The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-07-31
Another Macune Letter.
From the Nashville Americana

Several days since, John Henry
Mcdowell printed in his afternoon
organ what he fiatteringly termed an
exclamation of his letter to McAllIster
on Macuue. In that article John
Henry bravely took up the cudgel LOT
Macune, and with a courage which
was worthy of better cause and
better man, essayed to explain all the
charges made, and all the evidence
brought out before the investigating
committee, of which Mcdowell was
chairman. We desire those VINO
have read the explanation referred TO,
also to read another letter which we
herewith print, from Mcdowell to a
leading Alliance man i'll Texas. Bear
in mind that in John Henry's ex-
PLANTATION he admits that Macune
supported Calhoun, but says that IL
was onLy after the alliance caucus
had nominated him. Here is the
language on that point:
As to the Senatorial fight,the proof IS
positive that the Alliance members OF
the Legislature did elect Pat Calhoun
in caucus, before Macune actively sup
ported him, for the reason that Pat Cal
noun had come out openly Tor the suo-
treasury principle. 1t Is true tnaI ne
was attorney for a railroad system, but
the proof shows that his opponent, Mr.
Norwood, was also railroad attorney
and it was we'll known that Senator
Gordon, the other candidate, resigned
his scat several years ago IN the u nlCeu
States Senate to accept lucrative Po-
sition as attorney or President OF
railroad These were the three candl-
dates, with Pat Calhoun nearer our de-
mands than either OF the others
Now read the following letter:
NASHVILLE, TENN, Dec. 17.-Mr:
Thomas j. Middleton. Dear Sir ana
i 60 20 VTrr
| 10, will endeavor without prejudice to
give you the truth. L was chairman
of the Investigating Commlttee. Inc
proof undisputed, showed that Macune
| and Sledge had paid 81, 600 cash to get
control OF the Southern Alliance Farm
or, official organ to Georgia; that Sledge,
| another owner of Economist, had con-
| trolling interest in the Mercury-hve
| years Iease-TexRs; that their Georgia
paper sent out as a supplement Pat
| CRlhoun's letter on sub-treRsury Dill
| before the Legislature met, Wtth the VteH
/ Of strengthening him for the Unltea
| States Senate; that AGcuIle had thas
letter sab D.itted to him for revision be-
fore 1t vas published; that ne lSent 20
4 tLanta and remained there during the
| contest for United States SENATOR, anu
| aided Calhoun, knowing him to be at
tOgtey for the biggest railroad con.Ot@e
| IN the South; that he went to his prlVAIe
residence at night and remained until
about midnight; that he got after the
Senatorial, tight was over $500 IN cash,
which he claimed was loan, and that
\ he gave as security orders on National
| Treasurer for $1,000 due him.
| In the Committee of Investigation
Evans, Jones and other strong friends
| of Macune, tried to prevent the yGctS
| from being reported TO the convention
A majority and minority reports were
drawn up and signed, but after much
| wrangling in the committee, to prevent
too much friction in the convention by
| Macune's friends, which some feared
| would disrupt the order, a number OF
us submitted to a report that ac0S clearly
q l0hiteWGSh. 1, Hall, and others OK
planned the matter in convention.
]. H. Mcdowell.
This letter was written by John
Henry when all the facts were fresh
in his mind; and in it he distinctly
states that Macune went to Atlanta
and went to work for Calhoun for the
Senate, even before the Legislature
met; that he and Sledge bought the
Georgia Alliance Farmer, and used
its columns to further the senatorial
aspirations of Calhoun, KNOWING
him to be attorney for the biggest
railroad combine In the SOUTH" that
the friends of Macune "tried to pre-
vent the facts from being reported to
the convention" and that at last "a
number OF us submitted to report
which was clearly a white-wash.
Mr.. Mcdowell is mistaken in his
statement that he, Hall and others
explained the matter in convention.
Hall tried to do so but Macune's
friends drowned his protests with
misses and howls.
Here, then, is the plain proof that
Macune went to Atlanta for the eX-
press purpose of electing Calhoun to
the Senate, that he and Sledge bought
the Georgia Alliance Farmer and
turned 1t over to the service of this
attorney for the biggest railroad COM
bine in the South, not only before
Calhoun was nominated in caucus,
but before the Legislature assembled
1t is quite significant fact also that
) after the senatorial race was over
: Macune and Sledge sold the paper
, again as something for which they
} had no further use.
Mr.. McDewell's explanation, here
tofore given, OF how Macune got al
the money to meet $4,000 loss on the
Economist, to buy his home in Wash
ington and pay for the Georgia paper
comes very late. In his letter to
NcAllister he says that Macune was
questioned on all these points, but
couldn't answer except as to PURCHASE
]. of Georgia paper, for which Sledge
furnished the money. Why couidn' Z
!, Macune have explained all these
Things to Mcdowell then, and thus
. have kept him from strewlng tht
county with these false chArges2
Here il what Mcdowell says OF ths
az, 600 transaction:
That we was aotiHed while Ia Geergil
that the Reonomlss was tcrcea 70 nave