The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-27
AYERS WILL NOT
BRING CONTEST
But Protest Will Be Made
Against Slcmp's Retain
ing Seat.
HARD TO PROVE BRIBERY
Democratic Candidate Believes
Republican Was Elected
by Corruption.

No contest will be instituted by
General Rufus y Ayers for the seat
i'm Congress from the Ninth Virginia
District according to statement
made by him YESTERDAY lie regards
II as impracticablc. for reasons which
ne gives to the Democrats Of the dis
trict.
However this does not prevent the
House Of Representatives. taking &C
ton on the charges OF vote buying
IN tho Ninth. where A. IT, Crockett.
the private secretary TO Congressman
g. b. Slemp. the Republican candidate
IN the November election. is under in
dictment for furnishing the money to
buy votes. II is promised by General
Ayers that Investigations shall go on,
and that the results shall be pre-
scented to the House with protest
against Nj Slemp's being permitted
to retain his seat.
1t is not recalled that such proce-
dure has ever been taken In Congress
save in the case of Senator William
Lorimer Usually such a protest comes
only on specific contest. Still any
member may introduce ra<olution
for the investigation of the election
Of any representative.
Many Democrats of the district had
hoped that contest would be brought
by General Ayers believing that suffi-
cient improper practices on the part
Of Republicans could be brought to
hSht to convince the House that Mr.
Slemp was not elected by the free
vote of the people OF the district II
may be taken for granted that the
district committee will lend every
effort TO any investigation that NAV
be undertaken by the House.
Letter OF Candidate
The letter Of General Ayers is as
follows:
Big stone Gap. Va. December IS. 1912
To the Democrats OF The Ninth Con-
gressional District D. virginia:
Since the election in November.
have. j nconnection with the consti-
tuted party authorities. made careful
investigation in the effort to ascertain
whether sufficient evidence could be
secured 10 warrant and sustain 4 con-
test for the seat of Z. B. Slemp in
the next Congress, and have fully con-
siGered the results of the grand jury
investigations sa far held in some OF
the counties in the district Whilst
believe that Nj Slemp's election
was secured by bribery and corrup-
/ ton OF the electorate and that evi-
/ dence sufficient to warrant the next
House of Representatives in declaring
his seat vacant can i5e obtained. it
does not follow that the House would
be warranted in awarding me the seat
unless could show by competent evil
4 cd
have been cast for me. 1t has so far
been difficult for the courts and grand
iuries, with full power to grant Of
lenders who testify immunity from
prosecution. 70 secure evidence TO
justify indictments. as the man who
viii buy or sell a vote Will frequently
swear Il lie 10 shield himself or as
sociates in crime. II the courts with
this power are in most instances un
able 10 get the facts upon which 20
prosecute the criminal. how would it
! he possible for the contestant to Sc
cure the evidence necessary in such
contest, without any power to grant
immunity?
have Information that at every
precinct in the district. where there
were purchasable voters they voted
almost solidly for my opponent. 1t
would be idle TO put them or the party
workers who oought them upon the
stand in a contest--they would not
incriminate themselves and examining
them would be useless
Democrats Kept Faith.
The Democrats throughout the dis
trict fully obeyed the law and djl not
use dollar to corrupt the ballot. ana
any assertion TO the contrary is the
cry Of the criminal. stop. thief, stop.
thief in an effort 10 escape detec
ton
The Democratic party OF the Ninth
District invites the closest scrutiny OF
all its acts. and It will aernand Of the
Republican partv st.ict proof that il
has obeycd tine laws or. falling in this.
that il he held up to the just scorn
and contempt Of the public
After the fullest consideration Of
the available means Of securing the
evidences Of the fraud and corruption
which believe was resorteG 10 in this
election. have reached the conclu-
sion riiat contest IL imprscticable.
and therefore will not serve notice
Of contest. ~ IS. however. an alto
.ether different matter when il comes
20 the House taking action upon its
own initiative u preserve its inte-
zritv and unseat members electcc by
fraud and corruption--it does not then
depend upon the number Of votes or
the size - the majority. but upon the
! corrupt practices resort"d TO in OBJ
tanning any portion Of them
The Investigations viii 60 on in each
county % the district. and tho results
4 VII o., nscScntcd to the frst session
os rh.. a.Nt Hogs. with protest
AKA Mt AR Sienip's being permitted 20
retain bis seat.
f-fruods " \. AYERS.