The Washington herald., 1913-09-25
WHALEY REPLIES
TO ALLEGATIONS
South Carolina Representa-
tive Denies Unlawful Ex-
penditure Of Money.
GRACE CHARGES FALSE
Charleston Mayor Called Chronic
Ofiee-Seeker, Who Frequently
Has Been Defeated.

Serious charges. questioning the right
Of Richard S. Whaley, Democratic mem
Der of Congress from the First District
Of South Carolina, to occupy his seat in
the House, in which the allegation is
made that money was used TO secure the
election, are embodied in a petition filed
with Speaker Clark By John p. Grace,
Mayor of Charleston, S. c.
Mayor'Grace demands an investigation
by a committee of the House, and insists
that if the allegations that he makes are
true that Representative Whaley be ex-
PEELED.
The Federal publicity act limits to
$500 the amount that may be expended
by a candidate for a seat in Congress.
The charge is made by Mayor Grace that
Mr.. Whaley, in his campaign for the
nomination, expended $4,000 in buying
votes, and the allegation is made further
that Whaley would not have been nomi-
mated if he had not indulged in large eX-
penditures. Mayor Grace alleges further
that Whaley committed perjury in certi-
flying to officers of the House that ne ex-
pended less than 5000 in his campaign.
The Grace petition was referred to House
Elections Committee No. /.
WhHIey Answers Charge.
Yesterday Representative Whaley is
sued a statement in which he character
lied the Grace petition as "a lie" Un-
usual interest attaches to the Whaley
case for the reason that il is the first
time that the certifcation of any candi-
date for Congress under the publicity law
has been questioned.
The allegations of the petition filed
nv hnt nf
from beginning TO end. The people Of
South Carolina. who know his reckless
disregard for the truth and his vindictive
ard vile opposition TO me and to my fam
lily, do not pay any attention to his
scurrilous lies, and he has. therefore,
come TO Washington, where his character
Is not known for the purpose of endeav
Oring TO humiliate me and impede and
Obstruct me in the discharge of my du-
ties
Grace is a chronic officeseeker He
once entered the race for the United
States Senate and canYassed every county
for the purpose of attacking my brother
in-law, former Mayor r. GOODWIN Rhett,
but so patent was his vindictive purpose
that he received less than 1000 Votes in
the State. l have opposed him politically,
and consequently am the object of his
Vindictiyeness- He has cherished the
ing that my election has destroyed his
chances he has become sore and dis
gruntled to such an extent that the peo-
pie of Charleston now doubt his sanity"
Long Party Record.
In his petition Mayor Grace represents
that he has long been identified with
the Democratic party in South Carolina,
by reason of which he has gained iRti-
mate knowledge of the politics of his
section, and is qualified to swear that the
allegations made either in person, knOwl-
edge, or information and beliefs, are
true
According to the official returns Wha-
ley was nominated by obtaining 629S
votes and was elected at a special cleo
tion held last April
In order to obtain these 6.29S votes"
the Grace petition sets forth. Mr.. Wha-
ley spent in the first and second pri-
maries and the campaign incident there
TO not less than $50 600, or an average Of
80 a vote Notwithstanding such eXces-
sive use of money and because he was
required by Federal law, under oath, TO
file statements showing that ne spent
not over 5000, your petitioner alleges
that Mr.. Whaley wilfully and know
ingly filed false statements with the
Clerk of the House of Representa-
tives showing that he spent altogether
A.5S31O"
The Grace petition concludes: Mr..
Whaley now sits in Congress because he
openly bought his nomination and cleo
ton by going out upon the highways and
byways~ and debauching the electorate,
and. by using over twelve times as much
as the maximum amount of money al
lowed by law, in avoidance of the conse-
quences of which he afterward com
nftted four feionious offenses"