Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-04-25
THURSDAY. APRIL 25, 1912.
ELECTIONS IN THE NINTH.
CHAPTER ONE.


Slemp's contention that there cannot
De absolutely fair and honest elections
N the Ninth district, until and unless
the republicans are permitted to select
their own election officers and have rep
resentation on the electoral boards.
Some Of these newspapers admit that it
IS but just that the republicans be per-
mitted to exercise their law-granted
rights to have representation on elector-
al boards, to select the men who shall
serve as republican judges, and to have
ore OF the clerks at each election pre-
clnct in the district. But they sssert
that the refusal of the courts and the
electoral boards to accord these law
granted rights to the republicans has in
noTise been productive of frauds to the
damage of republican candidates.
They also contend that the unbroken
successes of the two Slemps-father and
son-in their six contests for Congress,
completely refute any presumption or
claim that the election machinery has
been used unfairly to the disadvantage
Of republican candidates.
One democratic contemporary declares
that the charges made by Mr.. Slemp
that the republicans in the Ninth are
not treated fairly are slanderous. and
SAYS:
did it ever occur to him that the
only conclusive way in which his re-
Elections upon the integrity of Ninth
district election methods could be
relieved of their slanderous faint.
would lodge in his being actually
cheated out of the election?''
To this question Mr.. Slemp can very
appropriately answer: why suggest
"A settlement of the truth or falsity of
the complaint Of unfair methods in the
conduct Of our elections by dishonest
PLAINLY stealing the district from the
-eplblicans-when the question can be
settled in a way that is emlnently hon
est and just? Let the republicans be
allowed to exercise their law-granted
rights of representation on electoral
boards, of selecting their own judges of
elections, and having one clerk at each
election precinct. Then, if the republi
cans are defeated, or if there is any ma
te-ial reduction in their majority, it will |
be proven that theclaims and suspicious
Of dishonesty in elections in the Ninth
district are unfounded."
Can the democrats in the Ninth per-
sist in having their courts and electoral
boards deny the republicans their law
granted rights, and expect to have hon.
est people believe these rights are not
withheld for dishonest purposes?
And why will the democrats insist up
On keeping in force and operation cleo
ZION laws that they admit furnish the
means and opportunity to those having
control of the election machinery to
steal the Ninth district if they SO de-
sire. A prominent democratic paper. in
discussing a possible effect of the
charges Of fraud made by republicans.
declares, 1.-THE accused in a mood of
fierce resentment might turn in and ad-
dose of vote stealing, that is
vote stealing-s sort that would mean
something's sort that would retire Mr..
Slemp to private life and keep him there.
The Slemp leaders know this won't be
done"
Yes, the republicans know that it
won't be done, at least, in the bold and {
defiant manner here suggested by this
democratic newspaper. The democrats
haven't yet forgotten the incident that I
occurred at Fairview precinct in Scott {
county. I
IL you want to be above suspicion why ]
hold fast to the working tools you admit 7
.sn be used for successful dishonest c
work? If you catch n man hanging s
ssoUnd your house ia the nighttime, 7
lad End him loaded down with burglar !
ools chat be refuses to give Up, what +
aith will you have in his most earnest v
that he is not burglar? p
These same democratic newspapers D