The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-26

a pleasant colloquy over the formers
reference TO the latter's fondness for
being in the minority. and tho gall
leries cheered them alternately as they
scored their points.
The Speaker reviewed the evidence
TO some extent, and was severe in his
structures upon the accusers of Judge
Rhea. Coming to the telegram episode,
he said:
The testimony of Hon. Henry G..
Stuart has been made much of. Let
us examine it for a moment, Mr.. Stuart
says that six years ago last fall he
saw in his store at Elk Garden. in
the county of Russell, a telephone pad
upon which had been written by a
clerk, now dead, what purported to be
telegram wired from Bristol to Hon
aker and phoned from Honaker to
Elk Garden.
This alleged telegram was dated
November btn, and according to tn.
witness read, Meet party at Lebanon
tomorrow, who leaves here To-day
Either that way or Meet party to-day
I at Lebanon, who leaves here yesterday"
Get possession of Buchanan returns
and hold them or. withhold them
probably hold them" Important that
| should have certificate" or. Must
have certificate, If possible" printed
record page 1919 This telegram pur-
ported to be from Judge Rhea and
addressed to NJ. C. Clark, of Honaker.
No copy of this telegram was re-
tained and Mr.. stuart quotes from
recollection, and evidently a confusyd
recollection of the paper There is,
n Hnf ~ u ty,r, It'd
Rhea with this telegram. and If Mr..
Stuarts recollection Is accurate, it was
a most extraordinary document. 1t
presupposes that Judge Rhea was fool
enough to send a telegram which had
to travel 200 miles and be relayed a
number OF times, advising over his own
signature the stealing Of the returns
of Buchanan county.
In paying a glowing tribute to Judge
Rhea's bravery. the speaker declared
that lie would never sit silently by and
see this gallant soldier of Democracy
delivered naked into the hands of his
lenemies or stabbed in the house of his
friends. There was prolonged applause
marks, and Mr.. Withors took the floor
| to speak in favor of confirmation.
Mr. Withers took up each of the
charges. and in reviewing them he
often spoke With characteristic elo-
quence. Mr.. Speaker, the evidence
he said, shows that William i. Rhea
Is strong man, aud whenever a man
Is strong politically he always has
enemies. 1t is nothing but hatred and
malice growing out OF the defeat of
another party by Judge Rhea. And
what liz the result OF it all? 1t is the
slandering of the fair name of an hon
est man, and sly. believe the time has
come when his party should stand by
nm us ne has so often and so gallant
| STOOD by his party, and l trust that
me JOINT Assembly Will, so far as the
democrats are concerned unanimously
confirm the appointment of William II.
Rhea"
| One of the strong and ELOQUENT
/ speeches of the evening was made bv
Senator Don p. Halsey, Of Lynchbur.,
| lie pleaded in an impassioned manner
| 70 MS colleagues to rally solidly tc
the standard of Judge Rhca and h,
eohtended that the charges, made 10,
political purposes, had fallen TO the
/ ground.
4 senator Halsey declared that moth.
ing had been brought out AGAINST
i Judge Rhea, and now the pharisaical
4 and platitudinous declaration was made
that no man should be placed upon the
bench against whom even his enemies
could cast the breath of suspicion.
ar, speaker" lie continued, III this
be true, we should put angels and not
men on the State Corporation Commits
! sion.
MI. Speaker, if we are to be lect-
! urea about political morality, 1t seems
1 to me that the lectures should come
r. ia ,,tl