Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1910-11-18
CONTEST IN Ninth
DISTRICT is LIKELY
Mr.. Stuart Issues Statement,
Leaving the Matter With
the District Committee.

Hon. Henry C. Stuart gave out the
following in Roanoke on Tuesday
night in reference to talked of con-
test over the congressional election
recently held in the ninth district (:
To the Dmocrats of the Ninth Vir-
ginia District:
According to the face OF the re-
turns, Mr.. C. Bascom Slemp, the
Republican nominee, has been elected
to congress from our district by a
majority of PIT. The definite figures
of the result will be known from the
State Board of Canvassers, which
meets on the 28th day of November,
at Richmond. The duty OF this board
is confined to compiling and reporting
the figures from the various counties
and issuing certificate accordingly.
1t must be recognized us funda-
mental principle, that no man can be
elected to any office unless he has re-
ceived the votes of a majority of the
legally qualified voters participating
in the election. If l was convinced
that Mr.. Slemp had received such a
majority, would accept cheerfully
the figures as reported, we'll satisfied
with the work of the Democratic par
ty in reducing a majority OF 4, 101
by about 3, 900 and looking forward
confidently to future victoriel, local
and general, for the party in the dis
trict. 1t has been brought to my
strong as to demand serious attention,
that many illegal votes Were cast and
counted for Mr.. Slemp. l feel that
in justice to the party and people who
have done me the honor to make me
their standard bearer, | must ask a
full Investigation Of this election
with the purpose of arriving at an
honest result. Therefore, shall refer
the matter to the Democratic District
Committee, the lawfully constituted
authority of the party, that it may
consider such evidence as may be SUBJ
mitted. / shall then hold myself sub
ject to the advice and instructions of
this committe as to the question of
whether or not TO make a formal con-
test for the seat before the House of
Representatives.
Meanwhile, l ask all loyal Demo-
Gratis and all my Supporters to await
patiently the action and decision of
the party authorities. feel that l
can say for the committee, as for
myself, that there is no purpose to
take advantage of any technicality
or take any action except such as may
be necessary to make sure, as nearly
as possible, that the district shall be
represented by the man receiving the
majority OF the legal votes cast.
have acted on this principle steadily
whteher friend or foe suffered by it.
application and l commend it espec.
tally to those of my opponents whC
have clamored so loudly for purity il
elections.
However such an investigation
may result it can do no wrong.
may locate election frauds, if am
have been committed, and identify
those guilty of them, and separate
those who really stand for homes
elections from those who talk fol
them but really condemn only sucl
wrong as they suppose to have bee
committed against themselves.
1 take this opportunity to expires
again my thanks for the generous an
loayl support given me by the peopl
of the district, to congratulate my fel
low Democrats on the handsome show
ing they made and on the wonderfu
victory achieved by the party in tn
country; and to urge that whateve
the ultimate result of this recer
election in our district, we maintai
our organization and look forwar
with confidence to complete victor
two years hence.
H. C. STUART