The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-13
DENIES FRAUD CHARGES
Representative Rhea's Reply 10
Walkers Notice of Contest.
The Member From Virginia Takes
the Last Campaign Some of the
Causes of His UnpopuIarity in
the Ninth Congregational District.

Representative Rhea OF the Ninth Con-
gressional District of Wig mia replied
yesterday to the notice of con, est secveI
by Gen. James A. Walker, his oppoD ent
fer a seat in the Fifty-seventh C.ng9oss
General Walker also contested JLdge
Rheas seat in the present Congress, but
Elections Committee No. l of the House
reported unanimously in favor of Judge
Rhea. In his answer to GeneIa al Walkers
notice Of contest Judge Rhea says in part:
Il note that clauses from TO "A in,lu-
sive of your preliminary notice are takel
literally from your notice of contest Tor
my seat in the Fifty-sixth Congress of the
United States. You are thus simply re-
peating your imaginary charges Of the
fraud alleged TO have been committed in
my election two years ago.
1T is not true that the official ballots
printed and used in each county in the
district in said election bear upon tn ir
face conclusive evidence of fraud, or that
the ballots were designed by the electoral
boards to confuse or mislead voters, tr TO
prevent them from preparing their ballo,s
without the assistance of a marker to as
sist those who were unable to prepare
their own ballots. But if it were true
that the ballots were difficult to lie
voted, / allege and will prove that more
injury resulted to myself than to you.
Il do not know what kind of ballots
were used in any OF the counties of thu
district, but / deny that any of said bal
lots were either fraudulent or lie gal, or
that you lost any votes by reason OF the
character of any Of said ballots.
Il charge and will prove that the larg-
est vote WAS returned that was ever polled
In the Ninth Congressional District, there
being $3.50 votes returned. In 1896 the
total Congressional vote polled was 1917,
and the total Presidential vote IN 1896 was
less. II 1883 the total Congressional vote
polied was 1888. 1t will thus be seen. as
stated above, that the largest vote ever
polled in the district was returned at the
election held November 6, 1860, and that
President Mckinley received more votes
in the district al that election than ne nd
at the election in 1896.
i charge and will prove that fewer
votes were thrown out because improperly
married than ever before in the district.
herewith file a statement showing the to-
tai Congressional vote and the total Presi-
Dental vote cast November G. 1900. 1t
wall thus be seen that while President Nc
Knley carried the district by 1,5G0 ma
Jority, you lest it by 1.751, and that you
ran over LOO votes behind the Republican
candidate for President. II can thus he
seen how strong the opposition was to
you in your party. In addition to what
the vote itself shows, | charge and will
prove that your course while in Congress
and your official and personal conduct
generally has been so viDdictive and ty-
rannical- toward men of your own PARTY.
as well as the Democracy OF the district.
that it alienated from you hundreds of
old-line Republicans, many of whom had
beer the most trusted leaders all sup
porters of the Republican larty for a
long number of years, and arrayed against
you more active opposition upon the part
OF the Democracy of the district
There are other causes which led to
your increasing unpopularity in the els
trict. few Of which l will here specify: &
First-For many years after The r'yil
war you were SO bitter and abusive toward
any man who was a Republican that you
made hundreds of personal and political
enemies.
'second-During all this time you were
SO violently denouncing Republicans you
were most incessant oificeseeKer and
held office at the hands of the Democratic
party until the Democrats would no
longer give you office, and you have since
been the most violent denunciator Of your
former friends.
Ihird-ln 1894 you were nominated for
Congress upon a free silver platform and
in 1896 you went as a delegate to the ST.
Louis Convention and voted for the Teller
substitute for free silver, and when this
was defeated you were Immediately con-
YER tod IN ha
Congress upon the gold standard platform.
'Fourth-In the Fifty-fifth Congress you
were so intclerant and vindiciive toward
the people of Virginia and the South gen
orally that even your Republican con-
stituents were disgusted with your con-
duct In addition to this. you were a YER
liable 'frebraHd in the Republican party
OF your District and State, as you had
heretofore been in the Democratic marty.
'-Fiftb-When you were defeated for
election 10 the Fifty-sixth Congress. in
stead Of submitting to the honest verdict
OF the people at the polls. you sought by
unfounded charges to reverse their de-
eision and appealed to Congress TO elect
you as member Of Congress from the
Ninth district
"Sixth-When the Elections Committee
decided that you were not elected, and
that ] was entitled to hold my seat, you
went home and instead OF gracefully sub
hitting TO the verdict Of the people at the
polls and as confirmed by the Elections
Committee, you again. by convention
composed almost entirely of Federal Of
feeholders. forced your denomination upon
the unwilling Republicans OF tie district
Seyenth-In addition to the foregoing
ION account of which l charge and will
prove that you lost hundreds of Repub-
lican votes that were cast for President
Mckinley / charge and will prove that
many Republicans were driven in disgust
from your support because of the SANDER
Gus charges publicly and privately made
by lou, and also made by many of your
close personal and political friends. 10 the
effect that distinguished members OF
Elections Committee No. ! in the Fifty
sixth Congress were influenced by i'm
proper motives and induced by bribery to
decide that I was entitled to hold my seat
in the Fitty-siXth Congress"
MO pTuTD AMI rnDDoD nr