Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1906-08-31
The Bristol Herald.)

piciiP > dIllOuue III IcSdiu W IlS It.
cent occurrence in which he figured
so conspicuously during the Bristol
democratic convention, an occurrence
which was most unfortunate for the
Colonel on this eve of the most des-
perate political struggle i'm which he
ever participated, and n struggle which
will end i'm his ultimate defeat, we
verify believe.
In giving an account Of the conven-
ton above mentioned, we had barely
spoken Of Colonel Slemp's appearance
in the hall and the wild scene of dis
order that followed, for the simple
reason that we did not care to gloat
over the unfortunate predicament In
which he had placed himself. But now
that he attempts TO deny the matter
altogether, we deem il but justice TO
ourselves, but justice TO the members
OF the convention, but justice to the
scores OF papers within and without
the state which published the report,
and but justice TO the republican party
itself TO print the story in detail; and
after we have finished if there is any
one who doubts. even to the Colonel
himself we shall be glad TO furnish
further proof, even 10 the affldavits of
the most substantial citizens OF Bris-
from democrats and Republicans alike.
that the occurrence was rs has been
reported.
A well known officer of this town,
whose name we can furnish for who
ever SO desires it, a man whose verac-
ity is unquestioned, tells the story
thus:
81 saw Colonel Slemp coming up
the steps OF the opera house and he
fell. 1 went TO him and helped him up
and told him that he was too drunk To
20 in but he insisted on going anyway
III "''o op vi "iiN 'iidl NIltl he tHlcItN
he did not know enough to remove his
hat. and all the time he was i'm there
he created more or less disturbance
Said a well known magistrate of this
city:
when Colonel Slemp entered the
opera house / got up and gave him
my seat, and l wouldn't have given
him my seat if / hadn't seen he was
drunk. \ party who was with him at
the time pushed him into my chair.
He was So drunk that he kept his hat
on most OF the time, and created more
or less disturbance by talking all Of the
time he was there"
\ Appointment lawyer, who stands at
the head of his profession in Bristol,
said:
Il saw Colonel Slemp ON the streets
short time before the convention
met and he was so drunk that he
could not walk straight-in fact he
could scarcely get along at all with
out assistance"
\ minister Of this city, who has
charge of one of its largest churches.
and who sat across the aisle from
Slemp, said:
81 regarded him n very drunk"
These are only few of the testi-
monials OF eye witnesses to the occur
rences of that day, when Colonel
Slemp reflected such discredit upon
the party which he represents, and
when he in a democratic convention
before hundreds Of spectators brought
into disrepute the party and the prin-
ciples for which he stands and east n
slur upon every man who composed
the convention which nominated him
TO the high Office which he now fills
and to which he again aspires.
Think you that the republicans Of
the Ninth district will support-nay,
CAN support a man of that stamp Z?
We say NO! And all of the denial and
explanations that Colonel Slemp can
make from row until November cleo
ton cannot convince the members OF
his party that he is innocent of the
things of which he stands accused.
They were too open and conspicuous.
There were not a few witnesses ofthese
things Of which we speak, but hun
dreds. They We're not all democrats.
but many republicans were there who
saw the shameful condition of the man
whom they had elevated to the highest
office in the gift of the republican party
of this the gTandest and weaIthiest dis
trict in the Old Dominion. These are
facts and are indisputable either bV
Col. Slemp or any other man who
would condone the wrong he has
done, and the serious mistake he has
made. We defy him to come tn Rrie-