Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-11-14
The Contest in The Ninth Dis
frIcf


than his Republican opponent, Mr..
Slemp, he ought to be returned to Con
gress from the Ninth District. III ne did
not receive more votes he ought not to
be given the certificate on mere tech
nicalities.
Judge Rhea is Democrat and am able
and useful representative in Congress
but he should not go to Congress and
should not try 20 go to Congress unless
he was fairly elected. There was alb
solutely no occasion in the election held
on last Tuesday for any sort OF fraud
and trickery, and so far as our informa-
ton goes the election was entirely fair
and honest. With the negro question
out OF the way the whites were perfect
ly free to go to the polls and express
their choice OF candidates. and II the
returns in the Ninth District show that
Mr. Slemp received more votes than
Judge Rhea received, Mr.. Slemp should
represent the district in Congress.
We are told that the vote aC one
precinct in the Ninth District was
thrown out on the ground that the re-
turns were not sealed, and were sent
through the mails and received n day
late. 1t is true that the law provides
that the returns shall be sealed and that
they shall be delivered within twenty
four hours by one Of the judges To the
clerk OF the court, but the law does not
provide that in case this requirement is
not strictly complied with the returns
shall be thrown out On the contrary
section 1872 OF the Code provides that il
Tor any cause the judges Of election
shall fail 10 make return within the time
Tor the commissioners TO meet the open
returns, it shall be the duty OF the clerk
TO whose Office such returns ought To
nave been made TO dispatch special
messenger TO obtain the same. 1t il
further provided that il there areirre0-
ularities or infOrmalities i'm the returns
which can be cured by amending or
correcting the same, it shall be the du-
ty OF the commissioners TO summon the
Judges and clerks, as such OF them as
may benecessary, TO appear within five
days TO make the needful correction.
This shows the spirit OF the law, and
that is the thing TO be considered. IL
the commissioners are in doubt as 10
whether or not the returns from this pre-
cinct are correct, they can easily set the
matter at rest 10y summoning the judges
and clerks before them.
The Democratic party cannot afford
10 be unfair. Leaving out the moral
question involved, il would be the
worst sort OF policy 10 deal unfairly
with Republican candidate in this. the
first election under the new suffrage
To do an unfair thing. 10 count a Re
publican out on mere technically
would be "A severe blow to the Demo
cratic party, and would do more to es-
TRANCE its friends and to rally the Re-
publicans than any one thing that
could be done in this crisis. The Dem
ocratic party is responsible for the
constitutional Convention and for n
new suffrage plan. The constitution
was adopted and the new suffrage plan
was promulgated undera solemn prom
ise from the party and from the con-
vention itself, either expressed or i'm.
piled, that with the Objectionable negro
vote eliminated our elections should be
absolutely honest and absolutely fair
The party must redeem the pledge. and
as sure as fate it will be punished for
any violation thereof
But aside from all this, ifJudge Rheo
is given the certificate on the ground
above alleged, he will never take his
seat in Congress. The Republicans
would hardly entertain such a con-
test-Richmond Times.