Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-01
IN THE OLD DOMINION
REVIEW OF THE RHEA CASE.
BEARING ON GovERNoRSHR.
Special Correspondence OF The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
RICHMOND. Va. February 30. 1903
Inc general assembly has confirmed the
nomination of Judge William F. Rhea Of
brlstoi to be member of the state cor
poration commission after one of the BIT
terest. most stubborn and important po-
iitical fights the state has ever seen.
Judge Rhea was nominated to succeed
Henry c. Stuart member OF the COM
mission, and when the senate and house
met in joint session to confirm him
charges We're preferred against the APP
pointee by John G.. Noel. the senator from
Lee county. the opponent OF Judge Rhea
The charges contained fraud in election.
incompetency and a possible charge Of
bribery. The serious chara cter of the
charges impelled the democrats to order
an investigation which extended over
cOnStdera BILE time. when all the political
opponents of Judge Rhea were given
chance TO say all they knew. He was op-
posed also by Joshua Bullitt. the man who
has represented the contestants against
Judge Rhea In congressional inveStiga-
tons. who volunteered and came to this
city to prosecute the charges against the
appointment Of Gov. Swanson.
The evidence was all printed. and there
were two reports-one signed by nine
members of the committee. which recon-
mended that the charges in no case had
been sustained. while the minority, sign
ed by the member OF the senate on whose
motion the committee to consider guber-
material nominations was made, Senator
T. Ashby Wfckham. and who sat on the
committee that conducted the fnyestiga-
ton, made a minority report recommend
ing that the nominee be not confirmed.
The debate consumed two entire ses-
sions and the vote resulted 81 In the af-
firmative to IS In the negative. There
were seven members absent. All the re
and hnr
solidly to sustain the allegations made by
Senator Noel (republican) against Judge
Rhea. The vote shows that twenty-six
democrats voted against Judge Rhea out
Governorship Involved.
The Interesting point in this matter is
the bearing It will have on the governor
Ship There are two candidates who are
now in the open and the clans are align
ing themselves for the fray. They are
Judge Mann, who is being supported by
great many of the former supporters or
Senator Thomas s. Martin and Gov.
Swanson. The ants are almost solid for
Henry C. Stuart. and it looks at this
time as if there may be straight hght
between the two. That the old party
lines are to be revived there is little aues-
ton. and the belief is that a campaign
more intense and bitter than thar oe-
tween Montague and Martin will BE-
served up to the democrats of the state
next year.
The lines are being drawn hard and
fast at this time. feeling is already de-
veloping. and there is ahead a splendid
chance for the third man to come In ana
to wrest the victory from these two. Just
who this will be is not known but that
a move is afoot to have the fight mar
rowed to Judge Mann and Mr.. Stuart Is
generally accepted as being true. Others
are to stand aside and are to be sup
ported at another time. according to re
port. If either Judge Mann or Mr.
Stuart shall win the chances are that so
much feeling will be engendered that the
voters will either remain away from the
this will be the case IL Judge Mann. the
apostle of temperance, Is nominated, 1or
hundreds of whisky men will bolt the
party and vote for the republican nomi-
nee.
The republicans of this city are to have
a straight lily-white organization. The
colored voter is made to stand aside. The
call for mass meeting to be held Marcn
Z specifies that members OF the city com
mittee are to be chosen and delegates 70
the district convention will be elected.
These are to be all white men, the colored
voter being completely ignored In the
proceedings, the old-time black precincts
of the city having no representation on
ters at this time. The fact is not denied
that the idea and hope is that bona
fide white republican party Is to De puiit
up in this state and everything done 70
welcome accessions to the party. espe-
cially during this year. when there Is
more or less Of an indication that the
democrats will name Bryan for the presi-
dency.
Standard Oil in Legislation.
bill is pending in the general assembly
which provides for the inspection OF IL
Eliminating fluids in the state. creating the
office of inspector of oils. That the bill
comes from tie Standard Oil Company
there is a general belief. but the impress
sion is that the member who presented the
measure was not informed that it is the
purpose of the bill to put out of business
all the competitors of the Standard by
having the tests so arranged that when
samples are taken here the product Of
the big company will be of such a quality
as will far surpass that OF the small COM
panies and compel them to retire from the
field. Members of the general Assembly
are being informed of the belief In the
matter and the bill. which has reached
the calendar i'm the senate. VIII get DE-
feat at the hands of that body.
A bill has passed the house and Is now
before the senate which allows railroads
to build, lease. operate ana marriage cut-
off and connection lines for the purpose
of facilitating the handling of freight and
messenger trains" 1t Is innocent enough
on its face The facts have been estab-
lished that the Norfolk and Western has
built a line of twenty-five miles around
the city of Lynchburg, the officers OF the
new company being those of the Norfolk
and Western, al Norfolk and western
money was used to build the line. The
company could not get charter to build
corporation commission and surrendered
it's old franchise, which allowed unusual
privileges. This the company would not
poration commission to issue the neces-
sary permit and TO practically validate
the acts of the company. The bill was an
attempt to have the company escape with
its present and added privileges. and would
have made it possible for the other roads
in the state to virtually abandon estah-
lished stations and to use such other cut
offs and connections as might prove of
benefit to the companies without regard to
the welfare of the patrons Of the roads.
Rigid Liquor Laws.
The senate has been this week discuss
ing the amended liquor bill. and the debate
has been interesting. The pending bill.
which has passed the house, imposed re-
strictions on the traffic which are far more
severe than ever attempted In Virginia.
And what is more the members seem in
clined to impose the restrictions. That the
state is rushing on to prohibition is adj