Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-11-27
Richmond Letter.

Richmond, Va, Nov. 22.-hurcaT
Branch's blood hounds never followed the
track of criminal with surer scent anC
greater eagerness than the Slemp gang I;
trailing the election crooks in the Ninth
District. Our recent Victory at the polk
and the vigorous fight now being made
before the courts to return the fruits Of
that victory, are challenging the admiration
of all honest Democrats and bringing our
expressions of gratitude from all the Re-
publicans of the State | am proud thai
| live IN the old Ninth.
Judge Keith in handing down the opin-
ion of the mandamus proceed lgs order
ing the country boards of canvassers to
count the vote which they threw out on
technicalities, in the counties of Wythe,
Washington and Russell, took pains to
emphasize the fact.that this was the unan-
imous opinion of the court; that on &C
count of sickness Judge Buchanan could
not be on the bench, but that he concur
red in the opinion. The court also de-
creed costs against the commissioners.
This will be very wholesome lesson to
these technical gentleman. The Scott
county cases were continued until next
Tuesday to take evidence. blush to adj
init that the climax of rascality and cor
ruption was reached when it was discover.
ed that the returns from a county which
| have the honor to represent (Buchanan)
had been tempered with by erasing from
Col. Slemp's vote the figure 81" and in
sorting "3" instead; thus robbing Slemp
of one hundred votes. The Richmond
News suggests to the Federal authorities
that this is good case to prosecute. OF
course the State authorities will see that
the forger shall be sent to the penitintiary
If found.
heard Jno. S. Wise's statement before
the Federal court here, of the grounds on
which he relies to show that the new con-
stitution is unconstitutional. Lawyers
here are divided in their opinion as to the
result. Conceal it as they may, there is
grave apprehension among them as to the
outcome. From the standpoint of a Re-
publican from the Ninth District, | might
wish that Wise would fail; but upon a
broader plain of equal rights to all, and
believing in manhood suffrage, no Repub'
llcan can withhold his sympathy from Mr..
Wise and his clients in this great struggle.
The hearing of the case is set for the 18th
inst. Chief Justice Fuller is expected to
cit with Judge Waddell in the case.
Senator w. p. Barksdale has introduced
bill requiring the several electoral boards
to appoint judges of election on the nomi-
nation of the respective county chairman
of the two parties. MIR, Barksdale has
agreed with me to amend bis bill in COM
mittee so as to include clerks of election,
If this bill passes, it will indicate the near
approach of a political millennium OF
righteousness which all honest men will
hail with joy.
Two or three bills have been introduced
looking to the passing of state law pro
hibiting stock from running at large. In
other words to compel the owners to keep
their stock on their own premises. shall
vote against all of them. Many of my
constituents would be literally ruined by
such law. Take the southern and north
ern sides of Tazewell and Russell, and the
whole of Buchanan and Russell counties,
and the land owners have only small
portion of their lands enclosed. In many
of the sections the ''range" is much bet
ter than the grass. l can see how the
owners of bluegrass farms would favor
such law, and l recognize that many Of
my constituents are well located in the
bluegrass sections, yet l am slow to be-
lieve that they would want 10 bankrupt
their les. favored neighbors by DENYING
them the use of the Grange" on the ridges
and mountains.
]. n. HARTMAN.