Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-03-13


election. The charge, if true, survived the
contestant and could not be ignored by
the Elections Committee, reilher can 1t be
put aside by the House Of Representatives.
1t has resolved itself into contest on the
pant of certain citizens Of this district
against a man who has gotten into Con-
by the practice of the most dangerous
frauds.
The question for Elections Committee
No. to determine is whether the ballots
used in the National election of 1900 in
in the Ninth Congressional District were
honest or fraudulent. Specimens of the
official ballots that were used in Scott,
Russell, Dickinson, Washington, Pulaski,
and we believe that were used in all the
counties of the district, were filed in the
record of the contest
In view of the fact that there was not an
honest ballot furnished the voters of the
Ninth Congressional District of Virginia in
the election of 1900. we do not see how
the Elections Committee or the House Of
r. Nentalives can decide that W. F.
is the lawful representative of this
district. The "Scott County Ballot is
the most fraudulent device that was ever
used in any election in this country. We
do not see how any man claiming to be
honest will try to defend thing which If
stamped upon its face with infamy. The
most vicious human ingenuity could not
nossibly devise any more complete scheme
for cheating voters and making fraud trlum'
nhant. While the ballots u ed in the other
counties were not as unintelgible there
vas not one prepared Cor the use of the
voters in any county but that bore upon its
4 face the evidence of intended complication.
y The one used in Tazewell county was said
to have been the fairest used in the dis
trict, but it was go complicated that it was
denounced by Democrats and Republic
cans alike on the election day, and ninety
nine of every one hundred voters were
forced to call on the judges OF election to
mark their ballots. The name of w. +.
Rhea, the Democratic candidate for Con-
gress, was placed Immediately following
the Republican electoral ticket on the bal
lots used in Pulaski, Washington, Russell
and Dickinson counties. The purpose OF
80 placing Rhea's name is too obvious.
We cannot understand how MIR. Rhea un-
dertook to defend the ''Scott County Bal
Diot" and the other ballots referred to.
Can it be possible that the Elections
Committee or that the House of Repre-
sentatives will sanction such outrages upon |
the ballot? If they do, it will give very |
poor encouragement to either honest Dem
ocrats or Republicans to make struggle
for fair elections in this district or in Vir-
ginia.
When Congress ratified the frauds prac-
ticeG 10 this district in 1898, by permitting
w. F. Rhea 10 retain his seat, it encourag-
ed the aggravated frauds that we're prac-
ticed in 1890. The report of the Elections
Committee in the Walker-Rhea contest of
1898 stated that many gross frauds had
been. prscticed in the district, but that
not.enough had.besn used to unseat kuea.
When the Committee made that report
the Democrats were more astonished at
It's conclusion than were II Republicans.
The people have never yet understood
why such report was made. 1t gave the
Democratic machine In LO6 OlsJrlct great
satisfaction, and it concluded that it could
90 to any length in future elections
without fear of punishment. Then came
the s'Scott County Ballot" and the other
outrageous frauds that were used in 1900.
If the Republican House Of Representa-
tiyes permits w. F. Rhea to hold his seat
obtained by such Dig aceful frauds, with
which be has been connected by the proof '
in the record, it will be equivalent to tell
ing him he can iun things to suit himself
in the Ninth Congressional and hold the !
Republicans entirely at his mercy. A rat {
iication Of these frauds by Congress will
also be serving notice on the Republicans
of the Ninth District that they need ex-
poet no protection aud that they may as |
well refrain from voting a