The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-27
STAHLMAN OF NASHVILLE
DECLARES THE RAILROADS OUT
OF POLITICS,
And That EeiDg a Lifelong Demo.
crat Nothing Could Induce Hin
to Oppose the Party.


In the Nashville American and Nash
vile Union OF yesterday we fint the
following
CARED FROM MR.. Z. sTAHLhAN:
My tsntion has Just been CT lied to
a Washington special in the Memphis
AUdLdnche with reference to an inter-
view purporting to have taken plscs
between a representative of the Phila-
delpbia Press and myself on my late
visit u Washington City.
So far as this interview couples my
name with any declaration tending to
show purpose ON my part, or on the
Part OF the railroads Of this stae, to
unite with the Republicans OF this
Sta.e, with view to securing the de-
feat OF the Democratic patty, it is
wholly without foundation.
II is now nearly three weeks, and
no notes OF tle tslk wers taken. The
time elapsipg between the con-
versation and its publication was
therefore quite So fiji lent for the mat
ter to grow in Mr.. Porter's mind 10
the complex on OF his own political
ideas, which we're thus unconsciously
attributed to me as a rart oil the inter-
view.
In my talk with Mr.. Porter, purely
ato isl chat, distinctly affirmed that
the railroads would take DO part 10
politics; that the employees OF railroads
were, as rule, Democrats; that my
sell was lifelong Democrat, and that
nothing would induce me or the rail-
roads 10 take part in campaign in
this State, unless forced to do so by
the hostile action OF Democratic lead
ers; that the railroads had taken q
ct and in 1884 in favor OF taking the
question affecting them out of politics,
in which they had been sustained by
the pt ople at the ballot-box, which.
go far as the railroads were concerned,
ended the lquestion. did say
to Mr.. Porter what / have said
to hundred or more leading Demo-
Gratis OF this State, that the South hal
for fifty years or more been engaged
in sentimental politics, meanwhile
the Eastern manufacturer and West
ern farmer lad looked at politics from
q business standpoint; that while the
South was solving great constitute aal
problems, the Yankee and the West
ern man had been working for appro-
priations: that the situation, pa tcu-
laTly in Tennessee, bad undergone a
marked change; sentiment in politics
was thing OF the past, and that the
party iavofing legislation best calcu-
lated to promote the progress and ma.
terial development of our section
would receive the support of the
masses.
| said also that the tariff question
VS. one upon which Democrats in
Tennessee were much divided, and
that any attemptt0 ignore the Chicago
Democratic platform or adopt the
Morrison theory OF tariff reform
would meet with diiaster. Also that
there was an apparent attempt upon
| the part of few Democratic leaders
to make war on the administration
that President Cleveland had the con-
fidence OF the psople generally, and
any attempt to fight him would resu
in disaster to those who inaugurated
the fight This has been my opinion
for months; it is my judgment nov;
l have expressed it before; | affirm it
now.
have no recollection whatever of
the mention OF the names OF Mr..
Caldwell or Mr.. McMiilin beyond
what was eaid with reference to the
other Tennessee Represent atives,
mention OF whose names was only
made in connection with the course
likely to be pursued by them on ques-
tions affecting the people Of the State.
attach no importance whatever to
the utterances of certain Democratic
politicians, who have for some time
past been endeavoring to read bettsr
Democrats out Of the party. did OF
be. ONE a Democrat at their solicita-
ton shall not leave the party at
their bidding.
The foregoing was written Wednes-
d5y evening, upon the receipt OF the
Apdldnche containing the Washington
special, and would have appeared
simultaneo usly with the Americdn's
vigorous editorials but for sickness in
my family, which, with other pressing
matters, forbade me leaving my home
that night. l did resch the Union
office by telephone, but finding Msj.
McUord absent, concluded 10 defer It's
publication until to-day.
am surprised that the american
should have siven 30 much promi-
hence 10 a atement, purportng to be
an interview, but not published in the
Philadelphia Press for two weeks after
the interview was supp osed to have
taken place.
! wish TO resffirm that the railroads
of Tennessee have no desire to med
die with the politics Of the State, nor
do | wish 10 be regarded as 'the lieu
tenant commander tf the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad Company's po-
litiCal department" | am plain
business man, devoted, l trust, to my
profession, and in connection with its
duties have, so far as in my power,
endeavored TO remove all barriers to a
better feeling between the people and
the railroads. am no politician
neither am asking fsvors at the
hands Of any political party. would
rather have the esteem aud good will
OF the humblest citizen in the State
than the praise OF horde Of political
bosses OF either party, however much
exalted. Il, b, sTAHLMAN.
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