The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-08

nies that he hired or bribed Harris to
be- candidate for Congress, but says
that Harris bOlted the Republican
party because of the vindictive.
outrageous, and insulting treatment"
received from Gen. Walker. He says
thst ell tie polls were opened at sun.
r SO aud closed at sunset, and insists
that if there was any manipulation Of
the btllots it vas in Gen. Walkers 5
favor.
After denying totally and specifically
every allegation made by Gen.
Walker. Judge Rhea INDUCES in
some counter charges. He says that
Walker WAS elected in 1894 ID 1896
10y the use Of enormous corruption
funds the corruption and bribery
OF election ofli ,ers, and " many other
criminal aud illegal practices"
Judge Rhea then says
NUMEROUS COUNTER.CHARGEs.
| charge and will prove that your
coui So since yOu have been in Con
gtess, and your Cflicisl conduct gem
orally, has been so vindctlve and
tyrannical toward men OF your own
party, RS well of the Democracy of
the district, that it alenated from
you hundreds of old-line Republicans,
many of whom had been the most
trusted leaders and supporters of the
Republican party for long number
# years, aGd arrayed against you a
more active opposition upon the part
of the Democracy of the district.
The corruption fund, according to
Judge Rhea, amounted to $50. G00
The p0stmasters appointed upon
Walkers recommendation conduct
ed themselves in the most outrageous
and partisan manner : were assess
ed for the corruption fund and
threatened with removal if they did
not contribute, and changed the ad
dresses upon mail so that the Demo
Gratis 10 whom it was sent failed TO
receive it. Federal otiice-hOiders are
aid to have used money and ardent
spirits to brlbs voters 10 vote the
Republican ticket to have " cor
ruptly used their official position and
influence" and to have promised to
dismiss prosecutions and otherwise TO
shield and protect parties who had
violated the law, 10 return for which
these parties were to vote the Repub
lican ticket.
Judge REea charges that Walkers
violent and incendiary speeches en-.
coursged his partisan supporters to
violate the law and commit intlmlda'
ton, thus causing riot and blood
she'd" Walker allegations against
Stone are emphatieally denied, aud
it is said that the registration books
were not concealed. Judge Rh, a
says that he received more than one
half of the substantial Republican
vote of Bristol, aad more than one
half of the colored vote in that city,
because the voters were his personal
friends. and because Walkers pub
lie record and official conduct had
become exceedingly obnoxious to
them, and because of the vindictive
and unscrupulous conduct . of some
of Walkers supporters.
In conclusion, Judge Rhoa devotes
very large number of printed pages
to details of every precinct, denying,
on the other hand, all of Walkers
charges, and alleging that if it had
not been for 81 900 sent to Lee cOun-
ty and SO 600 TO Tazewell, the liberal
use of money and whiskey, the activ.
ity Of postmasters, and the frauds
and illegalities 1agrantly practiced,
the Democratic maj )rity would have
been several thousand. He psrticu-
larly emphasizes the Republican OPP
position TO Walker, which, he says,
amounted to almost a revolution, be-
cause of Walkers bad appointments
and his Shifting and obnoxious pol
ltical conduct"