Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-17


what was his position In regard to the
/ senatorial contest. or in regard TO any
/ other candidate, he wilfully and delibe-
rately lies.
"It never bothered me In any way
whether a man was for Lee. Martin, or
/ anybody else" added the witness.
/ II want to say furthermore that
/ can give the names Of friends OF one man
! / helped as well as the names or the
I friends OF another There were friends
: OF General Lee as well as friends OF
( Martin or Hunton among those L assist
ed. The part / took In the campaign
/ was at the earnest solicitation OF the
/ chairman OF the State Committee. i
| gave him all the time and help could
/ and I never undertook to do anything
/ that Mr.. EIlyson didn't know
/ SURPRISED AT THE INVITATIONS.
e" have letters from him bearing out
the statements that / have labored on
! those lines. l never thought any other
,mpression or intimation would be made
d until read the article In the Times
referring to a railroad othciaL Nhen
] learned Il had reference to me cohnlu-
nicated with the proprietor OF the paper
/ and told him | unhesitatingly pronouneed
the publication false. and demanded the
source Of his information. l received
/ reply from that gentleman IN wnlch ne
l said he had done me wrong, and that
full retractlon would be made; also thaI
he would publish the retraction.
! Afr Thompson here showed the edito-
rial and retraction Of the Times to the
committee IN, .A,s
"rhere is nothing connected with TINS
matter that am unwilling for the COM
/ mittee To know about repeated MT
| Thompson. If any man says that
| intirnated 10 him whom he should sup
| mort I'm consideration Of my services ne
| states what is not fact
WANTED THE FACTS KNOWN.
81 tell these things that the facts may
| be known" AMI, ,.
| senator Arushbach asked: did any
t-nIted States senatorial candidates ex-
ercise the right to distribute any Oh the
funds donated%' II.
"No. sir; they didn't" replied the Wit
moss. II understand some have unuer-
! taken to throw a clouds over the SUI
| tion nv referring TO my friendship Tor
| Martin. am his friend, and l take plea
srra I'm his friendship; but what II
o,,9 Though connected with a railroad
| sbould not have my views as Wen as
Won. a lawyer? addressing senator NiuSn
| I,cb, Our official business IL discharged
odiciallv. but individually We are IKE
any other citizens Of the state
Mr. Nicol: Il have never heard any
reflections on a man because he was
railroad man ~ .s...o1
Mr.. Thompson: Mr.. Meredith re'eIieN
10 the friendship between us -,
",s "a the railroad companies being
,,tvod up I'm this thing. that IS all 'bosh'
7 know many railroad men who were OPP
nosaJ to Martin. In fact, | know oilE
two I'm the State who favored MN
Wicl,han, and myself. l recognized the
fact that was entitled 20 my preference
NOTHING TO BE CONCEALED.
.~rhore ia nothing ! want concealed
once more repeated the witness. ut,
MIR Nicol: | realize that, sir. would
YOU object to stating whom you ld'o'ou
for the Senate! . .,.,,,
"r favored IIunton for the short term
and Martin for the long term. ,...,
Mr.. Thompson submitted TWO Ie.,1'5
from Chairman Fllyson, which ne reau
,.i.b tho view of showing his services
Ito the party. The first OF these I''N''
J. $. r. Thompson ESQ;
Nc Dear Mr. Thompson.-l cannot let
tbn carnuaign Of 1893 pass into history
without expressing 70 you my most sla1e-
fuI aupreciation OF al your KIND sym
r,thv and help. l simply could not nave
done without you. There is no one III d"
the state who has rendered me the NdIu,
oble service that you have not ihcIc''
in raising money, but what app
o,,ite as much. sound advice ana klhuiy
e,rupathy. / shall always cherlSh b'"'0
! ful memories OF your kindness.
Yours truly, r,,ryeo>-
J. TAYLOR ELLfSoN.
THE CHAIRMAN'S SECoND La ''''
Here is the second letter:
|
COMMITTEE.
RICHMOND. VA" November - 1870
l. s. 3. Thompson. Esq:
Nv Dear Sir-I have read with much
.,,,rIrIss the editorial IN the Times Oh
yss. arlay on Improper influence q,
.eielators." in which II has been charged
that there has been improper interference
,r To- the election of some members o.
the Legislature for the purpose OF Sc
clirin. the election Of certain canuiud'e
f,r the United States Senate, and that
mat interference came only from one or
the subordiuates OF one Of the railroads
I am informed that you are the person
| to whom reference Is made. ! desire 10
raneat what / wrote you the day after
the election that | DO not know any one
in the State 20 whom / am so much IN
dobtad as yourself for valuable assist
ance rendered during the campaign You
were always among my earnest helpers.
and You enjoyed TO the fullest extent
| my confidence and esteem, as ! did yours.
Our intercourse was constant and init
mate. ana never at any time saw any
thing 10 warrant the statement that you
we're using any OF the funds entrusted
| tn Won in the interest of any particular
candidate for the United states Senate
Indeed. IL Is within my personal knoWi-
edge that YOU again ana again uIEeu lit'
| assistance De sent 10 candidates whom
YOU knew 10 be friendly TO otn"r cdilul-
dates than the one who was your pei
s0nal choice | can say that az no uiie
did you seek 10 influence ne IN the us.
tributjon of any funds in the interest OF
any particular candidate for the United
states Scrate. Indeed. r. seems TO me
I'm an YOU said and did whenever SUCH
questions were under consideration IN my
pregence. that you sought 10 10 whatever
Won believed 10 be- To- the best interests
of the Democratic party, without any
| reference 90 how it would affect the pros
poets OF any particular candidate Tor any
Office at the disposal Of the Legislature
In regard 10 the charge made that YOU
used any money intended Tor the cum
paign fund of the Executive commute
in furtherncc OF candidate IoI w
United States Senate of your personal
choice desire to say that I believe you
incapable OF dlvcrting from its legitimate
channel any fund entrusted 10 you Tor
any purpose whatever. l DO not hesitate
10 say that such an intimation does you
erossest Injustice. and I am fully salts
fed that every dollar sent through you
,or the campaign fund was delivered as
directed We were at all times IN tull
accord as TO the distribution OF any con
tributious which have been made by those
whom you represented. and enjoyed III
all those matters my fullest confidence
was never associated with any one li
any campaign who has enjoyed IN =
larger measure my heartiest goodwin
and most cordial esteem. | gave II u
Won because / felt that you deserved H.
! and I believe that you reciprocated tha'
confidence by keeping me fully advised
as 10 whatever you did in rendering as
sIstance to candidates in any section OF
the State. ,,,..bo..
, regard | am
Very sincerely, ,.
]. TAYLOR ELLYSoN.
HE GAVE ASSISTANCE.
, "All Of that" said the witness referring
/ IN the letters, sis personal TO me, l know
but In view of the article in the Times
: want TO put myself on record. There ar
! plentv of gentlemen in this Legislature
Who sought and received assistance IRON
Ir.I hon