition now exists
in Washington and Smyth counties. ii.
E. Mccoy, who unfortunately holds the
position of district chairman of the Repub-
lican party for this district, has entered
into conspiracy to deliver to the "Water-
melon" faction of the Democratic party
in Washington county the Republican
voters of Washington and Smyth counties.
He is assisted in his unscrupu(ous scheme
by few satellites, who seem to think that
Mccoy is great political leader, no mat
ter how doubtful and corrupt his methods
The plot began in Washington county,
with compact between Mccoy and Cum
mings, the leader of the "Watermelons, "
For some consideration (known to but a
few Mccoy agreed to prevent the Repub-
licans Of Smyth and Washington from nom
mating candidate for the State Senate
and to turn over to Steele, the candidate
OF the "Watermolons" for the State Sen
ate, the votes of the Republicans Of the
two counties.
Tie next feature of the plot was an agree
ment between Mccoy and Jno. NJ. Gwyn,
The Democratic nominee for the House of
Delegates in Smyth and Bland counties.
Mccoy undertook to deliver the Repub-
licans of those two counties to Gwyn, if the
latter would assist in preventing the Demo-
Gratis of Smyth from uniting with those of
Washington to nominate candidate in
opposition to Steele. 1t was further under
stood that Gwyn was to assist Mccoy in
securing the county offices in Smyth for
certain Of McCoy's co-conspirators.
Mccoy succeeded. by trickery, in keep
ing the Republicans of Washington and
Smyth from nominating candidate
against Steele, and Gwyn and his friends
carried out their compact by going into the
Democratic meeting at Marion and voting
down the proposition to send delegates to
| lIlt NIielO'O SSiiN
Then Mccoy went to work and man.
ipulated tbingsin such way as prevented
the Republicans of Smyth and Bland from
holding a convention and nominating a
candidate for the House of delegates.
The trickster and trader thought he had
everything his own way, but Republicans
Of Smyth and Bland counties revolted
against his nefarious scheme. In response
to the invitation of a number Of the best
Republicans Of both counties, A. q. Pen
dleton announced himself a Republican
candidate for the House of Delegates. Nc
Coy and his sfollowers first tried to persuade
Pendlelon that it was against his interest
and that of the party to run, but failed to
make him see it that way. Then they be-
gan campaign of defamation, disgusting
and infamous. They began to say that
Pendleton was not Republican, though
nearly every vote he has cast for the last
fifteen years has been for Republicans
Mccoy not onycirculated there falsehoods
by word of mouth but in his paper, the
Bristol News, of the Goth inst. in an
article headed "Politics in Smyth," he
had published statements that are nothing
but tissue of the rankest falsehoods.
Mccoy knew these statements in the News
were false but had no hesitation in con-
tinuing to publish them. But what more
could be expected of a man who, preten-
ding to be a Republican, is seeking TO con-
strain Republicans in Smyth and Wash
ington to vote for. regularly nominated
candidates of the Democratic machine
faction, known as the "Watermelons?"
What more can be expected of man who
said to the writer few days ago "damn
the people,, they have nothing to do with
this matter the organization must control
it?
1t is amusing to hear Mccoy and his
followers assign reasons for the course they
are pushing. They wilsay to one person
that they. are for the "Watermelons, -
because that faction is in favor Of honest
elections, when it is we'll known fact that
the Watermelon" were caught per-
petrating the most outrageous frauds in an
election in Washington county, and have
never been known to repent of the crime.
Then they tel! you that an arrangement has
been made for controlling the county Of
fees in Smyth, and it is confidently stated
that slate has been made for distrbu-
ton of these Offices at the next cleo
ton therefor The county judgeship
is also being used by Mccoy. lie talks as
if he will have the power to select the
county judge for Smyth county; and it is
asserted that he has rendered his influence
and support to three different gentleman
for that honorable position. This lools
very much like Steele and Gwyn have
traded with Mccoy on the county judge
ship.
This is very strange politics in Smyth
, county. The idea Of those who call them
selves the Republican leaders taking
charge of and directing the campaign Of
F the regular Democratic candidates. There
must be, there is something "rotten in
Denmark" Some body is playing traitor
1t looks like treachery on beth sides.
Such things must be revolving to honest
Republicans who are toIbe turned over tc
Gwyn for price. Heis an expert in cat
tie dealing, and Mccoy is trying to teach
him how to trade for votes, by selling him
the Republicans in Smyth and Bland coun-
ties. "A very pretty pair of politicians
these, one from Ohio and the other from
North Carolina, trading the honest voters
of Smyth county as, they were SO many