The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-04-12
PATTERS0N---MCUE.
INVESTIGATION or The LsTTER
CONTROVERSY

xVaa held Yesterday 70 CONSUL '
49,. Nccne controversy. Or. Il. a. faiter-
son i president Of the Trade. Mr.. u. lay-
,or A,ccuo Is amember Of the Trade, and also
n nrominont Republican. Some time recent
" the Doctor gave Mr.. McCue le,terendof'-
ing him highly. and signed the letter as pres'-
dent Of The Tobacco Trade. The report be-
came current that The letter was desired for
use in obtaining Federal consulship at
Glasgow. Scotland. A. many members oil
the trade did not approve Of Mr. McOue'
they objected 90 Dr. Patterson action
claiming that the cndorsation Dound lheil'
An Investigation was begun, ana the meet
inc Yesterday was held % pursue ID.
n ID. Christian. yicc-pfcsldcnt, TOOK the
chair. called the meeting 90 order. and SAID
s.Gcnflcmcn.-Iu explanation OF TINS extra
ordinarv session. | would state that "a "
meeting Of your Board Of Managers hela on
saturday last. IN obedience 10 the eN ~,
sentiment of members Of The trade ''a' ., ~
Board should consider complains ~ ,,os
your president for having "iiise" ran.
In the opinion OF thc saia iil'i i's Al, n n
dilOquent letter in ptn'', ,,. tfe D6icial .ig-
Mccnc and attaching thereto n's Pa,
"oN"'' a. thaf meeting AFTER nearing our
n"''1d,'o, la his own defence. the conc iu7I1"
',u',cbcd that he did not do % Win lne
W., on purDosc of doing any INJURY Nh"i-
,.srr ~ This Trade. or 90 asy oi MS members
individually. but they DO th'nk' hON'N'I'
fuai he exceeded his authority IN isih. ms
official position for such purpose tne!
moreover requested The rocaii on 'ne leilel,
and adjourned % this on such earlier das
and hour rs Dr. r. A. Patterson, our presi-
dent. might find convenient u appear with
tho letter in question. Day before Nesier-
dav the board met again. az forr prcsi-
J.. a..,.... = ,s.ruesf. ~ winch meeting Or. Pat
fe1eon informed the board that he had ihe
objectionable letter in his possession, having
obtained il from Mr. McCue, but IN the
,neanwhile the newspapers bad made pun
LEGATIONS in regard 10 The matter WINCH
pave IL such publicity and caused 80 ih"cn
discussion and dissatisfaction among mem,
bers of the Trade as 20 Che matter, causeu
n nm The Indictment Of your board. 20 as
SHINE PROPORTIONS which put DO beyond
their right 10 deal with the question, ana
thew 40 decided. and have referred the mat
Ter now 10 the Trade. that 10 may take such
action rs 10 il may deem proper, ana the
matter is now before this meeting.
''THE PRESIDENT
nr Patterson. who was present. here rose
.rd said. "Mr. President. ] rise slt, 10 q
question Of personal privilege. ! nave
,yritfeu fair. honest and truthful stale
mont of This Transaction. and in regard 10
nv relations 10 this letter. IL Is said that
this letter was given 90 Mc'ue for pOhilcai
purposes. IL is said ! signed that ieiief,
binding every member OF this trade III u,
binds any member of this Trade u was POI
30 intended am prepared TO sho" lue'
that letter has never been OUT on nc u' p
nossessiOn. has never been out OF MS mousse
and mo use made of 10 as "a business leticr.
or for any other purpose. ! viii state lne
facts in connection with THIS ahaif.
"Nlr. Ncgue called on me ana stated ht
nod .nid or was about % sell. his property
hers. that his future home would De in the
civ Of Washington. that he expected 20 err
gage I'm the real estate business there Win
rclntiye Of his wiie's. who had Deeh sue
cessful real estate man in tnat city ana ne
asked me il would give him letter. SAID
certainly. and wrote of hastily just such a
letter as is usually given. signed II *. a
patterson. president of the Tobacco Associ-
alton. because / thought IL would be Of no
,ae 40 him signed Il. a. Patterson, simply
because / was not known. did not thlnh
IL would bind the association. and Thought
IN wa ONLY X. a. Patterson whose word mao
zone forth. There are remarks that ! shOuid
have said that don't give letters. hag
never heard OF any charge being pieieiftp
against McCue. and consequently had no
reasons 10 refuse him on that score. On the
contrary. McCue has in his possession let
Ter given him by his pastor. recommendins
him 10 the favorable consideration OF All
other churches.
WHEN IT WAS GIVEN.
Il gave this letter 10 McCue on Wedues-
day or Thursday OF last week. attended the
Called meeting Of the Board Of Managers
told them was sorry had given the letter.
and as II seemed a. have given ohense'
,yould get il back. went 10 McCue's, saw
bia fatheT-in-law. VINO told me McCue had
GONE 10 Alton and would Dee back ON tuesday
evening. ON Wednesday morning ]
came by pretty early. and l said
10 him. since you have been
cone reports have been current here
that YOU were in Washington, and that your
purpose i'm getting possession Oh that leiter
was TO aid You IN obtaining a eoh7uiship
lie said. Il have evidence enough 10 prove
that | have not been near Washington
Airs. McCue said: i have letter which ! re-
ceived from Mr.. Mc(ue, showing that on
SUNDAY he was m Albemarlc county, ana
.IcCuo said. If YOU Will write 10 your
friend Fishburne. at Wayneshoro. be Will
tell Won all about it, Mrs. McCue also said
thai soon after NcCue's arrival nome no
commenced feeling In his pCssets for that
letter. a1d not finding IL became very any
IONS about II. ANA ! suggested 70 might DE in
.one old clothes he had lett az home.
and she commenced a search and found
the letter IN one 'of the side
nockete Of his ONcrcOat. which hc
had left behind. So that If was wron.
in giving him the letter, 1t bad done no
harm. Aud now see in the Richmond pa
pers. and where they got their authority
from don't know, a statement 20 the elec'
that was party 90 an attempt on the part
Of McCuc 90 secure Government posui"h
aud this impression has gone abroad. ma,
no such thought IN any connection VII.
any foreign Office or political office when
gave that letter. / felt deeply agneNe"
ana well might feel agrie'ed.
QUESTION on AUTHORITY.
..The question rs. whether had author.
~ As have said before, there are hume
rms precedents. and. as | was not known
in Washington. gave the letter over m,
ofllrial signature. lf an outsider had asked
+. lettor. 1 would. of course, have declined
INT a. Mr.. McCue was member OF ou
Trade. and could not discriminate 0cains
him. Tor know nothing Of MIR. McIue out
side of the Tobacco Exchange, ana neNe
md n transaction with him In my life.
may have heard pDors, but could not taxi
coenizancc of mere rumors, and be was
member Of the Trade.
LOOSE MANAGEMENT.
uJnst here let me say we have been Coz
loose in the management Of our affairs an'
the control of our members. Our member
Shin should bc purgcd. and those found un
worthy should be excluded. We are IRE
sumed TO be an association Of gentlemen
and N we are. do you mean TO tell me ina
Vour presidcut shall for moment hesitate
Ia Tive any mfmber who asks for i a lette
az commendationi / don't think l III
wrong in giving hmm the letter, but II nav
Given onenso. regret IT, ask That 'hi
letter containing my statement OF this maj
ser be read
The letter which contained the embodl
ment OF the above statement was read.
WANTED THE LETTER.
Major Boykin asked: "Whcro is the lctie
which was given McCuefn
Dr. Patterson: 'What does the membe
wish with iif Ia ny opinion, u should b
sufficient for me 70 say that Mr.. Mctu
has moi the scratch 81 a pen nom me, am
any member who wishes to See IL can d
So
This was not satisfactory. and the Trad
demanded the production OF the letter
a a.. II. ....HI D