The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-16
National Chamber Thrown
 Into Uproar as Virginian Bitterly Denounces Patron age System as Employed by Party in His State
RING OF DOLLAR BRINGS POLITICAL PIE, HE SAYS
Charges Rep. SIemp Dispenses Patronage and Offers Proofs
 of Sensational Nature to
 Back Up Allegations Against His Political Opponents
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-In a parting shot at his republican foes just before they busted him late to- day from the House of Representa- tives, on the ground of election ir- regularities, Representative Thomas W. Harrison, democrat, of the Sev- enth Virginia district, charged that the life of the republican party in his state was based on patronage and then proceeded to read letters which he declared proved incon- trovertably" that patronage had been sold there.
 Amid the utmost confusion in the chamber, Mir. Harrison declared that Representative c. Bascom Slcmp of the Ninth Virginia district and republican national committeeman was the dispenser of all patronage. Then, holding aloft handful ft letters and cancelled checks, M Harrison exclaimed:
 'The people of the country la not altogether understand Virgin republican politics. It is puf matter of patronage and a questi of how they can feed at the pun trough. Why, I have been heasil all over the district Of matters, abo the sale of patronage. l have bel hearing that offices were sold 1 what money there was in it, and have right here the incontrovertat c proof that that is the condition fe have been facing in Virginia"
 Offers slemp's Checks
 MT. Harrison asserted that 'f si head of this whole business is as( distinguished member from the NiitR Virginia district"
 He Is the disburser of all patg age" he added He is the maar li4 has to give his indorsement to aisA body that applies, not only in rJ own state but also as l underst3luc in other states.
 "I picked up few checks--cheS gentlemen, by the bushel. They ate indorseG, some of them by Mir. S,eill and some of them by MT. Howard his secre tary."
 
 the date, and MT. Harrison replica that they seemed to run over year. from December, 1920. 10 January 1922 The checks were not read .tc the record. Mir. Harrison said rloSf of them were drawn to Mf Sl ul and MT. Howard and signedty E t,. Vowel. whom he later described lf answer to questions, as a patronage referee, Most of the amounts were under sto0. he said. and several went to the republican national commit tee.
 While he made no reply in the House, Mir. Slemp, in a statement to- night. said that neither Powell nor anybody else had been authorized to connect collection of money for the marty organization with the promise of office, and if this had been done it was without his knowledge or ap- Iroved.
 Letter Urges Caution
 The first of the IeGers read by MT. Harrison. purported to have been writ.c. by Mir. Slemp to Powell in answer to letters. in regard to the collection of money for post offices
 One must be very careful about this" the letter said. Tt will bring the party into disrepute. which would be bad for every one. We must pre- serve our stand with the people and the administration"
 It was on the heels of Mir. liar rison's speech. which republicans described as an effort to attack Mir. Slemp. that the House put off debate and voted 202-to 100. to declare his seat vacant. With this done. 1t voted POI to y9 to seat John Paul, repub- Iican contestant. who was mme- diateiy sworn in to serve until March 4 Mir. Harrison was elected in No vember and will return to his old seat in the new Congress.