The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-06-21
A Compliment 10 Rhea.

Two notable election contests were lett
unsettled when the house adjourned last
Thursday, and echoes Of them will IN
doubtedly he heard in the efforts OF the
contestees for reelection. One Of the
contests affects Representative Ballamy,
of Wilmington, N. c., and the other Rep
resentaiive Rbea, Of Bristol, Va. No Tor
NAL action on Judge Rbea's case was re-
ported TO the house, but the committee
had reported in his favor, seven to two,
and there is no doubt whatever that IL will
be disposed of in short order at the next
session. representative Burkett, OF Ne
braska, republican, and Representative
Bartlett, Of Georgia, democrat, were dele
gated to write the report in Judge Rheas
favor. The decision Of the committee
came so late in the session, however, that
there was not time to prepare the reports,
which must lie done before final vote can
10 taken in the house.
The hottest congressional battle in Vir-
ginia will assuredly be in the Ninth dis
trict, where Judge Rhes will again be the
democratic candidate. He will he re-
nominated at Pearisburg, Va, July 1S,
and there will be no opposition to him
within his own party. His course in con-
gress has been revelation to his constit-
uents, and has added immensely TO his
popularity He is the second Virginia
democrat in recent times who has been
able to win out in an election contest.
Representative Swanson defended himself
from being unseated in the last congress,
and has leaped into sufficient favor with
Nirginians TO lie a leading gubernatOrial
candidate
Judge Rhea, however, had different for
ces 10 contend with in his contest. There
was prevailing sentiment in congress ia
voring Gen. James A. Walker, and the be-
lief was that Judge Rhea would lie one of
the first democrats to be uhseated. He
went about defending the contest General
Walker brought against him with an in
domitablc will. He prepared his own
brief, which is said to he one Of the best
and most convincing offered in any cleo
ton contest of recent times, and from
start TO finish was his own lawyer. Before
the election committee he spoke for thir-
teen and half hours, and made what
Judge Linncy who, as a member of the
cammittee, was opposed to him, declared
to be the best argument he had ever
heard. That argument and his gentleman
ly bearing went long way toward win
ming for Judge Rhea.
lie went about the contest in very
systematic manner, aud was preparing to
defend his rights in Il very methodical
fashion on the floor, which, had it been
necessary, would have won him his seat
The fact that contest was hanging over
his head prccludcd that he should take
any part in the house proceedings. Much
is expected of Judge Rhea, however, here
after by his democratic colleagues, who
believe that he will come TO the front rap
idly. He is n young man, only thirty
nine years old, and possesses shrewdness
and ability in political and business mat
ters. In his election contest he had re-
publican employees as well as republican
members oflhe house, working in his ia
vor. Although he knew for two or three |
weeks that the decision Of the committee |
was in his favor, he carefully prevented |
this fact from becoming public property, |
lest the republican leaders should take
warning and seek TO undo the favorable
decision.
Judge Rhea has been elected by the Vir-
ginia delegation of democrats as their
representative on the congressional COM
mittee. He will go into the campaign
confident of having a majority Of the vot-
ers of the Ninth district. 1t is not known
whether Gen. Walker will again be a can
didate, but it is certain that the republic
cans will make a warm campaign against
him. Judge Rhea lad a majority of al
most 800 votes two years ago IdShing-
ton Post.