Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-04-24
The COMMITTEES
REPORT REVIEWED
The Absurd Holdings Of Committee in
Walker-Rhea Contest Pointed Out.
ELECTION METHODS DENOUNCED
But Committee Held That COnteStee Was
Duly Elected, Though He Had Sc
cured the Returns By the
Most Unfair Law.
Bristol. Va. April l5, 1902.

Bristol, Va, April 10, 1902.
To the Republicans and Independent con-
servative Democrats of the Ninth Con-
gressional District of Virginia:
The action OF the Honorable Committee
on elections in the House of Representa-
tives, deciding that Judge VIM. +. Rhea
"shoald retain HIS seat' and presenting a
formal resolution declaring him "duy
elected'', "and is entitled to a seat therein, "
is so remarkable, and lndefensble we sub
nit, when the data, criticism, charges,
arguments and suggestions herewith In
dicated are considered, that it is simple
fairness and justice to the people of this
District that the said report should be re-
viewed.
Said Committee presents the charges
made against the claim that Judge Rhea
was "duly elected" as follows:
First. That the official ballots printed
and used in several of the counties were
SO complicated and unfair that 1t was very
difficult, if not impossible, for voters to
read, mark, and prepare them within the
time of two and one-half minutes allowed
by law for that purpose; that many Of the
electors who intended and tried TO Vote
for contestant were dlsfranchlsed by
reason of said unfair ballots, and that such
ballots were so arranged and printed by
the political friends of contestee with
fraudulent intent. and were calculated to
deceive and mislead
Second. That contestec's majority over
contestant of l,75l, while Nc kinleys
majority over Bryan was 500, while con
elusive proof that the returns on their face
were not an honest expression of the Will
of the voters at thai election and that the
contestant was defrauded and cheated.
Third. That the electoral boards an
other election officers were guilty OF fraud
and dishonest practices in the interest OF
centestee, which accomplished contestant s
apparent defeat.
The said Committee decided in favor of
Judge Rbea's contention that he was
"duly elected, because:
LIST. They do not find such "'Gdamot'ce
and posjtcrc ccidence Of .traod or mistakes
on the Part Of the election officers as Will
overcome conteetee's certified majority or
Justify It in setting aside the election, "
2nd. 1T is not convinced that those
unfair h,.llols we're the result Of rommon
purpose ur emanated from common
source; etc.
3rd. at is not disposed to predicate
its judgment on suspicion, etc. etc.
Now let us consider the Committees
further findings, and see how said "dnly
elected" conclusions appear alongside
Herewith: to. Sit:
Ist. Ii Gays: "While the LITTER of the
statute may have been complied onth, several
of the ballots, notably in Scott County,
illegal, were cery Unfair. No regard for
orCler was obserced in the form Of the 'SAi
lot or the infringement q mat matter
Names appear in unexpected and UNLOCKED
for position. They were necessarily mis-
leading and confusing. An electo
of ordinary intelligence and education
would find it difficult 10 examine
mark and prepare that ballot, in th'
legal time. Those official ballots could
and should have been uniform and 81
arranged and printed as to assist rathe
than confuse"
2nd 1t says: IF the object in preparln
them were not to lake unfair advantag
then the printers and members Of tn
electoral boards who supervised the wor
were guilty of gross negligence or inconl
potency"
3rd. 1t says: COMMITTEE does nc
wish TO conclude this report wlthOr
expressing its disappaoval of a law whic
makes cheating and corruption possible
even easy, and invites and facilitates frau
at the polls.
4th. The Virginia G Institution provide
"That all citizens of the State are hereb
declared to possess equal civil and po
itical rights aud public privileges" an
vet the said Committee says "Eector
Boards are allinvarably members OF to
dominant party, and 'are vested wit
large and discretionary powers, and
their secret conferences they have absolu'
power, know all about the ballot. supe
wise the printing, and examine, coun
and afix the seal, and the law by penalIi'
enforces absolute secrecy from tie vote
until he enters the "booth" and the ma
who understands the ballot is "markt
of the dominant party, and the Con
mittee says:
Therefore YOU may have, under the Law
all the election officers members OF III
same party surrounding the table whe
the elector comes in and Is Offered one
those Scott County ballots and given tN
and a half minutes in which to read, mari
fold and prepare il. lie has never see
II or had a description of it, for the IN
nartino of such Information would be
criminal oiiense. He knows nothn
about its form or appearance or II
arrangement Of tie names. For an II
teligent mau TO prepare and vote tn;
ballot. with reasonable certainty that Il
has not made some mistake. IN tt
allotted time is a practical iuIpossiOiht.
But many citizens can neither read nc
write. Such an unfortunate eector pu
himself and his suffrage into tie hands
the marker, for he and the marker al
alone in the booth. The opportunity
cheat is there; the temptation IS presen
and to say that the MAJ ker does not ylel
10 such temptation requires large amout
of charity for poor human nature, whie
is about the same in VI glnla as elsewhere
9th. and now give attention to TIN
conc!usion: 1.-The judges promptly decid
all disputes as to precedence of the ele
tors in their struggle to vote, no sma
..... L., O lnrotn ,,re1inct with only OF