Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-23
THORP- EPES CASE.
Il is Taken Up, Contrary 10
Expectation.
GEN. WALKER BERATES HTS STATE.
De ABUSES The Law Under Which He
Was Himself Elected.
EPEs PROBABLY TO HOLD HIS SEAT
SO IL is Generally BeIieved-His re-
cord Fine One-NcKinIey's Wis
"om In Retaining Lee-yorth Caro-
lima Notes.

ciai)-Contrary to expectation, the con.
'eS'eo-eiection case of Thorp VS.. Epes
was taken up in the House to-day. II
was thought that the naval ammonia
tioh Dill would have precedence. but
General James A. Walker, chairman of
hiections Committee No. 3, succeeded i'm
bringing the Fourth District, Virginia,
contest to the front. On account of the
popularity of Representative Epes. the
anticipated arguments in the case at
uacted quite gathering in the galle-
TICS through the strategy of the mi
horlty' the consideration of the contest
mas been frequently postponed, and it
was only partially heard in the House
TO-DAY.
Inc debate was opened by General
james "A. Walker, who consumed over
an hour in berating his State and peo
PIE ana In trumping up charges of fraud
ana intimidation. The Virginia election
methods under the operation of which
General Walker himself holds a seat in
0ohsress' came in for a TRADE of abuse
Inc General, when pressed TO the wall
| openly charged that frauds of the grossest
character had been perpetrated i'm his
| own district and by his own neighbors
IN spite of which he came to Congress
his speech on the whole was a failure
~ was rambling and disconnected and
nlaue apparently no impression, even
among the Republicans.
'uuse Mlers, of Indiana, the Democratic |
iheihper or the committee. who filed the |
minority report, made a clear and aIabo- |
late argument sustaining that report. He |
cdlleu the attention of the House In |
the pohtlcal record of General Walker
ana denounced in cathing terms his
apostacy to the Democratic party. and
ms ADVENT into the Republican partv. be-
cause OF political disappointments.
me opinion was very general that be-
.o,.t an impartial tribunal the minority
report would undoubtedly be sustained
EPES WILL RETAIN HIS SEAT
NO one here believes that Representa-
tive Epes will be unseated. but - he a..
1t can be truly said of his career in Con,
Sress that. he and his constituents can
we" IL with no little degree of satisfoc-
.ioh ana pride. Although hampered bv
'ic ehDdfrassmentS, worries and ey /
pense OF contest, he has labored faith
1ully FOR his people and his State. If il
Should come to the worst Mr. Epes will
49, inc house with the sincere regret
OF ms own party, by every member of
which he is esteemed and resnectad Tba
undivided opinion is that his zeal ana
energy richly merit the plaudit Gwen
zone, thou good and faithful servant -
vi course, In the event Of his being nm
seated, ne will have a unanimous renom-
NATION and an increased majority AT tho
polls next fall 90 '''e
The argument I'm the contest will bo
concluded tomorrow, by Representatives
James Hay, Of Virginia. and John r.
thea, or Kentucky. for the minority ana
fitzpatrick, of Pennsylvania, for the ma
ority. '''' I
MKINBEY AND LEE.
When assured to-day by prominent
southern Republican official, who had iust | =
eturned to the city from a brief visit IN /,
lis home in North Carolina that the
'atriotc, conservative sentiment i'm North r.
,arolina, without regard to party or a
ectional lines, approved his policy in a.
rs treatment Of the Cuban question. d
resident Mckinley quickly and feel II
ngly replied: Eyes, / am sure of the ST
outh In this emergency, and l now APP e
reclate more than ever the wisdom of ir
eeping General Lee at Habana. His n,
curse there not only appeals TO the pride ~
nd patriotism OF the southern people Y,
ut TO the people of the whole nation" n,
Yes, observed the Republican official m
uoted, the one act Of your administra- of
on in retaining General Lee as Consul tr
eneral at Habana under the circurn-
ances, has done more 10 unity this q,
)untry and destroy secuOnalism .han | hi
1erything else put together The recog- M
tion of the distinguished southern fight ne
: i'm the late war as the American repre-
ntative in the crisis that now cOnfronts
he peace and honor Of the nation Is ac-
pied an earnest of the unifcation 90
our common country. You will find ~
lie South ready and eager to vindicate
e nations honor" :
NORTH CAROLINIAN. Ia
Senator Pritchard has decided to re- dr.
mmend the appointment Of c. +. Bailey IN,
r postmaster at Raleigh The charges wa
ferred TO yesterday have been with :
avn, or will not be pressed Colone. Ia
offer and ex-COngressman Nichols the / !
posing candidates, leave for home to- mi
PROV, and with this the opposition to S
iley's appointment will be dropped To
r. Nichols, it is understood, will be a Bli
ndidate for the congressional nomina- 7
n in the Raleigh District this year ID
The testimony before the Senate Judi sec
ry Committee i'm the Ewart case to- f
Y was i'm refutation of statements pre- WI
,usly made i'm the course of the inves- JuC
alton, and in explanation of apparently lac
ltradictory evidence. Contrary to the
indicated a day or two ago. Kit
is now believed that the investigation and
| soon end, and that the report of the Tin
will be adverse TO Judge 81