The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-26
HOUSE UNSEATSRHEA
MOSS SEATED By r. kPUBLIcAN MA
JORITY, BUT NUMBERS Do
NoISVoTE
BITTER WORKS IN DEBATE
KentucEfan Who Loses ONCE Bitter
in Denuncfation Of Contestant
and Eloquent in UphOIding
Name of His State.

WASHINGTON. March 25.-The house
today by a majority of ten, unseated Mr.
Rhea, of Kentucky, Democrat, and seat
ed in his place J. Mckenzie Moss, who was
formerly a Democrat but who, accord
ing to his brief, is in accord with the Re
publican party on the dominant issues.
The Republican majority in the house is
forty-three. While only two Republicans,
Hanbury and Vreeland, of New York,
voted with the Democrats, enough Re
publicans remained away or declined to
vote to reduce the majority to ten.
The conclusion of the debate on the case
was rather spirited, Mr.. Rhea making an
eloquent defense Of his right to the seat.
The house Mr.. Rhea said was asked
to vote that the state of Kentucky had
set its seal upon a lie
I stand for Kentucky" he continued,
for her manhood, for the honesty of her
voters and the purity Of her women ana
not for the presidency OF these United
States could l be induced to befoul the
state which honored me with an election
to this body
Just before Mr. Rhea concluded. he made
a severe arraignment of Mr.. Moss the
contestant, charging that although he now
called himself a Republican, that two
weeks before the election he had regis
tered as Democrat and had pledged him
self if elected to go into the Democratic
caucus With imprisoned words he chal-
lenged the contestant or his friends to
deny this statement.
If it is denied said he, II will prove
him to be the poor. miserable creature
L know him to be-
Mr.. Mann Rep. ILL., who was in
charge Of the case, called Mr.. Rhea to
order for his language, but subsequently
withdrew his point of order, and soon af-
terward Mr.. Rhea concluded. He pro-
claimed his adherence to the principles of
the Democratic party, and said he would
not indulge in cringing appeal TO the
other side for mercy.
Il do not want to violate your sense OF
duty" said he, addressing the Republic
an side. If it is your judgment that l
was not rightfully elected to this seat.
vote against me, but if, as honest men,
you do not believe that the election OF
the contestant has been established by
PROOF, l ask you to rise above party and
declare your Judgment by your vote"
Mr.. Rhea was warmly congratulated by
his party associates when ne took his
seat. Mr.. Gaines (Rep, w Va), fol-
lowed with a forty minute speech in sup
port or the claims Of the contestant Re
plying to Mr.. Rhea's attack on Mr. Moss
politics, Mr.. Gaines said the, committee
which reported against the contesree did
not care whether the contestant was a
Republican or a Democrat The debate on
the case was closed by Mr. Mann with a
strong appeal in favor of the claims of
the contestant to the seat
In the course of his remarks, Mr. Mann
took occasion to declare that Mr.. Fox.
of Mississippi had misled the house. His
statement drew a denial from Mr. Fox.
SO indignant and so often repeated that
the speaker was obliged to call him to
order. At the conclusion of. Mr.. Mann
speech the vote was taken on the substi-
tute resolution offered by the minority
which declared that Mr.. Rhea was en-
titled to remain in his seat. The resoIu-
ton was lost 127 to 1877.