Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-09-17
CAMPAIGN IN THE NINTH.
Democrats igHoFantIy or Intentionally
lndulgInp in Misrepresentation, as
Usual.

II has been the custom of the Demo
Gratis for many years to indulge in all
kinds of Misrepresentation during
campaign in the Ninth Congressional
District. And this campaign promises
TO be no exception to the long estab-
lished rule or custom. Anything that
can be told or said to prejudice the in
forests Of the Republican candidate is
used with recklessness that is sur
prising to people who are intelligent
and respect the truth. Some button
head Democrat at Pocahontas conceived
the idea that he could do injury to Hon.
C. b. Slemp by insinuating that he was
abusing the franking privilege that be-
Iougs to him as member Of Congress
The following letter or telegram was
sent to the Lynchburg News on the
9th inst:
Pocahontas, Va, September Am
incident which illsutrates the highland
ed methods pursued by C. Bascom
Slemp, Republican candidate for Con-
eTess from the Ninth District, occurred
here Yesterday, when a number of citi-
zeas received through the mails at this
Office envelopes containing a speech
SAID to have been delivered in the House
OF Representatives by Hon. William A.
Rosenberg, of Illinois. The envelopes
had 40 stamps placed on them, but on
the contrary in the corner of the envel-
opc where the stamp is usually placed
there was the signature of G. Bascom
Slenp, NJ. C. Printed in the upper
1eft-hand corner was the following:
|'The Republican party does not go into
this campaign with an apology. Unlike
our opponents, we have nothing to
apologize for, nothing to explain. The
Republican party today stands, as it
has always stood, for home and fire.
side, law and order, dignity of labor,
elevation of citizenship, extension of
of industry, and for America against all
tn world" There will be no need for
popular subscriptions to the campaign
fund in the Ninth District as long as
Mr.. Slemp uses his postal frank in the
distribution of campaign literature.
The News gave the very fresh cor
respondent the following set back or
rebuke, which we hope will put some
careful an6 intelligent ideas in his head
about the ethics in politics:
''Our correspondent makes mistaken
criticism. Mr.. Slemp is entirely within
his right when using his frank in dis
seininating Congressional speeches, and
this whether they be delivered by him.
self or some other Congressman. In
deed, in large measure, the very pur-
pose of the franking privilege, is to
provide for free distribution of public
documents, under which q Congress-
mans speech "a included. Both Demo
cratic and Republican Congressman
frequently resort to the practice during
political campaigns as well as at orher
times. The Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee, for instance, re-
Gently compiled book of 1896 pages,
embOdying speeches and extracts of
speeches from the Congressional Rec
ord, and sent them out under the frank
of Representative James T. Lloyd, of
Missouri. We can see no reason for
complaint against Mr.. Slemp on this
score"
Then, the Democrats started another
false report, and it was telegraphed to
all the Democratic daily papers in Vir-
ginia. That was, that Mr.. Slemp was
afraid to meet Mr.. Byars in joint de-
bate, and had refused to meet him at
!. Lebanon. Mr.. Slemp in an interview
very effectively disposed Of that false
hood. The interview is as follows:
Bristol, Va. Sept. 10. Congressman
Slemp was at the Hotel Hamilton this
morning On his way to the eastern part
OF toe district, when reporter inter
yiewed him.
when shown some Of the various
statements appearing in the Democratic
newspapers of the district and State al
ieging that the Republicans had back
ed down" from a joint disussion at
Lebanon on Tuesday last he seemed
much amused. Asked for the facts in
the matter Mr.. Slemp said:
while know that throughout the