The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-03-26
.RHEk LOSES HIS
SEAT IN HOUSE
Moss, the Contestant. Is Neither
a Democrat Nor Republican.
He FAV0RS PARTY IN POWER
A NUMBER OF CoNGREssMEN
DECLINED TO VOTE.

1TTAsHINGT0N, March 25.-The
W house today, by q majority OF
ten, unseated Mr.. Rhea OF Ken
lucky, a Democrat. and seated ia his
place J. Mckenzie Moss, who was for
merry a Democrat. but who. according
to his brief. is in accord with the Re
publican party on the dominant issues.
The Republican majo ity in the house
is fOrty-three.
While only two Republicans, Han
bury and Vreeland Of New York, voted
with the Democrats, enough Republi-
cans declined to vote to reduce the ma
jority 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. After the vote
the house began consideration of the
army appropriation biz with the under
standing that general debate should
continue for ten minutes.
Just before Mr.. Rhea concluded, he
made a severe arraignment Of Mr..
Moss, the contestant, charging that,
although he now called himself a Re
publican. two weeks before the election
he had registered as . Democrat and
had pledged himself, Il elected, to go
into the Democratic caucus. With inn
passioned words he challenged the con-
testant or his friends to deny this
statement.
IF it is denied" said he, L viii
prove him to be the poor, miserable
creature 1 know him TO be-"
Mr.. Mann (Rep., Ills.), who was in
charge Of the case, called Mr.. Rhea to
order for this language, but subse-
quently Withdrew his point Of order
and soon afterward Mr.. Rhea cOnclud-
ed.
IN doing so, he proclaimed his adher-
ence to the principles Of the Democrat
ic party. and said he would not indulge
in Cringing appeal to the other side
for mercy.
L do not want you TO violate your
sense of duty" said he, addressing the
Republican side IF it is your judg-
inert that I was not rightfully elected
to ibis seat, vote against me; but if
as honest men, you do not believe that
the election OF the contestant has been
esta bished, 1 ask you TO rise above
party and declare your Judgment by
your vote
Mr.. Rhea was warmly congratulated
by his party as he took his seat. Mr..
Gaines (Rep., ". Va followed with a
forty minute speech in support of the
claims of the contestant. Replying to
Mr. Rhea's attack on Mr. Moss pol
itics, Mr.. Gaines said the committee
which reported against the cOntestee
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's speech the vote was
taken on the sub-resOlUtiOn offered by
the minority, which declared that Mr..
Rhea was entitled to retain his seat.
The resolution was lost, f27 to 137.
Mr.. HanbuTy Of New York was the
only Republican who voted for the
resolution. A number Of Republicans
| did not vote This reduced the Repub-
1 lican majority from forty three to ten
The resolution declaring Mr.. Moss en-
titled to the seat was then adopted
/ without division, the demand for a roll
call being withdrawn at tie demand Of
/ Mr. Rhea. There was a round of APP
/ plause from the Republican side as
| Mr.. Moss came forward to take the
/ oath. which was met with Kisses from
/ the Democratic side.