Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-24
EPES IS UNSEATED.
The Outrage COnSummated Under Whip
and Spur Of Reed.
HAYS ARGUMENT FOR CONTESTEE.
II is a Fine Effort, and Mill Be Used
in Next Campaign.
TuORP's RECORD SHOWN UP.
His Regeneration on the Money
auesti0B-His Lack OF support
Among White Men-He Makes n
Vicious Attack on EirgiDians.

Vicious Attack on yirginians.
| WASHINGTON, d. c., March 23.-(Spe-
| ciaI) aI)-Representative sydney p. Epes, of
| the Fourth Virginia District, after most
| exciting debate, lasting two entire days,
was unsoated to-day, by a Republican
| vote of Isl to a Democratic vote of 1870.
| large number of Republicans-some twen-
| ty in all-purposely absented themselves,
| and refused TO vote. Notable among
those were Judge McCaul. of Massachu-
setts who was chairman of Elections
| Committee No. in the Fifty-fourth Con-
| gress; Jenkins. Of Indiana, and Babcock,
| Of Wisconsin, chairman of the Congress
| sional Campaign Committee. one Repub-
| lican remarked after the vote was taken:
"The unseating of Mr.. Epes is gross
outrage, and l feel ashamed of myself
for not having the courage to say so on
the floor"
Numbers OF others expressed them
selves in a similar manner, and many ad-
NIT that If it had not been for personal
who was on the floor, Mr.. Epes would
have retained his seat. When the first
vote was taken II was only carried by
five Republican majority, and these were
secured by Reed, who went from desk TO
desk. and had runners out to bring in all
the absent Republicans. There was only
one roll-call, and when il was found there
were so many Republican absentees the
call was slowly made, and messengers
were sent out to bring in those absent.
Then the names of the absentees were
called over twenty-one, who had been In
the House, failing 10 respond. On the
other hand, all of the Democrats and
Populists voted for Epes, many of them
leaving sick-beds for that purpose.
Mr. Epes has been a good representa-
tive, and has made an enyiable record IN
the House. He has the best wishes of all
his party associates, all the Populists, and
large number of the Republicans. He
will, of course, be renOminated and re-
elected and it is safe to say that he will
hold the seat from the Fourth District IN
the next Congress.
HAYS ARGUMENT.
Representative Hay has been warmly
congratulated on the splendid effort he
made in behalf of the contestee. 1t was
q mastery and forceful argument, full of
unanswerable facts and figures-numbers
of the Republicans, who are under the
lash Of the Speaker. leaving their seats
rather than be convinced of the honesty
and fairness OF Epes's election, in view OF
the partisan vote they had to cast. Mr..
Epes will have 5000 copies of this speech
printed for circulation in his district.
In concluding his speech. Thorp said:
"Why, gentlemen, they say 1 have made
an onslaught upon Virginians. I repel
the charge. / have made an onslaught
upon a nest of thieves and a gang Of rob
bers." This attack disgusted many Of
Thorp's political associates, and aroused
the indignation OF all the Virginia MEM
bers. and other Democrats present.
Referring to Mr.. Epes. Mr. Hay said:
"He is the truly-elected representative
from the Fourth Congressional District
of Virginia. He has gone in and out
among his people for many years. He
has ever worn the white flower Of a
blameless life from his boyhood to the
present day. And if any man is deserving
the communication and honor which his
people have conferred upon him, it is
Sydney p. Epes.
"As for the State of Virginia, l can
add nothing to the eloquent tribute which
was paid to her by my distinguished
friend from Kentucky, Mr.. Rhea.
THORP'S RECORD
"But before closing, l wish to call at
tention for moment to the impossibiity
of the people Of the Fourth Congressional
District voting for and electing Mr. r.
T. Thorp."
Here quite controversy occurred be-
tween Mr.. Yost and Mr.. Hay.
81 have nothing personal to say about
MFR. Thorp." continued Mr. Hay. "but l
want to call the attention of the House
to his political status. / want to call
the attention of this House to the fact
that in 1891 r. 7. Thorp was the silver
candidate OF the Republican party for
Congress: that he ran as a silver man;
that he made canvass of his district
as a silver man; that he educated the
people of his district up TO believing that
free silver was the cure for all their ills.
.I want to call attention TO the further
fact that in 1896 he was nominated for
Congress by the silver wing Of the Re-
publican party Of the Fourth Congress
ional District of Virginia. / want 10
call attention to the fact that he was
nominated in June. and that he Continued
to hold his silver views until the 10th of
August. Then it was that by some shuf-
Ae or deal. /, know not what, he was
induced 20 become the advocate of the |
gold standard, and Mr.. Gee. who had |
been nominated by the Republican party. |
as their candidate for Congress. with |
drew.
NO WHITE MAN FOR THORP.
81 want to call attention 10 the fact |
that not a single white Republican Of the |
Fourth Congressional District opened |
his mouth for r. 7. Thorp in that can |
vass that one end of IL to the other. |
Where was Colonel Brady, the present |
Of TntorpaI pevapup xyh lived \