The times dispatch. [volume], July 11, 1911, Image 1

About The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914

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you.
RICHMOND, VA.. TUES HAY. JULY 11, 1911.
TUK WttAVHBK TO-DA*-K.Ir. PRICE TWO CENTS,
SENATOR MARTIN MAKES DENIAL OF FURTHER CHARGES MADE BY JONES;
J^YS g HOMPSON LETTERS REFERRED TO DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN FUND
CongTessman Declares
Question of Veracity
Is Raise 1
READY TO PRODUCE
MORE EVIDENCE
In Speech at Woodstock Quotes
Senior Senator's Denial, and
Asserts That His Proofs Arc
Unassailable and Vindi?
cate His Side of Con?
troversy.
Will Not Tell Where
He Got the Letters
The correspondent <if The Times*
Dlxpiitcb nt Woodstock vtui, lu
Klruv'ed to nnk Mr. Jouch lo tell
where or from tvbam lie obtained
the letter* ?Itnrd J. s. ||, Thunip
miu, uutl addressed to Thomas s.
Martin, Dccatnr Ixtell, I.ronnrd
>lurlniry, ?'? Hi lionrnrl and Gcaeral
T, M. I.ok.-iii. The answer follow*!
Woodstock, i n, July 10.
The TImei-Dlspatcli, Richmond, Va.:
Mr. June? lert al 4i20 I?, M. for
Washington. I? bin speech he re?
fused |a aay where tuv letters ran?
from, except Hint thej' were fnr
nlnhcd Mm In mi honeM v.ny. mid
tlmt they were Klven to blm through
the love or the timidity Cod, ho
thut the people of Virginia inl?ht
know. >iii,i;v.
[Special toTh r' lmes-Dlspateh ]
Woodstock. Va., duly 10.?Congress?
man W. A Jones tired his tlrst gun
In the Valley here to-day. It being
the regular court day. ills address
was taken up in part showing the re?
cord of Senator Martin, particularly
on the lumber schedule of the tariff
The crowd did not number more than
150. and was composed of the untl
muchlne Democrats and some Repub?
licans. In anticipation of a state?
ment upon the denial of Senator Mar?
tin of any knowledge of the "yellow
dog" fund, the small audience swel?
tered.
Mr. Jones said:
"In a speech delivered by me In
Halifax county twelve years ago I de?
clared that when Senator Martin was
first elected to the Senate, he was j
known chiefly as a railroad lobbyist
and agent.
"Senator Martin replied through the
Richmond Lender. July i'l. 1899, that
he did not know where 1 got my in?
formation in falsehood and malice. I
quote his exact language:
" "Mr, Jones states that at the time
of my first election to the Senate 1 '?
was known to the Virginia people,
only as the agent and lobbyist of j
railroad corporations. I do not know j
when Mr. Jones gets this idea, but \
I do know that it had its origin In
falsehoods and In malice, because I
have never at any period of my life
been the representative of any rail?
road or other corporation, or of any
person or persons in connection with
any matter pending before the legis?
lative body. State or national. Many
such retainers have been offered me
ns a lawyer, but Invariably 1 have
declined them. 1 have never In my
life had my course ns a citizen in
respect to any public matter embar?
rassed by a retainer. No one can
truthfully say that I have been re?
tained to represent, or have, in fact,
represented any interest for a corpo?
ration or any one else before a leg?
islative body."
"The denial Is explicit, direct, sweep
lngly comprehensive, it simply raiseo
a question of veracity between V.'il
11am L Royall. who had testified in
the ]>ee-Martln contested election case,
the late Mr. Joseph Bryan, of the Rich?
mond Times, on the one hand, and Sen?
ator Martin on the other.
"In u speech delivered by me In I
Lynehhtirg last Friday night, 1 reiter?
ated the charge asserted by mo
against Senator Murtin in Halifax
county In lSSft. and declared I was
prepared to furnish other and addi?
tional evidence to sustain the charge
if that of Mr. Royull and Mr. Bryan
was deemed inconclusive; and I ? fur?
ther asserted that I was prepared to
prove that Senator Martin was one ol
the disbursing agents of the yellow
dog fund of the railroads.
"Mr. Martin. In a telegram to yes?
terday's Times-Dispatch, which I first
saw last night, makes denial or the I
charges in the following language. j
'? Your paper of this date reports |
Mr. Jones as saying in his Lynchburg '
speech last night not only "that Mar
tin represented the railroad Interests |
? before the Legislature of Virginia, but
that he was actually one of the dis?
bursing agents of the 'yellow dog'
fund for the railroads.
" 'Mr. Jones made these same state?
ments twelve years ago. and they
were then denounced by me as false.
I desire to say that said statement,
and every word of it, is absolutely
false. The reiteration of these vicious '
and slanderous falsehoods, which have !
been denounced by me time and |
again, simply show the extremities to
which Mr. Jones is driven in this
campaign.
"'Referring to what Mr. Jones has
stated about the Lorlmer investiga?
tion, I simply desire, to say I voted
against the right of Mr Lorlmer to
hold a seat In the Senate when that
question was before the Senate, and I
that the resolution which was offered |
by me for a further investigation into |
tho charges of fraud in connection j
with h's election was offered In order I
to procure a further and exhaustive j
investigation, in view of newly dls- I
covorc . evidence, and it was offered .
by me under the instructions of tho
caucus of the Democrats of the Sen?
ate.
"'I repel as false and slanderous any
statement or insinuation thai the reso?
lution offered by me, under the Instruc?
tions of the Senate Democratic
caucus, was intended to screen, or
tould by any pb??.?blllty screen Mr.
T? XCpjitir}ue~d 0R Second Pago.J
SEXATOH THOMAS S. MAItTIX.
W. A. JO.VKS.
LETTERS READ BY JONES
IN SPEECH AT WOODSTOCK
During the roursr of bis ?iirri'h nt Woodstock y enter day, Cougrrtsmnn doors
read the following five letters, designed to substantiate the charges ho has made j
against Senator Martin, thin the latter when elected to ihr United States Sen?
nit' was only known as a railroad srioi and lobbyist. Senator Martin hau de- '
nounced the coarse* ?<- false and slanderous)
THOMPSON TO MARTIN.
ItlchnioUd anil I)hii\III?- Itnilroail Company,
oflire of General Manager,
W. II, Greeil, General Manager.
Atlanta, t'.u.. September US ISlll.
Mr. 1 hnmas S. Martin, Srottsville, Vo.t
Pear Sir,?I nm In receipt of your favor of the 25th Instant, and Inclose my
Check on Ibe Firm National lluuk of Alexandria, Va., fur eight hundred dollars
i SfMiti.tiOi, wblrb j.iii run apply to the purpose rtateit.
I im? sorry thr.t I ruls*ed you ut CItaWottCKVflle on Friday evening: last.
I returned l? your office JuM after you had left. I saw Messrs. Mooo, Farisb
and Morris, 11? well on .Mr. Peyton, and started the matter us best I could, and
hope you ?111 have satisfactory result*- Please keep n\e advised from time to
time. Yours truly,
<A Copy.?
THOMPSON TO AXTELL.
H. THOMPSON.
October f?, 1S01.
I ! '. I. ?? 1 i
Mr. Decatnr Astcll, Richmond, Va.t
llenr Sir.?I expect to set up to Vlrglula about the Ifrth of October, to de?
vote some days Minnlug up mutters lu %\hleb you are all Interested; mid, as I
shall Iben have to full) close out ull arrangements, I think it very Important
that I should he thoroughly prepared to do thin, and In (hut direction It would
be well for you to arrange to turn o\cr to Mr. Martin similar amount to the
last our given him.
1 write this iu advance, lu order that you inny be prepared.
Yours truly,
J. S. D. THOMPSON.
(A Copy. I
THOMPSON TO BOGART.
November 23, 1SD1.
Mr. J. II. Hogart, Franklin, SouthuinPtou County, Va.i
Dear Sir,?lu accordance with previous advices I band you herewith my'
check im First National Hank of Alexundria for S2.10.0o.
I trust .um win certainly y[o to Richmond on Mouday next and npend Monday
nnd Tuesday there for the purpose of rendering any assistance you can to Mr.
C'urdwell and our other friends. It Is not probable that I shall Ur there, hut
I certainly hope you will ntnke it n point to be present, and when you do go I
would NUKS>est thnt you hunt up Mr. Thomas S. Martin, nlin can be found on
Inuutry ol General Hill, and lu the event Mr. Martin Is absent please confer
freely with General Hill nnd Mr. Cardwell.
Yours truly,
J. S. B. THOMPSON.
i A Copy.)
THOMPSON TO LOG AN.
General t. m. Logan, Room 1-12. No. so Broadway, New York, N. Y.i
.My Dear Sir.?Mr. Mini ford advises me that Major Myers has just paid over
to Mr. Ellyson S?OO.00, and lie Ik afraid thnt is nil can lie expected from that
source. I trust Mliuford Is mistaken, for unless Major .Myers conies up with the
full amount It win embarrass matters very muck, for, knowing full well what the
Munition, required, nnd acting In good faith for the best Interest* of all concerned.
I assured Mr, Ellyaon that lie could count upon the full thousand, and I know be
made his arrangements bused upon thnt, ni>' I feel Pledged to see that the
amount Is forthcoming;. In everything wbl' cut on at Richmond, Mr. Elly?
aon acted In the most thorough good fnltl (Is us, nnd was really of In
Unite assistance to us, und I know can lie de. ipon to help us this winter.
Ilotli Martin mid I were thoroughly liupressi the fair manner he denlt
with us. and 1 do not wnnt him disappointed . .utter, and unless Major
.Myers comes up with the additional $500.00 we w ? .rtniuly have to provide It.
I write this for your Information, an I have no doubt you will have an op?
portunity of bringing the matter to Major Myers'* attcntlou in Its proper light.
Yours truly,
J. S. B. THOMPSON.
(A Copy.)
THOMPSON TO MARBLRY.
November 23, 18111.
Mr. Leonard Mnrhury, Alexonilrlu, Vn.t
Dear Sir,?I huve not heard from you In reply to my two letters of last
week, hut as It takes so long to net around I have not been surprised. For the
name renson, however, I write to suggest that If it he eonveatent you endeavor
to get down to Itlchniout on next Monday and spend .Monday and Tuesday there,
rendering whatever assistance you enn to Mr. Cnrdwcll and our other friends.
If you go, which you should do hy nil menus, if possible, hunt up Mr. Thomas
S. Martin as soon as you reaeli Richmond, and put yourself iu touch with hlra.
He ran readily lie found by making; Inquiry of General J. C. Hill, Commissioner.
If Mr. Martin should be absent confer freely with General HUI nnd Mr. Cardwell,
I hnve assured Mr. Cnrdwcll that Mr. Brndhelm would support him, nnd I
trust to your seeing that this Is cheerfully done. Make it a point to get Mr.
Cardwell to assist neiidhelm to n firm position on committees.
Yours truly,
J. S. D. THOMPSON.
(A Copy.),
Seven of the
Fifteen Are Dead
Of the fifteen men nnnieil In Ihe
live letter* signed J. s. H. Thomp
"in nnil rentl by lion. \\ tlllnm A.
Jonen nt Woodstock on yesterday,
seien are ilend. In the letter ad?
dressed to Tliomns S. Martin arc |
mentioned Messrs. Miiun, Pariah,
Morris nnd Peyton, nil of w.bom 1
have passed away, except John Ii. I
Moon.
Of those nicutlnnrtl In the letter j
written to Leonard Marbury, Gen?
eral J. C. Hill In (lend.
.1. II. itoKiirt, of Southampton
county, to whom n letter rvns ad?
dressed, I* dead, while Bevertey
Ulunil Stanford nnd Major R. T. D.
Myers, both dead, are nmonK those
mentlonetl in the letter to General
T. M. Logan.
Those stilt ll\|ag nrrf
Senator Thonint? S. Mnriln.
General T. M. I.i>Kan.
Supreme Court Judge n. H. Card
well.
Hon. John B. Moon.
Leonard Marlmry.
Hon. Charles llendhelm.
Ltciitonnnt-Gnveriior J. Taylor
Bllyaon,
lleetuur Axtell.
Mr. Axtell, to whom one of the
letters was written, made this state?
ment yesterday nfternonn:
??I never gave Mr. Jones or any
one else the letter purported to
have been w.rltten me by Mr.
Thompson, or a copy of such n
letter. I do not. Indeed, recollect
ever having r?.Ived sueh n letter,
but I could not (ell without making
an examination of my files."
SUIT FOR DIVORCE
TO BE FILED TO-DAY
Action by Miss Barrymore
Against Husband Brought in
New York.
New York. July in.?Confirmation of
the report that Miss Ethel Barrymore.
the actress, Is to sue for a divorce
from Russell Griswold Colt, her hus?
band of two years, was given here to?
day, when material from which Miss ;
Barrymore's lawyers expect to prepare '<
and file to-morrow Initial papers in '
the action- reached the city from Los j
Angeles. Cal. The suit is to he rot j
absolute divorce, and will be formally
Contested, It will be tiled in Now York. !
rhe summons and a copy of the com?
plaint are awaited by Colt and his I
lawyer, who expect to receive them '
co-morrow or Wednesday,
Frank M. Patterson, Colt's lawyer,
so declared to-day, after being closeted
for more than an hour with his client. {
Jack Barrymore. the theatrical i
star's brother, spent almost as long
a time with Dittenhoefer, Gerber &
James, the law firm which diss Barry?
more has retained.
"No papers have been served upon
us yet," said Mr. Patterson, "but we
are prepared to receive tho summons
to-morrow or Wednesday. We will not !
dodge service. At present, we are ,
s'mply waiting for the oi..er side to
move, and until they act we cannot, j
of course, go ahead with the case.
The material from which Miss Barry- j
mol e's lawyers will draw the com- j
plaint, it 's reported, is in tho form of !
one or more affidavits signed by Miss I
Barrymore at Los Angeles. There is ?
but one ground upon which absolute 1
'Continued on Second Page.)
Uncle Sam, Banker.
An idea vtortli millions, or how
Frank Hitchcock lias removed the
necessity for ?j.ono bookkeepers, Is
Interestingly told In n eoai rlliution
which vtill nppenr In next Sunday's
Tlmes-Dlspateh. The article wltr
tell nlao of the new pnstnl mixings
bunk system, nnd how It Is man?
aged.
Rail ro ad M on ey Was
Used in Democratic
Campaign.
FnZHUGH LEE
HELPED CAUSE
State Chairman Says Leading
Men Solicited Railroad Funds
to Preserve White Rule.
Was Asked No Legislative
Favors by Corporation
Representatives.
Thompson in Europe;
Will Sail Saturday
J. S. Harbour Thompson, n nephew
of the late laltcd States Scnnlor
John s. Harbour, nuil until recently
one of the ofllcluls of the Southern
Hallway Company, whose nnme 1?
signed to the letters rood yesterday
at Woodstock by -Mr. Jones, Is lu
Europe, hut ?III sail for America
uc-vt Saturday, July 15.
Mr. Thompson Is a Virginian, anil
inarrleil the daughter of the lute
Colonel Morton Mnryc. lie lias lived
for many years In Atlnnta, and
sluee resigning from his position
In the southern Itnllwoy Company
lius become the head of a cotton
compress company.
The Tlmes-Dlspatcli has cabled
Mr. Thompson* telling him of the
l'-'ters read by Mr. Jones, und re
Vaesttnaj him to explain the letters
and tell how they came Into Mr.
Jones's possession.
In an authorized statement given
to The TImes-Dlspateh last night re?
garding the Thompson letters present?
ed by \V. A. Jones. J. Taylor Kllyson.
who was In 1&91, as now, chairman
of the Democratic party In this State,
gives a review of the history of tho
times. He tells how the leading men
of tho State, among them Senator
Daniel. Mr. Martin and Genera] Fits'
hue!: l.ee. joined In soliciting and ac?
cepting contributions for the Demo?
cratic campaign funds from railroads
and other corporations All business
interests in those days desired the
continuance of Democratic rule, which
meant stable conditions which prevail
under a white man's government.
After Nominations Were Made.
The implication Is that Senator Mar?
tin, then a private citizen and a mem?
ber of the State Democratic Executive
Committee, helped to solicit these
funds, it is noticed that the letters
referring to money raised In 1S91 were
written prior to the November elec?
tion for members of the Legislature,
hut after all the party nominations
had been made, and when the sole con?
sideration which Induced money con?
tributions was Democratic success, and
when the personnel of the candidates
could not have been affected. The ex?
ception Is one letter when the State
Committee seems to have been left
with a shortage after the campaign.
For this course in securing funds
and In disbursing them. Mr. Ellyson
expresses no regrets. He emphatically
denies that, although he handled these,
contributions, he was asked to do any?
thing In regard to legislation by anv
representative of any railroad.
Further, he recalls that the last
time when railroad ' money was used
in this State was in the election of
1901, when Messrs. Montague. Wlllard
and Anderson were the nominees for
the highest State offices
Chairman Fllyson's Statement.
The interview with Mr. Ellyson Is
as follows:
"I have read the reports of the
speech of Mr. W. A. Jones at Wood?
stock to-day. ?> it is known to Mr.
Jones, as to any one In any way con?
nected with the conduct of party af?
fairs in Virginia, that from tho tima
Hon. John S. Barbour was elected
chairman In 1SS3. until the adoption
of the new Constitution, we were ac?
customed to collect campaign contri?
butions from railways nnd other cor?
porations. The last time of which I
have any knowledge, when contribu?
tions were received from corporations
to our campaign, was In 1901. This
was when Hon. A. J. Montague was
cur nominee for Governor. Colonel Jo?
seph E. wiiiard for Lieutenant-Gov?
ernor, and Major William A. Anderson
for Attorney-General.
"I presume no one will deny that
Mr. Barbour was chosen, tlrst. because
of his ability, and second, because of
his close relations with great railwav
corporations, which gave him ready
access to those who made the contri?
butions at that time so much needed.
The splendid work accomplished by
Mr. Barbour makes his name one al?
ways to be gratefully remembered by
those who appreciate what was dono
by the leaders of that day.
The One Greut (lucstlon.
"We were asked in those days hut
one question?"How can we carry the
State?'?and the men on whom the
burden and responsibility for the fail?
ure of success of the campaign rested,
were Judged by results. Individuals
nnd corporations cor -e.rned about the
highest welfare of the Commonwealth
were only too glad to make contribu?
tions to the campaign funds.
"In the two years to which Mr.
Jones refers?1S91 and 1S9.1?the gen?
tlemen who rendered me the most
valuable assistance |n securing cam?
paign funds were Mr. B, B. Munford,
Mr. Joseph Bryan, Major Lewis Olnter,
Senator John W. Daniel and General
Fltzhugh Lee. They went with me
and gave me the fullest co-operation
and support In obtaining contributions
from every source known to be
friendly to the perpetuation of Anglo
Saxon domination In Virginia.
"I had no apologies then for tb>
fight 1 made to keep Virginia In con.''
trol of the white people, and 1 have, no
regrets now for anything I' dIcfc ? th.?
accomplishing that result.
No Requests by lliillrouds.
"To answer tho specific matter with'
which Mr Jones Is ple>> ' to asso
Was Member of State Committee in 1891
and Raised Money for Organization to
Insure White Supremacy,
DECLARES HE WAS NEVER A LOBBYIST;
REFUSED RETAINERS FOR SUCH SERVICE
When Thompson Letter Was Written to Him, Senator
John S. Barbour Was Still Alive, and He Had No
Idea of Becoming United States Senator or of Ask?
ing for Any Public Office?Denies That He Ever Had
Any Knowledge of So-Called "Yellow Dog Fund,"But
Asserts that He Was Active With Prominent Citi?
zens of State In Securing From All Sources Funds to
Be Used in Preventing Negro Domination.
BY SENATOR THOMAS -s- .MARTIN.
Washington. D. C. July 10.
j To The Times-Dispatch: .
Your telegram in relation to the letters read by Mr. William A. Jones, at
j Woodstock, to-day., has been received.
i . In accordance with your request I will make the following statement:
At the outset I call attention to the fact that Mr. Jones, in a speech made by
\ him In Halifax county. In July. is;?n, made substantially the same charges which
I he made in his speech at Lvnehtvurg' on Friday night last, and which he at?
tempted to prove at Woodstock to-day, by reading the letters referred to In your
telegram.
Immediately after Mr. Jones's speech in Halifax twelve years ago. I replied
to the charges he then made, by an Interview which was published In the Rich?
mond Leader on the 29th day of July. IS??, In the following words:
MrL.fu In FnUehnud nud Mnlncc.
"Mr. Jones slates that at the time of my first election to the Senate T was
known to the Virginia people only as the agent and lobbyist of railroad corpora?
tions. I don't know where Mr. Jones gels this Idea, hut 1 do know that it had
its rlgin in falsehood and n-.allce. because I havo never at any period of my
life been the representative cf any railroad or other corporation, or of any
person or personH, In connection with any mntter pending before any legislative
body State or national. Many such retainers have been offered me asalowyer,
but Invariably I have declined them. I have never In my life had my course as
a citizen In respect to any public matter embarrassed by a retainer. No one can
truthfully say that I have been retained to represent, or have, in fact, repre?
sented, any interest for a corpcratlon, or any one else, before a legislative body.
The only ccnncction I have had with railroad corporations was this:
"Before my election to the Senate. 1 was, local counsel for the Richmond and
Alleghnny Railroad Company, until It was consolidated with the Chesapeake and
Ohio Company. I then became the local counsel for the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad Company, which I had not before that time represented. My agree?
ment with the company was to prosecute and defend suits and transact all
legal business In which they might be Interested In live counties, for which I
received an annual salary. It was a retainer solely In legal matters. I did not
even know the president of the company, Mr. M. H. Ingalls; until after I was
elected to the Senate. He, as well as every other railroad president in Vir?
ginia, was opposed to my election. I never represented any ot' er railroad cor?
poration, hut. as the records of the court will show, I broug'fit suits against
them. When I was elected to the Senate, I resigned my position as local coun?
sel for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company, and have since that time
represented no corporation whatever- In fact. I have been unable to give any
attention to the practice of the law. and have devoted my time exclusively to my,
public duties."
Thought Slander" at itent.
The statements made in that Interview were repeated by ine in many puhlio
speeches in Virginia, and I thought these old slanders had heen forever put to
rest, until Mr. Jones revived them in his speech on Friday night last. In a,
number of Virginia papers, the morning after Mr. Jones's Lynchburg speech,
the following reply from me to what he said, was published:
"Washington, D. C, July S, 1911.
"To The Times-Dispatch, Richmond, Va.:
"Your paper of this date reports Mr. Jones as saying in his Lynchhurg speech
last night, not only that Martin represented the railroad Interests before tho
Legislature of Virginia, but that he was actually one of the disbursing agents
of the Yellow Dog fund of the railroads. Mr. Jones made these same statements)
twelve years ago. and they were then denounced by me as false. I desire to
say that said statement, and every word of it. is absolutely false. The reitera?
tion of these vicious and slanderous falsehoods, which have been denounced pv
me time nnd again, simply show the extremities to which Mr. Jones is driven
in this campaign.
"Referring to what Mr. Jones has stated about the Lorlmer investigation. I
simply desire to say I voted against the. right of Mr. Lorlmer to hold a seat in
the Senate, when that question was befcre the Senate, and that the resolution
which was offered by me for a further investigation. Into the charges of fraud
In connection with his election, was offered in order to procure a further and
exhaustive Investigation. In view of newly discovered evidence, and it was of?
fered by me under the instructions of the caucus of the Democrats of the State.
"I repel as false and slanderous any statement or insinuation that the resolu?
tion offered by me. under the Instructions of the Senate Democratic caucus, was
Intended to screen, or could by any possibility screen Mr. Lorimer, or that it
had any relation whatever to the lumher Interests in the I'nlted States
"Any statement or insinuation that 1 have at any time had any relation or
connection with any lumber trust or lumber association, that I have been i"?
any way influenced by them. Is also false, and slanderous.
(Signed i ' THOMAS S. MARTIN."
Reiterates Former Denial.
Now. referring to the Utters read by Mr. Jones at Woodstock for the pur?
pose of proving his statements. I desire first to reiterate every word which I
set out In the Richmond Leader on Inly 29, 1S99. And In my above quoted re?
ply of last Saturday to Mr. Jones's Lynchburg speech. I have never in my lifo
represented a railroad corporation, or any oil er corporation or any person or
persons, before any legislative body for compensation or without compensation.
I, of course, do not remember the letter purporting to have been written by Mr.
J. S. B. Thompson to me on the 28th day of September, iS91. but 1 have no dis?
position whatever to question Its authenticity.
In 1S91. Mr. John S. Barbour was living, and was a member of the Senate. I
was not in public life nor contemplating any candidacy for the Senate or for
any other otHce. I was taking, and had for many years taken a very active
part In the conduct of the Democratic campaigns In Virginia, bestowing a great
deal of time and labor, and such contributions of money as I was able to make,
to accomplish success and maintain the political supremacy of the white peo?
ple In the States. At that time the franchise, not having been taken from the
negroes, they constituted a constant menace, and our campaigns were exceed?
ingly difllcult and expensive, As a member of the Democratic Committee, I was
In rhe h.ihlt of assisting Mr BUyson, the chairman of the State committee, not
only in tho conduct of the campaigns, but In raising the necessary money for
campaign purposes. I solicited money from the managers of railroads and from
other men-qf wealth, who like the railroad managers were interested""!!* the
prosperity and good order of the State, and in preventing negro ascendancy,
which all knew would be destructive of property rights, as well as of our civili?
zation.
Mr. J. S. B. Thompson, Mr. Axtell and others from time to time made contri?
butions or assisted in raising funds. Every dollar contributed by them, includ
4r)ir the *S00 mentioned in Mr. Thompson's letter of September 2S. 1891, or realis?
ed from any source, was, so far as 1 have any knowledge or connection with
the same, disposed of In the tnterest of the Democratic party, and not one dollar
was intended to be used, or was given to be used or was in fact used, in the In?
terest of the railroads or of other corporations. They were asked to contribute
.to the Democratic party, and tho money contributed was contributed for tbAC