Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-10-18
THERE WAS FRAUD.

We frequently hear of Democrats re-
marking and see Democratic papers as
serliug that if w. +. Rhea receives the
count at the coming Congressional elec'
ton, the Republicans of the Ninth Dis
trict will charge that the count was &c.
cured by fraud. Of course they will, and
why not? There can be no denial Of the
fact that with fair election and honest
count this district is largely Republican.
For this very reason w. +. Rhea was
chosen two years ago, and has been &C.
lected again, this year, as the Democratic
candidate for Congress. 1t was on ac-
count of his superior qualifications for
working the machine and his indiffer-
ence to honest political methods that his
party looked TO him as a leader. In the
election of 1898 the most fragrant frauds
were committed in this district. Many
of them were detected, bat there were
huudreds, perhaps thousands, that es-
capped detection the election law being a
safe for lGcatiUn for their concealmelt.
Do you ask where frauds were committed
If you are honest and want to know, We
Will specify and particulalize, go that you
cannot doubt, if you wish to know the
truth.
We will begin at Bristol, the home pre-
cinct Of w. F. Rhes. Preparatory to un.
hu,ited fraud on election day, the regis.
trar at that precinct, who was one of
Rhea's intimate friends and managers,
registered voters who were not qualified
or entitled to register by reason of age,
nun.iesidence and other dsquali6cations.
1t Was proven in the contested election
case of Walker W.. Rhea that fifty persons,
residents Of Bristol, Tennessee, were ile-
gally registered on the Virginia side, and
voted for Rhea. 1t was proven that seven
persons who did not reside at Bristol, Va,
or Bris' o., Tenn, were illegally registered
and voted illegally for Rhea. 1t was fur
ther proven that eleven men who were
not at Bristol on election day were re-
corded on the poll books as having voted.
Of course they we've voted by substitutes
furnished by Rhea's managers. IT was
proven that four dead men were voted by
substitutes furnished by Rhea's friends.
1t was also proven that three residents of
Bristol whose names appeared on the poll
books as having voted, did not cote. 1t
was proven that twelve fictitious voters
were voted for Rhea at that precinct-all
of them colored-who were evidently per-
sonated by repeaters hired by Rhea's man.
ayers. These added make 81 fraudulent
votes cast for Rbea at Bristol, and many
others, no doubt, could have been proven
if time and opportunity had been afforded.
On the returns, General Walker was given
only 1879 votes; but he proved by the
dispositions and aflidavits of voters that
271 ballots were deposited for him at that
precinct Entrenched behind the ample
provisions of the Walton election law,
Rhea and bissupporters prevented full
and complete investigation of the frauds
that were practiced at Bristol.
At Estillville precinct, Scott county,
only 125 votes were returned for General
Walker. He proved by dispositions and
affidavits that 2OS votes were cast for him
at that precinct. A bar tender was i'm
ported from Bristol to mark the ballots as
a Democratic judge. The other Demo-
cratic judge in contestants brief is de-
scrlbed ss ga professional moonshiner and
q low down gambler" One of the Demo-
cratic judges was arrested upon charge
of mismarking ballots; was bailed to an.
swer the charge at future day, and was
permitted to continue to act as judge and
prepare the ballots of Republicans over
their protest.
At Pattonsvllle precinct, Scott county,
not q Republican vote was counted. The
first Republican who offered to vote asked
the Republican judge to mark his ballot,
which the said judge did. The Democrat
ic Judges refused to let the ballot go in
the ballot box, quarrel followed, the Re-
publican Judge was seriously hurt by be- |