Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-07


sand dollars spent to defeat ne.'-state'
ment of Congressman William F. Rhea
wired to the Dispatch last night from BEis.
/ toll.
! The information contained in this brief
1 message had already been Indicated in
| telegram from Wythevilre. stating that
| two precincts-onc returning a large Re-
! publican majority. the other a small De
mocratic ma ajorty-had been rejected
under the terms of the State election
law These would make a considerable
/ net gain for MIR. Rhea.
| little later information came from
| Scott county OF the discovery by the
! official canvasscrs that the reported re-
! turns from Scott county were incorrect.
and that instead of that county giving
| majority of iifty-Iline for Colonel Slemp,
II in reality gave Mr.. Rhea majority OF
| ninety-seven. u difference and net gain
! for Mr. Rhea of 1856 compared with the
returns as at first telephoned.
| Vote in Scott County.
| Here is the statement of the case as
| wired the Dispatch by its correspondent
| at Gate City:
! 1.-The official canvass made to-day gives
Judge Rhea majority in Scott county
of ninety-seven. The vote stands: Rhea,
! 1883; Slemp. 1882. The first reports re-
ceived by telephone were incorrect max
/ ing 1t appear that Sienlp had carried the
! county by fifty-nine.
j In Wythe county the two precincts
thrown out would give Mr.. Rhea net
F; gain of seventy-six, which, added to the
! gain Of 156 over the first reports from
! Scott county, make a total net gam Tor
! the Democratic candidate of 232 The
oil fIrrt
! election by majority of twenty-five is
| now claimed. That would indicate that
! Colonel Slemp's apparent majority was
| but 2oI.
Wythc County Change.
Here is the telegram to the Dispatch
from Wytheville showing how the change
| in Wythe county's returns was made ana
| why:
commissioners of election completed
| the canvass of election returns in this
county late this afternoon, throwing out
| two precincts-Pa ttison, which save
| Slemp Republican 1o9 majority, and
| AuStinville. which gave Rhea Q3emo-
! era y SO ma ajority. Pattison Precinct was
! thrown out because the returns were not
sealed; were sent through the mails, and
| received a day late Austnville, because
| the returns We're day late This gives
the county: officially, to Judge Rhea by
| twenty-siX. where the semi-ofticial re-
| turns gave it to Colonel Slemp by fifty.
! REPORTS in Wytheville late this eve
| ming from other sections Of the Ninth
| District indicate Rheas election by a
/ small majority. a telephone message
from judge Rhea places his majority at
twenty-five
An OfnciaI Statement.
Later in the evening the following tels
| gram was received by the Dispatch from
| its Bristol correspondent:
AT Democratic headquarters here, the
| election of Slemp to Congress from the
| Ninth District is not conceded, and the
! following statement was handed out for
/ the press tonight:
Later official returns cut down the
estimated majority claimed for Slemp.
and his claim of certain election is not
sustained by official returns.
We have never conceded Rhea's de
1 feat but claim that he is elected by
small majority.
The Republican leaders state, on re-
liable information. that the clerks of
several counties favor them, and that
they have held up the returns in some
!, counties and they will make the majori-
| ties large enough TO elect Slemp.
The Democrats are confident and
| rely upon official reports only
| Chairman Stuart F. Lindsey, of the
! Republican Committee, issued a state
| ment tonight that runs counter to the
| above, in which he insists that Slemp is
| unduestionaby elected. The returns Will
probably be canvassed tomorrow
| Comes RS Surprise.
| The receipt OF this information revers-
| ing the apparent result in the district
| came as surprise TO local politics. Pre-
! Stunning that the contention of the Demo-
J cratic candidate can be sustained in every
| particular the impression is general thaf
| a Republican majority in the House
| would probably unseat Mr.. Rhea if he is
| given the certificate by so small plu-
| rality and on q technicality. There is
| desire on all sides to see absolute justice
| done, let it help or hurt whom ii may.
| Among Democrats, and particularly
! among those who know Mr.. Rhea, there
/ is a hope that justice may give him the
| seat for which he has made a plucky
| battle.
| WYTHEVJLLE, VA, November 6
| lSpecial.)-The commissioners Of election
| completed their canvass of election re-
! turns in this county late this afternoon.
! throwing cut two precinctS-PatterSon
! which gave Slemp 109 majority, and Aus
! tinville. which gave Rhea SO majority.
| Patterson precinct was thrown out be-
| cause the returns We're not sealed and
were sent through the mails and received
! a day late: Austinville, because the re-
| turns were a day late. This gives the
| county officially to Judge Rhea by twen-
ty-siX whereas the Semi-ofticial returns
| gave it to Colonel Slemp by fifty.
Reports in WytheviIle late this after
I noon from other sections of the Ninth
| District indicate Judge Rhea's election by