The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-26
IMPROPER INFLUENCE OF LEGIs-
LATORS,
sMITHVILLE. VA. No


Mr.. Editor: / am not much given
TO getting into print" but my fears
for Virginias future is my excuse
this time 1t is fearful to con-
template the tremendous effort made by
the railroads to sway the destinies Of
this old Commonwealth. The people are
being "gulled" and deluded by these vast
corporations. 1t is an open secret. that
one Of the aspirants for the United
States senatorship, has furnished funds
for political purposes, and il is said that
whenever this railroad money has been
used, the delegates elected thereby are
claimed as pledges 20 vote one way.
Whether this be so or not. it has that
look, ito a man up tree IL may be
all very well for patriotic Democrats to
contribute for campaign purposes through
the State Chairman. But when gentle
men get money outside Of their county.
from private sources" IL is apt to
be for particular purposes. But can our
legislators be bought Are they no
more than cattle in the market? Can
IL be that I'm Virginia, around whose
past so many memories cluster such
an insult has been offered to men.
who aspire 10 iii seats once occupied
by our revered statesmen, to speak
whose names fills US with a just pride
whose names were synonyms OF honesty
and integrity? If So is it not time that
this trust-that IS, the election Of judges
and senators be taken out of the hands
of our legislators. and given back TO
the people. and that they be allowed 10
express their wishes at the ballot box?
Think Of it. my countrymen, Our Court
Of Appeals and our United States SEN
ators, elected by the railroads-will Nir-
ginians submit 10 1t? Are they willing
TO have courts. where private interest,
the welfare Of the citizen is not cOnsid-
cred? l feel that / know the sentiment
of my own people Of Charlotte. Ii al
lowed. they would delight 10 do honor
to Mckinney. or either Of those grand
soldiers and statesmen. Hunton or Lee
men tried on a hundred battlefelds, and
never found wanting and whose struggle
for the rights OF the people In times
Of peace have shown them statesmen
not less than soldiers.
r. F. HUTCHINSON.
We have read with care and anxious
interest the above letter Of Mr.. r. +.
Hutchinson, upon the Interference by rail-
roads, in the election Of members OF the
State Legislature. with the view to the
election of judges of our Court Of APP
peals. and Of a certain candidate for the
United States senatorship. We feel per-
fectly sure that our correspondent is ems
tirely in error in supposing that the rail-
roads have directly or indirectly inter
fered or attempted to interfere with the
election Of judges of our Court Of Appeals
but we are informed that there has been
improper interference as to the election
of some members of the Legislature. for
the purpose of securing the election of
certain candidate 10 the United States
Senate. But from the information which
we have. we think our correspondent
does injustice In thinking that the i'm
proper interference came from those Off |
GERS responsible for the management Of |
the railroad. We feel sure from what we
have learned that that interference came
only from one Of the subordinates OF one |
Of the railroads. and was wholly unauthor-
ICED.
We are Informed that OF a contribution |
made by certain Of the railroads, intended |
for the campaign fund OF the Executive |
Committee for legitimate expenses. not
one-haif ever reached the chairman, but |
was dispensed by this subordinate rail- |
road official. in furtherance OF the candi- |
date for the United States Senate OF his |
personal choice. and that this was done
IN disregard OF the wishes. II not the di-
rect orders. of his superiors.
We have been shown letters from some |