Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-11
CHARGE WHOLESALE FRAUD.
Fiery Statement Issued from Ninth
District HcaIUuarters

District Headquarters.
BRISTOL, TENN. November 1o-(Spe-
c:ai.)-Private advices from Rich
mond received at Congressman Rhea's
headquarters to-day, are TO the effect that
the face OF the official returns will give
the Congressman a majority in the dis
trict of 30. The Republicans through
their chairman have issued a statement
charging fraud in several precincts in
Scott county, and unwarranted charges
in other counties This statement has
led TO the following, which was given
out from Democratic headquarters to-
night:
we notice the Republicans are freely
crying fraud and steal and unwilling to ad-
nit that they are guilty of anything but
honesty and purity in the election held on
November ith last. We charge and can
prove without successful contradiction
that al least a $4,000 campaign fund was
used by the Republicans and that no
conscientious scruples daunted them in
the wholesale bribery and debauchery of
the electorate of the Ninth Virginia Dis
trict. The clerk of TazewelI County Court
made certified lists of voters and sent
them 10 at least five election precincts
in Tazewell county and those lists were
not copies Of the registration books and
contained names Of parties who were not
legal voters and some who had been de-
MED registration by the leSalized Registra-
ton Board.
"At Liberty Hall precinct, In Tazewell
county. this false list of the clerk was
used by the Judges and illegal votes cast.
and as a punishment for this illegal deed,
plain. prompt, and vigorous action will
be taken against him.
I'm Russell county the Republicans at
some precincts took the ballot boxes, the
Nd al
other than the regular voting places. and
used blank pieces of paper instead of Off
ciai ballots, and late in the day came to
the regular voting place and induced the
judges locally appointed to take the ballot
boxes and finish holding the election. In
the county a prominent Republican. re-
Gently a candidate for Lieutenant Govern
or. forced open a locked door. Went into
the room where the Board of Election
commissioners had assembled to canvass
the vote of Russell county. and 1t Is
charged, confused the commissioners and
tried to have the official vote sent out
giving Campbell Slemp 100 more votes
than was east for him. This laWless act
will not be passed unnotIced.
,At one point in Scott county, after the
rolls closed, the judges were compelled to
adjourn away from the regular voting
place to count the vote, and forty or fi1tv
shots were fired for purposes OF intimda-
ton. Fraud was openly indulged in by
Republicans.
AT Gate City, those champions of fair
and honest elections the wolves in
sleeps clothing. the men who pose as
Democrats and always vote the Republl-
car ticket spent the grea ter portion or
election day inside the voting room IN
violation of law, an act OF intimidation
within itself. 1t is denied that the Demo
cratic party has or is now or Will attempt
10 steal from Campbell Slemp seat IN
Congress if he is fairly elected. but whlie
we take this stand, we do not expect TO
allow HIM to take that seat unless ne mas
secured il fairly. and unless it is the Will
If ,he people fairly and honestly expressed
hat he is elected nat all Republicans
who have attempted to rob the Democrats
Of their rights and who have openly ana
grossly violated the law will be Vigorously
punished. is here and now asserted.
What Richmond Democrats thlhk'
A great deal of interest has been mani
tested in this city in the outcome OF the
contest in the Ninth District and many
axpressions have been hearL on the SUB
iect Almost without exception puoHS
opinior comedies in the view that the
nominee should not seek tc
secure a technical title to the seat. me
from Mr.. Rhea. contained
IN the telegram printed above. sets al
lest any idea .nat an effort would pe
made by him TO reverse the verdict or the
people expressed at the polls last iues
day. Those who really knew Mr. fnea
never thought he would employ tect'hi-
cality to gain his seat. The impression
seemed to prevail that precinct returns
we're being rejected on technicalit1es In
his interest and thai he would probably !
be given the ceruncate OF election. put.
ding him in the attitude of the conrestee
with the prin1a facie right to the seat, IN |
the event that contest were made. Il