Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-03-10
COLONEL SLEMP
IS INDIGNANT
Still Determined to Stand By Those
Who Will Continue to Fight the
ASneW Organization.
DECLINES DELEGATE At LARGE
And Predicts That We Will Win in Our
Effort to ReOrganize the Party in
Yirginia-Sympathies Of
President Said to
Be With Us.
fspecial to News Leader.l

Especial to News Leader)
Washington, D. g., March 5.-Repre
sentative Slemp got back to Washington
this morning from Norfolk, where he at
tended the Republican State convention
and where he and his followers we're de-
feated in the organization Of the conven-
ton by Park Agnew, State chairman, and
George E. Bowden, Republican national
committeeman.
Colonel Semp went to the white house,
where be had conference with the Pres
ident. With him was Beverly A. Davis,
who wants to be postmaster at Rocky
Mount, Va, in place of W. B. Brown, an
organization man.
Representative Slemp will urge the NOM
inat;on of Davis on the ground that he ls
a clean man and worthy of the position.
The organization faction in Virginia will
oppose Davis, who fought them at Norfolk
a few DAYS ago, and an issue is likely to
be formed as to whether the president will
support the organization or the opposing
faction, headed by Colonel Slemp.
Representative SIemp was elected one OF
the delegates at large to Chicago but he
has positively declined the position and
says rssolutely that he will not 90. When
asked today WHY he bad refused to accept
the position, he said: "We made fight
in the convention against the pie cement
of the party. The Republican party OF
Virginia can never become strong and de-
serving of support from the hest of the
State until it is purged Of people whose
only purpose in being in the party is to Sc
cure offices. This ofice-grabbing, selhs'
class of Republicans has been the disgrace
of the Republican party Of the South fo'
years, and it must get out We made
fight sgainst that element in the conven
ton. We put up Judge L. L. Lewis,
high.minded, able man, as our candidate
for chairman of the convention Th'
ofice-holders beat him. Then they trieC
to smooth things oyer by elec,lng me as
delegate at large to Chicago. told then
would not have the place and if they
wanted good man, to elect Judge Lewis
But they would not do that They wer
irving to crush Jk6ge Lewis. But stant
by my friends under all circumstances ant
will do so in this case.
fI don't care rap about a petty littl
place as delegate to Chicago; Presiden
Rooseyelt's nomination is assured anyhow
and 20 whether go or not would not al
feet bis chances at the convention. w
are going to continue the fight for the re
organization of the party in Virginia an
we will win. That is dead sure thing
We will clear that ofice-holding crow
out 30 quickly they won't know what
the matter with them, and before long W
will have party that will rank in purity
unseIAshness and strength with the part
in any State in the country"
Colonel Slemp did not say whether h
had discussed the situation in Virgini
with the President, but it is presume
thst be did.
Judge l.. /. Lewis. who was defeated b
the organization people, is a close person'
friend of the President. As both of th
Virginia factions were unanimously for tn
President, Mr.. Roosevelt naturally do'
not take part in the fight, but 1t is n
garded as certain that bis sympathies al
with the Lewis.Slemp people. He wan
TO see a fighting party organized in VI
GINA and has not much regard for the pi
counter people. There Is much surprli
that Bowden people have not been c
close terms with the President and al
never eeen at the White house. They hay
managed to hold to things, hoveve
through Postmaster.General Payne, WI
has recognized them in Office distrib
tion.