The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-04

WASITINGTON, J. g.. b en' o.
cussion Of the contested election case o'
coorre ". Cornett against Claude A'
e,.orso, from the Fifth District OF Viz
,.,oia occupied nearly the whole Of to-
days session Of tho House ana' Dy d"
overwhelming vote Mr.. Swanson u''o
10 the seat was confirmed by the HOUSE,
Tho Committee ON Elections, No. % re-
norted that Swanson was emitted To- ho''
b,s cont. the minority -Mcssrs. Thomas
walker. and Ovcrsrcet-hoId mat neither
Cornett nor Swanson was entitled TO the
seat
SWANSON'S MAJORITY.
Briefly stating tAe case. Dir. 9cDsH
CPcp. of Massachusetta, chairman oi '"e
committee said that swanson received
tho certificate of election upon g. return
Giving him IL majority of 300 votes. It
everv precinct concerning the vote OF
which any testimony whatever was pre-
eented 10 the committee. were thrown
ont OF the court Mr. swanson would sIH
have 1900 majority There was aosoiuuy
M srithmetic known to Intelligent men
hv which dinerent result could De
reached.
based
law of Virginia was unconstitutional,
and. therefore. DO valid election was heid-
AS 10 this. he desired only 10 say tnat
tho House had voted in two other con-
tests 10 seat members elected under the
Same law. and that all the members OF
the Virginia delegation held their seats
bv virtue of the operation Of that law.
Mr. Jones Dem or virginia. made an
elaborate argument in support or the COM
mittee's report Referring 20 the election
law. ne said 10 had been declared 20 Doe
constitutional by the unanimous decision
Of the supreme Court of the State. And
the committee had concluded that II ali
the provisions ~ the law attacked hy
the contestants were invalid or uncon-
sttutional there still remained undis-
turbed and unaffected enough OF Che law
10 make the election perfectly valid.
Mr.. Jones then went into the matter of
the votes in dispute setting forth the
details. and claimed. in confirmation ot
Mr.. McCalrs statement that the reIec-
tion of an the votes attacked by the cone
testant Mr. Swanson would stiu have
over 1900 majority
MINORIrYS VIEWS.
Mr.. Thomas Uep. of Micnigen) present
ed the views of the minority. Iie said
that four questions arose in tho consider
alton of the case.
l. Sunicicncv of tho notice of contest.
Q The right of the House to inquire
into the validity of the election laws of
Virginia.
g. The consutuuonaity OF the Walton
law.
a. The effect of the operation of that
law upon our system of popular govern
mcnt.
Tie devoted most of his time 20 tho two
latter propositions. Au analysis of the
Walton law was given To- Mr. Thomas.
from which Doe declared the law to he a
ucrverslon of the Australian ballot sys-
tom.
lrr. Thomas asserted that the case in
which the Supreme Court OF Virginia has
decided the law to Doe constitutional was
collusive proceeding. and hy The alinis-
sion Of the court itself the constitutions
atty OF the law was immatcrial to me
determination of the questions submitted
TO Il: two reasons. which made the Juds-
mcnt as 90 the constitutionaiiy ot the
law Of no binding force or effect
I'm conclusion. Mr. Thomas said.
81 champion to-day the cause Of 10000
virginia voters. bound hand and foot IN
nolitical bondage. with no outlook or hope
IT. the future.
"If my contention shall fail. Repub-
ucan form OF government VIII cease 20
exist I'm Virginia. " a mode of election
can DE contriysl that win cmbarras5 ana
disqualifv one class OF voters then II is
possible for some mode OF election TO De
devised that win disquality any class TO
whom the Constitution has extended the
right Of suffrage
THOMAS PERORATlON.
oft IS we'll that this contest should take
,lsce on virginia soil. Here. where the
Irst English settlement in America was
planted. here where Henry sounded the
first notes Of liberty. here whore the an-
thor of the Declaration ~ independence
lived and died where Washington ana Lee
were born, the former to eNempAiy love
for a nation and the later love Tor
State-it IS well. ] say that on tho hls-
toric soil of the Old Dominion state th5
new. novel. and pOrt0ntous issue ln tAe
cause Of popular eo> errmcnt should uo
fought ana settled. Perhaps DO state Oh
inferior rank would have attempted thla
master stroke of Ingenuity to e5iabi7h
the supremacy Of minority. Nor would
directly or even hy innuendo olsnarage
This minoriay. If it werc possible
for me to believe in the suprcm-
acy Of any minority 81 would Dee .n The
inustrious descendants OF the pioneers or
civn liberty who have FOR centuries made
the banks OF thes James, the Rappahan-
mock. the Shenandoah. and the Potomac
sacred TO home 20 Christianity TO liberty
and, ITO civilization.
4 secret ballot is the palladium OF
civil liberty Ii gives TO suffrage az once
its glory and power. Around it are gath-
ortd the force and security Of society.
Before II opens the grand perspective or
our elective system. The Walton law
of Virginia is the nrst legislative attempt
To invade and overthrow IL. Let il be
the last"
AS TO "CODDLING."
Mr.. Gibson Rep Of TENNESSEE threw
q little excitement into the debate. which
had been progressing even more pIosily
than that unon the average election case.
lie addressed himself 70 the remarks by
Mr. Mccall in his speech upon the Yost-
Tucker contest, what the Republicans
or the South now need Is 10 be- treated
upon robust principles They have been
coddled % the point of destruction He
hurled back the insnuatOn contained
in the sneer and contumelv OF the
word "codd,ed." The recent election Mr
Gibson said, showed greater gain OF
Republican votes in The Southern
States than in any other section OK the
couutry-41 per cent on the average. And
the Republicans had absolutely nothing
10 sustain them aside from the devotion
10 principle. llo did not know what the
gentleman (Mr. MCCALL had meant by
the words. robust principles" Probably,
Judging from hts record. he meant 70 no.
tify Southern Republicans that II one
OF them came 10 the House with con-
test for q seat he would be incontinenuy
kicked out. And yet the truth Is" pas
sionately declared Mr.. Gibson that II
any man comes here from that section