The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-25
No Truth in Statement
That Republican Poll
Taxes Are Paid.
NOT ENOUGH VOTES
TO ELECT SLE,MP
The Tirnes-D Dispatch Rcpresen-
tative, After a Close Survey
Of the Field, Sees Vic
tory for the Dem
ocratic Standard
Bearer.
Bearer.

(From a Staff Correspondents !

53tt lffo!n Stafi 5Correspondent)
BRISTOL, VA, September g;:.-If Rep
< tesentatiye Slemp is to be reelected to
Congress from the Ninth District. the
Votes necessary are not yet in sight II
Mr.. Wysor would be elected by a ma
jori,y of several hundred It has been
evident for the past two or three DAYS
spent in various parts OF the district,
that the drift was towards Wysor, and I
was confident that IL 1t was as strong.
generally as in two or three counties. the
success of the Democratic nominee was
assured. If Isl t7s K
In come OF tho counties in which hare
4 been there Is a stronger drift towards
/; the Democratic nominee than in others.
I but the summing up O. the whole matter
4 Is that Mr.. Wysor5t will be elected BY q
fe majority, unless there is some en-
s.tirely un nforcseen occurrence between this
time and the day OF election. There.
rs little apprehension that there will be
any such occurrence. y. Fs. S 5 IS
There IS one thing that can defeat lfr.
y Niysor yet. II there Is not some In
crease ofi Democratic enthusiasm, lie may
lose. There Is no reason to disguise the
+ fact that some Democra Is are not mani
fcgting the interest In the result of the
election that was expected of them. They,
are Democrats all right and II they
{ vote will vote Tor Wysor but they are
! not ready to pull off their coats and
work for the success of the tlcke
Wysor the Victor.
# Still. even IL there should be a small
per cent or the Democratic & vote. absent
4 from the polls on tho day Of e1ecu uon..*
Mr.. Wysor would he elected. always sur
posing that something Is not injected irto
the canvass not now visible.
After the most careful investlEa ton,
which took the form Of the closest ques-
tioning OF numbers OF Democrats and Re-
publcans as to their personal knowledge
o. the claim set UP by the Republicans a
month ago, more Republicans than DEM
ocrats had paid their poll ia xes. l am
convinced that the claim is without foun-
dalton. It may be that In one or two
counties more Republicans than. Demo-
Gratis have paid. their capitation taxes,
but as to the rest o { the district, do
not believe there Is anything In the as
eertion. " 5ss /. srssi' 5-ss RI @
There is no doubt that tho Republicans
have paid the taxes gilmore voters than
the Democrats have. There were fewer
Democratic voters In the district who did
not pay their own capitarion taxes. The
number OF Republican voters who al
lowed their party leaders to furnish the
money with which 10 pay their taxes
was far in excess Of the number OF DEM
ocratc voters that allowed the leaders
to settle with the treasurer for them.
As evidence that the Republicans have
exaggerated the disparity In numbers be-
tween the number OF Democratic and Re-
ubican voters who have conformed with
the law making the prepayment OF the
poll tax a pre- 4:qusite of voting, cite
4 he state OF affairs in Washing ton county, Y
The question came up In that county,
and the Democrats made a careful poll.
trhc result showed that in five districts
there were more Democrats than Repub-
licans who had paid their taxes. and In
two districts more Republicans, than
Democrats had paid. The total number
OF Democrats OF the county who had
paid was considerably greater than the
total number OF Republicans.
Work Of Annanias.
Tho constant claim made by the Rspu b. !
lIcans that they had beaten the Demo.
Gratis In the outsst by securing the regis
tration has had the effect of depressing
many Democrats. The claim was a piece
or campaign work, clover, but the menS
who have circulated tho report We're
either nlisled or disciples Of Annantas,
to whom such reports are a. dell ight.
The Democrats have not completed tho
poll OF tho counties OF the district, but
they have learned enough Of the, strength
OF the two parties In every county to en- :
able them to begin to figure intelligently.
The estimates given below OF the major-