Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-16
Seventh Virginia District
Contest Is Awarded To
John Paul.
ATTACKS OPPONENTS
Charges Virginia Republicans With
Selling Patronage-COntest Of 1870
Taken From Harrison Creates
Great Sensation.
lnY United pregs.1

Washington, Dec. 16.--Rep. Thos
w. Harrison. Democrat, of the
seventh West Virginia district, today
gave up his seat to John Paul, Re-
publican. following the decision of
the house that Paul and not HARRISON
was elected in 1920. However, Har-
rison defeated Paul in the November
congressional elections and will take
his seat again next March 4.
Washington, Dec. 16.-Voting along
strict party lines, the House yesterday
unseated Representative Thomas W.
Harrison, of the Seventh Virginia dis
trict, Democrat, and seated John
Paul, who was the Republican oppo-
nent Of Mr.. Harrison in the 1920 cleo
tion. The vote was POI to 100 to un-
seat Harrison, and 202 to 90 to seat
Paul.
While the action of the House occa-
stoned no surprise, Representative
Harrison, in a speech made shortly be-
fore he was unseated, sprung a politi-
cal sensation by charging the Repub-
lican leaders in Virginia with selling
patronage and produced letters, which
he contended, substantiated the charge.
The letters which Hr. Harrison read
on the floor of the House included one
letter signgd by Representative Z.
Bascom Slemp, Republican of the
Ninth Virginia district, a member OF
the Republican National Committee,
and number of communications pas
sing. between |. B. Howard, secretary
sto Mr.. Slemp, ard b. r. Powell, a
Republican merchant, of Gretna, Va.
Mr.. Harrison also produced nearly
score of Cancelled checks, aggregatIng
1892, drawn by Mr.. Powell and made
PAYABLE to Mr.. Slemp, some OF which
were indorsed jointly by the latter
and his secretary, Mr.. Howard, while
others were indorsed singly by Mr..
Slemp or his secretary.
These checks were made on dates
ranging from April IA, 1920. to Octo-
ber %. 1921. In addition, Mr.. Har-
rison showed two other checks, one
of which was MADE out by Mr.. Powell
to DR.. S. G. Reynoide and made pay
able to the order uf rdl w. Uphan,
treasurer of the ublican National
Committee: while the other was made
out by Mr.. Powell to "W. II. Hase,
chairman" and indorsed " W. II.
Hase." made payable to Fred W. Up
ham.
Mr.. Slemp was on the floor of the
House at the time that Mr.. Harrison
made his charges that the Republican
leaders Of Virginia engaged in pa
tronage selling" and appeared to be
surprised at the attack. Shortly az
ter Mr.. Harrison referred TO the let
ters Mr.. Slemp interrupted to ask
when they were dats1.
Several times later in the Harrison
speech Mr.. Slemp arose to his feet,
but after a moments hesitation again
seated himself without seeking to ques-
tion the speaker.
Shortly after the vote unsealng Mr..
Harrison and seating Mr.. Paul, how
ever. Mr.. Slemp issued brief state
ment in reply to the charges of the
former, in which he admitted tnat Mr..
Powell did some work for the Republi-
can organization, but denied that Mr..
Powell. Mr.. Howard or anyone else
"was authorized to connect collections
of money with the promise Of appoint
ment to Office
"Now let me tell you what / think
about the upshot to this whole busi-
ness" said Mr.. Harrison in opening
his final speech as member Of this
House, "The people of the country do
not understand altogether Virginia
Republican politics. II is pure mat
ter of patronage and question OF how
they can feed at the public trough.
"Why, | have been hearing all over
the district about the sale of patron
age. | have been hearing that Offices
were sold for what money there was
in it, and I have right here the incon-
trovertible proof that that Is the con-
dition we have been facing in Virginia:
81 do not believe the Republicans Of
the North would stand for it any
more than would anybody eles."
The statement issued tonight by
Mr.. Slemp in reply to the charges OF
Mr.. Harrison follows.
"In 1921 the Republicans of Virgin
ia desired to pay their proportional
part fthe national Republican defeit
and decided to do so throlGn small
subscriptions.
"B. R. Powell did some work for US
in that connection, being the mem
Der of the Republican National COM
mittee for our State.
Neither Mr.. Powell nor Mr.. How
ard nor anyone else was authorized to
connect collections of money with the
promise of appointment to Office. II
such were done. IL was done without
my approval, knowledge or consent
in any way.