The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-16
Stuart Asks District
Committee to Make
Investigation.
WILL THEN DECIDE
AS TO CONTEST
Has No Desire to Take Advan
tage of Any Tectnicality, but
Anxious That District Shall
Be Represented by Man
Who Secured Majority
of Legal Votes.
Special to The Times-Dispatch.]

Especial to The Times-DiSpatch.]
Roanoke, Va, November 15.-Henry
.C. Stuart, of Russell county, Demo-
cratic candidate for Congress from the
Ninth District iii last Tuesdays elec-
ton. is not satisfied that his oppo
nent, c. Bascom Slemp, Republican.
received majority of legal votes cast,
and will refer the matter to the dis
trict committee. which meets at Pulaski
Saturday of next week, for full in
vestigation. He will then hold him
self subject to the advice and instruc-
tions of this committee. on the ques-
tion whether or not he will make a
formal contest for the seat before the
House of Representatives These facts
are set forth in the following state
ment, given out here tonight by Mr.
Stuart.
MIR. Stnnrt's Statement.
ITO the Democrats of the Ninth Vir-
ginia District:
According to the face of the returns
Mr.. c. Bascom Slemp, the Republican
nominee. has been elected to Congress
from our district by majority of 2IT.
The definite figures of the result will
be known from the state Board of Can
vassers. which meets on the 2sth day
of November at Richmond. The duty
of this board Is confined to compiling
and reporting the figures from the va
rious counties and Issuing a certificate
accordingly.
1T must be recognized as funda-
mental principle, that no man can be
Z elected to any Office unless he has re-
ceived the votes of majority of the
legally qualified voters participating
! in the election.
J
If I was convinced that Mr.. Slemp
had received such majority. l would
accept cheerfully the figures as report
ed, well satisfied with the work of the
Democratic party in reducing ma
jor'ty of 4,101 by about $500, and
looking forward confidently to future
victories, local and general. for the
party In the district. 1t has been
brought to my notice. however. on evi-
| dence so strong as to demand serious
attention, that many illegal votes wera
cast and counted for Mr.. Slemp. / feel
| that in Justice to the party and people
! who have done me the honor to make
me their standard-bearer. I must ask
! a full investigation of this election.
with the purpose of arriving at an
honest result. Therefore. ! shall re-
fer the matter to the Democratic Dis
trict Committee. the lawfully consti
tuted authority of the party, that 1t
may consider such evidence as may be
submitted. I shall then hold myself
subject to the advice and instructions
Of this committee. on the question of
whether or not to make formal con-
test for the seat before the House of
Representatives.
Meanwhile. ask all loyal Demo-
Gratis and all my supporters to await
patiently the action and decision OF
the party authorities. I feel that I
can say for the commission. as for
myself, that there Is no purpose to
take advantage OF any technicality, or
take 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,
whether friend or foe suffered by its
application, and commend it especial
ly to those of my opponents who have
,clamored so loudly for purity in cleo
tions
However. such an investigation
may result 1t can do no wrong. 1t
may locate election frauds, If any
have been committed and identify
those guilty of them. and separate
those who really stand for honest
elections from those who talk for
them but really condemn only each
wrong doing as they suppose to have
been committed against themselves.
Il take this opportunity to express
again my thanks for the generous and
loyal support given me by the people
of the district, to congratulate my fell
low-Democrats on the handsome show
Ing they made and on the wonderful
victory achieved by the party in the
country. and to urge that whatever
the ultimate result of this recent
election In our district we maintain
our organizat ton and look forward
with confidence to a complete vic
tory two years hence"
Committee Called Together.
p. r. ST, Clair. chairman of the
Ninth District Democratic Committee.
to- night issued notice calling
meeting of the Democratic Commit
tee to be held at Pulaski City on
November 26. All members of the
committee are urged to attend. also
all special senatorial district commit
teemen.
I tilf