Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-17
PUT ELECTION DISPUTES
BEFORE FAIR TRIBUNALS
Alleged Patronage Sale by Vir.
ginia G.. o. P. Is Generally
Discussed.
sLEMr HOLDS HIS PEACE
SWANSON and Ginss Reported Ready
to Fight Confirmation of Ap-
pOintments Involved.
By j. Frederick E,.ar.

By j. Frederick Essnry.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 1s.-Ths speo1
.acie presented in the House when
that body on yesterday un,eated
Representative Thomas w. Harrison.
OF Virginia. and seated his Republi.
can opponent. John Paul who con.
tested tn" election. today caused Rem
resentative II. Walton Moore. OF Vir.
GINA. To Introduce a resolution pro-
vidinE that hereafter such election
contests snail be considered primarily
by the Federal courts.
Reprcse Moore said tho
Election Committee. heard by chair
I man pallinEcr. would hold an early
meeting 10 consider the resolution.
Meanwhile. Virginia's contested
election case and the sensational
charges made by Judge Harrison
against Representative Slemp. Re-
publican, his secretary, and other
Republican leaders in the state. ac-
cused of selling patronage" was re-
peatedly discussed in cloak rooms
and corridors today. but there were
no surface developments.
Slrmp Refuses to- Talk
representative Rsscom Slemp fatty
refused to make an additional state
ment regarding the startling charges
brought ny REPRESENTATIVE Harrison.
MI Slcmp said he would stand on
the frirf comment made last night
mat he had no knowledge that COL
icctions were made from anybody
with promise of appointment to Of
- as reward. Republicans OF
virginia. he then insisted had merely
made small subscriptions to nay their
proportional part of the national Re-
! publican deficit In 1920.
Representative Paul served hIa
! hrst day In the House. Representa-
I'VE Harrison viii return to his home
within a few days. but having again
been elected. will return 10 Office
March e. next
Combination. Mny suner.
senators swanson and Glass de-
ciined today to discuss the House
Wfhnrle. saying such comment might
De improper. However, 1t IS reported
Mere that the two Virginia Senator's
may be heard from later when tho
senate comes to confirm Federal iob.
holders appointed on recommendation
OF MI Siemp and other Republican
leaders In Virginia. The two Ytr-
GINA senators doubtless will take
r"Snizancc OF the charge of Repre-.
sentative Harrison that Selling pat
r"naSe has gone on In Virginia and
anrE VIII scrut!nize all Republican
appointments in the State
Moore Makes Statement, ,-~
representative Moore made tho
following statement today regarding
his resolutions:
|. 1T is not worth while to discuss
inc merits of the Paul Harrison con-
'ts'eu election case. which was dis
p"sed OF by the House yesterday, all
though have very definite optnior
on that subject. While the case was
beinE put through could not he,n
,hlnking OF how frequently, during a
long pertodt some of the ables, ron or
me eso9 1i.i IN e ye. ex pressed thu
gust with the manner In which sucn
cases are dealt with. One OF these
article In the North American Re-
view. dwelt upon the fact that no
other business transacted nv the
House is so controlled by mere par
t'San feeling lie quoted Represen.
tative. afterwards Governor. Robin
son. OF Massachusetts. as saying.
when asked what were the party
| questions at that time. L know OF
| none except election cases
! The ancients thought of justice as
! a hgurc blindfoided and holding the
Scaies on even balance. But, In con-
! n"ction with contests In the House
involving tho very important matter
OF deciding who is entitled TO seat.
justice IL ordinarily blind and dear
and with only enough perception to
understand that one of the parties
is Democrat and the other is a
Republican.
Would Refer Cnses to Courts.
In order to bring about n better
condition. which all fair-minded peo-
pie should desire. I have introduced
a bill providing that contested cleo
ton cases shall primarily be consid-
cred by tho courts for the purpcso
OF asc"rtaininr the facts and report
iucq them 70 the House for final sc-
ie
a hill that was twice favorably re-
ported to the House from A COM
mittce OF which h" was chairman IN
the Fifty-third and Fifty fourth CON-
crosses. by Governor Mccall. OF Mas
sachusetts. II enacted it would bring
about the same practice that was In
siitutcd by the House OF Commons
prior 10 1870 10 relieve itself OF the
scandal attaching to the partisan
treatment OF election contests by re-
ferring them to the courts for de-
cison. a plan that has worked ad-
mirnbly and now mas unqualified ap-
provai. The bill is bending before
the committee OF which Mr. Dalln-
ger is chairman. and IL may he that
II Will receive some con Iteration in
the next Congress IL not In this.
with some modification the bill
would work out change OF proceed
ure that would save tho House from
performances which II does not relish
! and which the court views with con-
temples
Representative Moore would have
election contests come before tho
circuit Court OF Appeals OF the SEQ
tton affected. this Federal court TO
make ton 10 tho House
in all election controversies,
The action OF the House viii result
In the payment OF more than $4,000
10 Representative John Paul. Ha