Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-08

1907. when Judge Rhea was again a
candidate. this time opposed by Colo.
mel campbell Slemp. father Of the pres-
vi. congressman. IL was believed
win tho negroes disfranchised. TINT
ne would nave walk over" But
.nere was sad surprise in store for
the Democrats. In the confusion that
Followed the application of the new
erection laws. many white voters in the
uistrlct were disfranchised either nv
.heir failure to get on the books or
their failure to pay the poll taxes.
COLONEL SIENP WINS OUT
ny Els VOTE MARGIN
Some Democrats fought Judge Rhea
because OF the primary plan by which
, mu was declared the party nominee
without the timc-honored convention
These and other factors produced dis.
anection within the party and Colonel
Slemp carried the Republican colors IN
victory by the narrow margin of 2IS
| votes Since that election, the Demo-
Gratis OF the Ninth have steadfastlv
chung 10 the convention system IF
nominating their candidates rcfus,ns
10 adopt the primary except when II
Is gcnerai throughout the State
Colonel Sicmp was reelected twice
defeating Joseph &. Wysor, Of Pulaski
In 1904, and Robert p. Bruce. Of Wise
III 1916. Upon his death I'm 1907 his
SOIL I. sasc"m Slemp. of Big Stone
cap was elected to succeed him. At
ne special election to fill,the vacancy.
the Democrats entered no candidato
nut many of them supported David T.
BAILEY, of Bristol. who, from every
stump in the district, denounced in
bitterest terms the "Slemp- Summers"
combine. Slemp was elected by n large
majority Size that time Bailey has
been placated with Il term az collector
OF revenue for the Second Virginia
oistrict-an Office now held by former
state Senator John Hart, of Roanoke
To-day Bailey is safely back in tho Re.
publican fold and is making speeches
tor Bascom
j. Cloyd Byars. or Bristol. accentaa
The Democratic nomination i'll 1905, and
was defeated by Slcmp by 400 mn.
,ority II was a strong Republican
year In 1910. the Democratic nominn.
lion was forced on Henry c. Stuart
now Governor of Virginia, who scared
slemp within an inch of his political
life, coming within 2l7 votes of victory.
STUART CAMPAIGN GAVE
DEMOCRATS NEW HEART
Stuart upset many Ninth District DO.
titical traditions by bringing into tho
Democratic column counties and towns
formerly regarded as safely Republic
can. and since that election the Demo.
heart. Many Republican communities
have since the Stuart campaign con.
sistently elected Democratic county
officers and members OF the Legislature.
and the movement toward Democracy
Is growing more and more marked.
especially in the towns.
But the Democratic organization was
not strong enough to win over Slcmp
with General Rufus y. Ayers, In 1912.
or with X. Tate Irvine. In 1914, both
losing to the Republican by a little
more than 1000 votes. Since the SIemp-
Irvine election there have occurred sig
nihcant national and domestic changes
the whole tendency OF which has been
TO enlarge the prestige Of tho state
and national Democratic administra-
lions and the Democracy OF the Ninth
District is again In the ield--this time
fighting with ~ candidate who is popu-
lar with all classes. and with the lev.
erage OF period Of Democratic pros
perity. The like OF which has not been
seen in the history of the republic.
II Is in such a theatcr and undor such
promising auspices, that e. Lee 1rinkle,
of Wythevile. Is carrying the Demo.