Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-16
DEMOCRAT SPRINGS
GREAT SENSATION
IN FINAL DEBATE
Deliberate Sale of Patron
age by Virginia G. 0. P.
Is Charged. II.
JUDGE HARRISON SHOWS
LETTERS AND CHECKS
Republican Appointees Are
Called On for Cash by
Slcmp's Employees.
nr j. Frederick E..nrr.

W Dec. l5,-NOllnS
along strict party lines. the House
today unseated Representative
Thomas w. Harrison. of the Seventh
Virginia District. n Democrat. and
seated John Paul. who was the Re-
publican opponent of Mr.. Harrison
in the 1920 election. The vote was
20l to 100 to unseat Harrison and
coz to 90 to seat Paul.
Mr.. Paul. the Republican contest
ant. spoke for about half an hour
supporting his claims to the scat
and explaining features involved In
the election. Representative DallinG-
or. OF Massachusetts. chairman of the
Elections Committee, also spoke in
favor OF seating Mr.. Paul and up-
holding the majority report on the
contest. Representative Hudspeth. OF
Texas. one OF the two signcrs OF the
minority report, defended Mr.. Har-
rison.
Harrison Springs Sensation.
While the action of the House oc-
casioncd no surprise, Representative
Harrison in a speech made shortly
before he was unseated, sprung L
political sensation by charging the
Republican leaders in Virginia with
selling patronage and producing let
ters. which. he contended, substanti-
ated the charge.
The letters which Mr.. Harrison
read OIL the floor of the House in
clnded one letter signed by Repre-
sentative c. Bascom Slemp, Republic
can. OF the Ninth Virginia District.
member OF the Republican National
Committee. and number OF COM
munications passing between J.. Il.
Howard. secretary to Mr.. Slemp. and
Il. II. Powell. a Republican merchant.
OF Grctna, Va.
Produces Cancelled Checks.
Mr. Harrison also produced nearly
score of Cancelled checks. aggre-
eating S992. drawn by Mr.. Powell.
and made Payable to Mr.. Slemp. some
OF which were indorsed jointly by
the latter and his secretary, Mr.. How
ard. while others were indorsed sim
ply by Mr.. Slemp or his secretary.
The checks were made on dates
ranging from April II. 1920. to Octo-
her %. 1921. In addition, MIR. Har-
rison showed two other checks, one
of which was made out by Mr.. How
ard to DIR. S. q. Reynolds. and made
payable to the order of Fred w. Up
ham. treasurer OF the Republican
National Committee; while the other
was made out by Mr.. Powell TO wv.
II. Hase. chairman" and Endorsed "W.
II. Hase," made payable TO Fred w.
Upham.
Slcmp Appears Surprised.
SlcIlp was OH tie moor OF tn9
House at the time that Mr.. Harrison
made his charges that tho Republi-
can leaders of Virginia engaged In
patronage selling" and appeared 10
be surprised at the attack. Shortly
after Mr. Harrison referred to tho
letters. Mr.. Slemp Interrupted to ask
when they were dated. Several times
later in the Harrison speech. Mr..
Slemp arose to his feet. but after Il
moments hesitation. again seated
himself without seeking to question
the speaker.
Shortly after the vote unseatins
Harrison and seating Paul, however.
Mr.. Slemp issued brief statement
In reply to the charges OF the form
er in which he admitted that Mr..
Powell did some work for the Re-
publican organization. hut denied
that Mr.. Powell. Mr.. Howard or any
one else was authorized to connect
collections of money with the prom
isd OF appointment to office"
Text OF Harrison Speech.
Now let me tell you what think
about the upshot of this whole busi-
ness said Mr. Harrison on opening
his final speech as a member OF the
House. The people OF tho country
do not understand altogether Vir-
ginia Republican politics. 1t Is a
puic IlldbleE OF patronage ana
question OF how they can feed at the
public trough.
why. I have been hearing all over
the district about the sale OF patron
age. | have been hearing that Of
fees were sold for what money thera
was in IL. and have right here tho
incontrovcrtiblo proof that that il
the condition we have been facing
In Virginia. i do not believe the Re-
pubiicans Of the North would stand
for II any more than would anybody
else"
Reads Several Letters.
Mr. Harrison then said that he
would like to read a number OF let
,crs to tho members OF the House
The first one. he said. was signed BY
Representative Slcmp and addressed
10 Il. X Powell. Gretna. Va
lie then read the letter as follows:
Dear Bcn.--I have letters In re-
gard to the collection of money for
pOst-oGiccS. One must be very care
ful about this. 1t Will bring the
party into disrePute, which would be
bad for every one. Wc must pre-
serve our standing with the people
and with the administration.
with best wishes. / am, sincerely
yours.
Sisnedl &C. q. SLESfP.~
Tho next one" Mr.. Harrison xaid.
"is from Mr.. Slemp's secretary.
CONTINUED on Page II. ceg S. X