Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-11-24
'STUART'S FRIENDS
CLAIM TREACHERY.
District Leaders as Well as Local Demo-
Gratis Argue Thai He Was Knitted in Giles
and Scott Counties and Bristol CITY.


The following telegram is from the
Bristol correspondent of the Norfolk
Virginian-P Pilot:
Though he reduced a Republican
majority Of a 200 to little over 200 in
the recent Congressional contest in the
Ninth district, in the face of facts the
conclusion cannot be escaped that Stu
art suffered at the hands of the "orgsn-
ization." Ii will be remembered that
be was one of the strongest witnesses
against Judge william F. Rhea two
years ago at the bitter legislative inves-
LEGATION 20 determine his personal fit
ness for the office OF Corporation Com
missioner and to pass upon salty charges
affecting his character. Rhea once had
powerful machine in the Ninth dis
triet and it.as inviucible for two terms.
sending him t. Congress in q district
normally Republican by several thous-
aud. The leaders of the remnant of the
old Rhea machine never forgsve Stuart
for this and many of them either sulked
in the late campaign or were openly
against him.
In Bristol, JeTe Bunting, prominent
Democratic politician, great personal
admlrer and supporter of Rhea and an
influential leader, actually lead the fight
for S'emp. No one doubts but that he
is as close to Rhea now SIS he ever was.
Slemp made considerable gains in Bris-
TOT. Several former prominent Rhea
lesders were conspicuous for their mac
tivity in the race and it is known that a
clique Of Democratic friends of Rhea in
Bristol, all prominent politically and
known es organization men, actually
voted for Slemp.
In Scott county, the county made ia
nous by the notorious ballot used there
IN the Rhea- Walker contest, Slernp act
ually gained, though more Democrats
pald their poll taxes than ever before in
nc history of the county. This is a
great Rhea county. The Slemp people
only figured on the county by 200 ina
jo,ity and gave it out as their estimate,
bGt the returns showed Slemp's major
ity as nesriy 400. W. d. Smith is d m
ocratic leader Of the county and q great
Rhea man. He was bitterly scored in
the investigation two years ago Tor the
notorious ballot, and the Democratic
candidate failed to get what was COM
ing TO him in that county according to
the way other counties went, many good
politicians say Stuart ought to have
carried the county.
Though Senator Martin. Senator
Swanson and other organization men
stumped the district for Stuart there
was never the right spirit. Whether
the leaders are responsible or not it is
certain that the Democratic nominee in
The Ninth district could have been elect
ed if its leaders had done what they
would have done had they had a sincere
desire to see him elected.
As TO the money spent in the cam
paign it is understood that beth sides
together spent considerably over $780,
600. One county is said to have re-
ceived $4,000. Money was spent as
never before in the history Of tie dis
trict snd probably as it never will be
spent again. It's rumored that as high
as $50 and $40 was paid for votes at
some places. Neither side seemed to
lack for money.
''If the organization didn't knife Stu:
art it did not 60 for him what it could
The local Democratic leaders seem to
be of the came opinion, some expressing
the opinion openly and others by insinu-
alton, that Stuart was knitted in Giles
and Scott counties and in Bristol city.
In fact, a few, in their wrath, nave
gone so far IS to openly accuse Peyton
St. Clair, W. D. Smith and Judge W.
F. Rhea Of swinging the snickasnee
chat cut short the political aspirations
of Henry c. Stuart. Anyway, it's a
pretty row, and when political thieves
fall out it may be that the honest peo-
pie of Virginia will get their dues.