Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-12
THE DOCTOR SPEAKS.
REASONS WHY The LETTER ENpoRs-
ING Mr.. Mcue WAS WRITTEN.
~. Tobacco Trade ESonerates Its Presi-
dent. But Disspprovcs His Action
Not Political Body.

- the association IN writing letter. over
he official signature. commencing Mr.. Il.
q,,Ior NcCuo 10 public favor and courtesy,
end a. the same time rave emphatic ex-
rresion 90 the body's dsapproyd of his
acDou
n went further than this and Indignantly
denounced the idea that tho Trade IL in
fucrcod any Of It's acts by political con-
sa.rat0ns.
There we're perhaps two hundred per-
soos present at the general meeting Of the
Trllc held on tho floor Of the Exchange at
noon Yesterday 10 consider this matter
. eiou' which so much has been said and
written. Most OF these we're members OF
,f, or.anization, though there was quite
h~-o -prnking OF interested spectators.
ISrERRsTINo SESSION.
II was ono Of the most interesting rs well
e-rro.t largclv-attended sessions that the
a.-ocntion has ever held. The subject 70
De discussed had thoroughly aroused this
clement of the business community, and
Chose who deal in the weed were con-
rerrad I'm tho outcome Of the matter.
ln view Of the fact that the President
WAGON trial. go 10 speak, the vice president.
Nr. r. y Christian. occupied the char
ana briefly explained the circumstance
which lead 30 the calling Of this general
lN inc ibfifh OF ATDNcfilolr, Niil AliAl
raf wish to shoulder the responsibility oi
taking hnal action in SO important mat
t-r. which. il was thought. should receive
flc careful attention OF tho entire organi-
gnuon.
THE PRESIDENT EXpLAIS5.
when Mr.. Christian. having concluded
his statement, announced the meeting
T.lvfor business. Dr. Patterson arose and
recognized by the Char. and he pro-
cDoied 10 explain all of the CIRCUMSTANCES
connected with his writing the letter. The
Doctor said after Mr.. McCue sold hls place
bc stated that he was going to Washington
so live. and asked him for letter OF CON-
m,laatioD Nothing was said about po-
itcll matters Mr. McCue was, ~ for as
hc know, q member of the Trade IN goou
standing. and he gave him such letter
a- g usual in such cases. He signed hls
uqmr as presidont o. the Tobacco Trade
solely that he might be located and known
and with no idea or intention OF binding
nut member Of the Trade. * his motives
had been misunderstood or mlsc0nstTued,
100 one regretted - more than he did.
Iie stated that he had prepared
letter which he wished to have read
and which gave full and truthful
-tatemeut Of the matter lie SAID that ne
Ind been a member OF the Tobacco Asso-
cation cor forty years--in fact. was at Its
christening No man held IT'S honor or in
ferests more dear nor would do more for
Its well being. dewas therefore surprised
that anybody should think that ne
would do anything 70 injure the Trade.
THE Doc1oB's sIDR.
nr. Patterson then handed up 70 the Sc
cretarv and had read a paper which he
4lld was q iull and correct statement of all
the facts in the case and ne added that ne
desired IL gwen publicity in order that his
conduct might be vindicsted. The state
mcut IN full ls az follows
RICHMOND. Va, April II, 1890.
t. fbe Tobacco Trade Of Richmond:
Gontlemen.-Th position | occupy by
your favor as well rs "a proper regard for
IN m demands at ms hands full state
mont lu connection with a certain letter OF
introduction and commentator recently
cIy. bv me 20 Mr. b. Taylor McCue. one
oi tine members of our association, which
letter signed as President OF the Tobacco
Trade But Tor my appending the words
Pr, sident, &c, 10 my signature, you oi
course would have nothing 20 DO with that
letter. and would not notice here the un-
favorable comment, which have come to
my knowledge, through tho press and
orbcIW '-e. IN respect 10 the matter. but as
-he letter was 80 signed by me and II mas
boon construed 10y some to have scope
not intended. deem some explanation to
you proper.
The fact- are those: Mr. McCue called on
mta few DAYS AGO and stated that he had
.Yld his farm here and was about 10 move
Zoo Washington city, -. c., where he cx-
pected to 20 INTO the real-estate business,
ard asked me o. give him letter OF INTRO
auctiop and endorsement. as 1t might he
-.aful for him III securing business. He
Was - that time End had been for many
,,a~- a member in full standing of the 70.
haccu Trade. an association composed of
gentlemen, and not knowing anything
eeun-t Mr.. McCue myself, thought 1t was
.ui only my privilege but my duty 10 give
um such a letter aud tO sign II a. the OIL
sal head Of the body of which he was
member. The letter was hurriedly written
nd signed by me without much reflection,
ans may not have been as carefully word
ri as I might have done under other cir
ruu-taucCs. ! did not think then, nor do
now. that have violated any usage III
giving Mr.. McCue the letter for the pur-
poses for which II was asked, but II IN
your opinion | have transcended my
authority. or il have gwen offence 10 tins
a--ociatlOn thereby, / regret It, be-
.auso | appreciate the honor YOU
have conferred upon me and highly
prize tho approval OF the gentlemen
who compose the Tobacco Trade Of Rich
moul. My action III this case has. nm
satisfied. abundant precedent IN other as
-uriatiOus, II not in this; and when Mr..
ilrtue called on me he showed me a simi-
ar letter from Rev. DIR. Kerr, pastor OF the
lir.t Presbyterian church. OF which he lsa
member.
Bu, ID ls said that the letter / gave has
been used by Mr. McCue 20 secure pOhtl-
cal proforment from the President of the
United states. | have tho most conclusive
rroof that this is wholly untrue. / would
not have given il for such purpose, and
am Glad to know that il has not been used,
nor attempted to he used, for any such pur-
zoe. lndee IL has not been usedata Nr.
McCue has been absent from the c!iy ever
.nce the letter was gwen 10 him, and upon
hi, return on Tuesday evening last, having
heard Of the dissatisfaction 1t had caused,
ne promptly and voluntarily returned II 10
uc and furnls shed absolute proof that he
a.l not been in Washington since be re-
rc.Ved IT, and that the letter bad not been
oat Of his house. he having left II at home
when be went away. have the letler IN
Ily possession now, and since there seems
90 be opposition on your part TO his
having a paper which may he construed
into an endorsement bv this assocla-
ton, Will not give II TO him again IN, my
nalcal capacity without your order author
iNug Il.
In conclusion, regret that some per-
sons. the public press particularly. hGNe
been disposed 20 mix up politics IN TINS
matter. and that there has been cOnsidera-
ule comment upon Mr. McCuc's politics
AID my own in connection with It. This
was grossly unjust and improper. In
giving the letter of endorsement IN
question 10 reference whatever was
made to politics. Mr.. McCue's political
viows and nine are widely different
and he could not have gotten my endorse
ment for political Office even If he had ask
I'd u. knew nothing then. and am en-
urey ignorant now Of any political aspira-
uous he mas have
II will be a sad day for this association
whon II becomes practice among us TO
eaguire into the politics OF members or
officers IN passing upon their conduct or
their rights: and earnestly trust that no
such consideration wil ever influence the
action Of tho Tobacco Trade of Richmond.
X. A. PATTERSON.
THY LETTER nANTYD.
After the statement had been reed Mr..
" T. Hancock moved that il be received.
General Peyton Wise opposed this, and
called for the reading OF the letter given to
McCue