Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-04-28

1 OFfON-~-O--
J to Col. Slemp, as the establishing Of the
courts at Big Stone Gap will reduce the
fees of the clerk at Abingdon, thus affect
ing the personal interests of Mr.. Lindsey.
Colonel Slemp has also had passed by
Congress number of private pension
bills for old soldiers and their widows.
Among these was one which increased the
pension OF Mrs. Mayo, of Pulaski county,
from So or $l2 to $25 per month. Mrs.
Mayo wss one of three surviving widows
of soldiers Of the American Revolution,
and she has recently died.
Colonel Slemp has now had established
in the district 81 Rural Free Delivery
routes and A more are being arranged
for. He has established a number of new
postoflces for the convenience of the peo-
pie, secured extra mail routes to sections
that were remote in the district, and got.
ten better railway mail service, notably
on the Chnch Valley Railroad. He se-
cured the appointment of one Rural Free
Delivery Inspector and two similar ap-
pointments for candidates who failed to
stand the examination. There are several
other good appointments that have been
given to young men in the district; but il
is unnecessary to make further mention of
Colonel Slemp's activity as our represen.
tative in Congress. He has been serving
on one of the most important Congress.
siOnal Committees, the Committee for the
District of Columbia. Mr.. Cannon,
Speaker Of the House of Representatives
has pronounced him one of the most u,e-
full and hard working members OF Con-
gress.
One Of the charges Mr. LINDSEY makes
against Colonel Slemp is, that be appoint
ed a member of his own family as bis pri.
yate secretary, rather than some of the
young men from the district who were ap.
plicants for that position. AS district
chairman Mr.. Lindsey knows to what
a heavy expense Colonel Slemp was put
IN tue last Congressional campaign in or
ganizing and supplying the district with
literature, speakers, etc. All that expense
fell upon him Individually. Mr.. Lindsey
also knows that our Congressman had to
expend 81 800 to defeat the scheme OF
robbery which was sprung Immediately
after the election by the friends of W. F..
Rhea; and that these expenses, combined,
Will absorb a great part Of Colonel Slemp's
salary. 10 conclude. aftel having know-
edge Of his extreme liberalIty as above
cited, that Colonel Slemp was influenced
by purely parsImouious reasons in select
ing member of his own family as his
private secretary is gross injustice. This
fling at Colonel Semp by Mr. Lindsey
might with equal propriety be cast at the
latter because of bis selection as deputy
cler> at Abingdon by his father in.aw,
Mr. Fowler. If it was nepotism in one
Case it was nepotsm in the other. And
who will say that a niggardly or penurious
motive influenced Mr.. Fowler in making
the selection? We have too much regard
for our old personal and political friend to
even hear such a charge made against him
without rebuking the accuser; and We are
disposed to treat Colonel Slemp with as
much consideration.
Another cause assigned by Mr.. Lindsey
for his opposition to Colonel Slemp is the
attitude of the latter toward General
Walker in the campaign of 1898. 1t ia
astonishing that Mr.. Lindsey has taken
up this old matter that the Rheaites tried
to use with profit in 1902, and which he,
as district chairman and the earnest sup.
porter of Colonel SIemp, scorned and re-
pndiated. MIR. Lindsey could with equal
propriety and as sound judgment call into
requisition for the Injury of Colonel Slemp
that card Of Mr.. Lindseys which the man.
ayers of Rhea had printed in circular form
and used as a cam paign document in 1902
When Republican leader to accomplish
hurt to another Republican leader adopts
the discredited tactics of the Rheaites he
must be in desperate state of mind.
Mr.. Lindsey charges as another reason
for his opposition to Colonel Slemp that
"When 1t became his duty to appoint {
naval cadet, instead of appointing Re
publican, he chose young man l admi
of fine character and ability, a Democrs
and the son of a Democrat, who has de
clared his unalterable antipathy to Repub
licans." The facts are not as Mr.. Lindsey
has stated them. Colonel Slemp appoint
ed Mr.. Harding, of Russell, IS cadet a
the Naval Academy. His father anC
brothers are strong Republicans. He ap
pointed as alternates Mr.. GoodIoe, of Bl
Stone Gap, and Mr.. Hyatt, Of louisville
ALI the Goodies are Republicans. The
father of young Hyatt had been Demo
crat, but supported Colonel Semp In 1902
and will vote with the Republicans thi
year. Mr.. Lawrence 1. Hyatt, brothe
4 of the young man appointed by Colone
0 slemp, is Republican and ran as sue
for the House of Delegates in Lee count
last year. Mr.. Harding, who was ap
/ pointed as cadet, declined to 90 to Annap
oils and stand the examination. Meesrt
,. Goodloe and Hyatt went, and the forme
1 failed in the examination, but Hyatt wa
!. successful and won the cadetship.
O One of the most inexcusable features {
|. Mr.. Lindsey's pronunciamento, pubIishe
|. in Democratic newspapers, is the assau
!. made upon Colonel Slemp for consentiD
e at Bristol to go as delegate at large
q the National Convention after having de
"a clined at Norfolk to accept the position
o Mr.. Lindsey's statements about the maj
% ter are partial, unfair and misleading