The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-20
REPLIES TO MR.. TIIORP.
Mr.. EPEs DENIES THE CHARGEs or
FRIUD ND BHIBLRI.
SAYS lie Was supported by Leading Re
pubiicans Who Deserted Ihorp for
TIopping on. the Currency Question.

Through his counsel Mossrs. L. r.
Iassiter and william Il. Mcllaine. OF
Petersburg. Hon. sydney H. Epes. who
Was elected TO Congress on the Demo
cratic ticket 10 represent the Fourth Nir-
ginia district. has completed a strong
answer 10 Representative L.. Il. ThOrp.
the Republican candidate, who Is con
testing Mr.. Epes' seat.
Mr. Enos' answer starts out with %
complete Tefutation of the general charges
of fraud made by the contestant. From
the day of your nomination throughout
the campaign, reads the Introduction 10
the paucr you gave me and the public
ampie notice of your intention 10 forward
your notice OF contest. Indeed. your can
vdss. such as II was was conducted
rather with tue hope oi being seated than
elected You entered the race whipped.
From the testimony OF lifelong Republic
cans / shall show that your nomination
was a fraud. that your subsequent pOAtl-
cal course was regarded as betrayal OF
your constituency, and that your ulti-
mate defeat was not only predicted. but
hoped for by Republicans Ou both sides
Of the financial question at issue IN the
a SILVER DISTRICT.
An effort is made hy Mr.. Epos 10 prove
that the Fourth District is "a free silver
district. and that he himself was sup
ported, not only ny thousand lopullsts
vino acted with the Republican party 90
free silver. but also by The greater part
OF The sOund-mOney Democrats. who cast
their votes for MIN on PERSONAL grounds,
while voting against the Tree silver can
didatcs for President ana Nicc-President
II is also claimed tndt tNs white people
OF the district had not been as interested
in am election for years. while "A large
number OF the negro Republicans did not
vote az all and made no attempt 20 vote
that tnc negroes ln great measure cast
their ballots for the Democratic candi-
date for the reason that they had grown
dissatisfied by reason OF Mr. lhorp poo
sitiOu on the currency question. that gem
tleman having changed from an original
FREQ silver man TO "a supporter OF "a folu
standard of currency. II is alleged that
o.np of tho negro voting population ulu
not go TO the polls at a.i and that "a
heavy Republican vote wts cast ln iaFor
of tho Democratic candidate by reason Of
his position or the financial question.
THE TANGLED NOM NATION.
good deal OF capital is made out or
the miNfd-up ANA tangled condition OF the
Republican forces when there were for
some time two candidates running on the
same ticket. To i5 claimed tnut OWNS To
the novel proceedings OF The Rcpuhucdn
conventions which nominated two differ
ent candidates. and the dissatisfaction
that prevailed among the two factions.
large number of Republicans LEFT the
ranks az their party ana supported the
Democratic candidate and tree silver.
The nomination and temporary clndi-
dacy of Charles Gee. who was put zap by
the Brady faction of the republican par
ty was strong factor towards support
ing the Democratic candidate
IT. De- alleged that many ot Mr.. Inorp
political supporters made attempts 90
bride voters who were believed % Dee
friends of Mr. tpes. \ vigorous retut1-
ton OF fraud GA the part OF ihe Demo
cratic workers ie made. ANA 30 is alleged
that tho I0Uullsts. who had given
strong support 90 their own candidate,
Colonel j. Thomas GOOde 40 the last cleo
ton. gave their support 10 Mr. tpcs I'D
the November election.
FRAUD AND BRIBERY CHARGED.
ia the paper is included "a copy of the
address Of Hon. Charles Gee, one OF the
Republican nominees for Congress, dated
Dlspuanta. Va June g. l,46 which was
made 10 the Republicans of the Fourth
District. ln this address Mr. Gee states
that "a large majority OF the kepubllc1ns
Of the district were opposed 20 the Uomi-
nation of Nj. Thorn. mainly because OF
bis action In raising The race issue at the
Petersburg convention that nominated
delegates 20 the ST Louis National Con-
veutlOn.' Mr. ThOrp. in antagonlziug
Green. had met with opposition ou the
part of nearly every leading white Re
publican. and of seventeen OF the thirty b.
nine negro delegates az the Petersburg
convention. DO is alleged that money ana
number OF the meancst negroes I'm Peters
burg TO abuse General Boiling and Colo
mel Brady after the election OF the dele
gates and offers were made 20 the dele
gates in the Farmyille Convention TO vote
for Thorps nomination.
IT, is also charged by Mr. Gee I'm his
address that al Farmvilie number Of
the delegates who were opposed TO Mr.
Thorp stated that they We're offered Sl2J
each 10 vote fer his nomination.
Mr. Gee charges .rresularity on the
part Of some Of Mr. Thorp's
agents. and reviews the political pro-
ceedings that nominated Mr.. Thorp, hold
ing that the political sentiment among the
Republicans was opposed TO Thcrp's nom
nation and that by irregular methods he
WAS finally put In.