Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-10-03
Judge Rhea and CoIone
Selmp Meet at Wise.

were advertised all over the county
and every effort was made by the Re
publicans to drum up a crowd, this
being Col Slemp's home county, and
yet it is the universal opinion that there
was the smallest crowd that has been
here at court for years. At one time
it was thought that no speaking
would be had as the crowd WAS 80
small
1t was alarming to the small number
of Republicans, as Wise Court House
is situated right in the midst OF an over
whelming majority Of Republicans.
Judge Rhea challenged Col Slemp
for joint discussion, but the Colonel
declining saying his committee would
not allow him. The Republicans claim
ell the court house, and the Democrats
insisted upon an equitable division of
the time, but the Republicans would
only concede Judge Rhea thirty minu-
ties. and they took the balance Of the
day.
Judge Rhea devoted his short time
TO brief resume OF his course I'm Con-
gress, and the trusts and the Phillip
pine policy. He spoke in the most
complimentary terms of his opponent,
Col. Slemp, and said he had been TO
good Il friend Of his in his former cam
paigns for him to say aught against
him; that i'm his hot fights against
General Walker, both i'm his election
and in his contest i'm Congress. Col.
Slemp always came 10 his relief and
that right generously He further said
that the Colonel had now gone back To
the Republicans whom he had fougth
in two campaigns, not in sack cloth and
ashes and willing to do pennance for a
while for his disloyalty, but that he
demanded that he should be made
chief ruler i'm the synagogue, and that
the old guard who had so nObly fought
General Walker, while Slemp was
lighting against him, should now sur
render and send him 10 Congress from
which place he so nobly fought to
exclude General Walker, and now that
Slemp was in the saddle with whip in
hand, cracking it over the Old Guard
demanding that they should fall in line
under his disloyal flag. Win they do
it? That is the question:
When Judge Rhea concluded he re-
tired from the court house in pursu-
ance OF an agreement which he had
made, but the Republicans speakers i'm
gross violation of the agreement re-
manned in the court house while Judge
Rhea was speaking and took full notes
OF his speech and undertook TO reply to
him. This conduct greatly incensed
the Democrats and Disguised many
Republicans.
l. L. Summers, of Abingdon, follow
ed Judge Rhea in IA speech Of billings
gate and such stuff as might be expect
ed to come from Philadelphia ward
heeler.
j. c. Noel, Of Lee County, followed
Summers, and then the "Black Screa-
mer from Eagles Valley" with about
fifteen Of his little Eaglets, including the
two from Washington and Lee snugly
ensconced under his wing, took the
stand for about fifteen minutes. Thus
ended the chilly Republican frost in
Wise. So mote it be elsewhere.
The Democrats in this county are
thoroughly aroused, the registration is
proceeding splendidly and you will
hear something drop" in Wise on the
4th day OF next November.
Democrats, go to work. Get every
man upon the registration books. If
you do not register you cannot vote.
One OF the most pitiable incidents of
today's speaking was when Summers
undertook to pay a tribute to General
Walker. While he was at it Col.
Slemp shrugged his shoulders and
dropped his head upon his breast and
showed that he was restless and I'M
easy.
But while this was going on, it pass
ed through the minds OF many men
what ''Bill Eads" so wisely remarked in
the last issue of the Wise News as fol-
flows:
''Guss Burdder Blankenship can take
the little gun with which Bill Hamilton
was punctured and climbing to the top
OF big chinquepin bush stand off, the
the ghost OF General Walker until the
Eagle and his Eaglets get out of i'm
mediate danger"
They say here that w. S. Poage, OF
Wytheville, nominated Col. SIemp in
the Abingdon convention, and that he
is nephew Of General Walker. Yes.