Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-12-19

fuQQS.
General Lee was then asked if he
knew of his personal knowledge OF any
questionable methods having been used
in the senatorial contest. He said he
did not. but it was his idea that in an
investigation of this sort, the commit
tee should not confne the examination
of witnesses strictly to what they know
of their personal knowledge. The
General was told to go ahead and any
member could object to anything ne
said. The General started out to tell
of letters he received from members Of
the legislature promising him their
support, and who had finally voted for
Martin. The committee wanted to see
the letters and the General went to his
room to get them.
When Gen. Lee concluded his written
statement, he said that he had recelv-
ed letters showing good evidences OF
fraud.
Mr.. C. F. Moore, of Allegheny
county, said he and Mr.. John Delany
called on Mr.. Withrow at Clifton Forge.
l said, "Mr. Withrow, you know we
are Withrow men in any event, and
will do all we can to help elect you. 1t
is not our wish to have you commit
Yourself, nor make us any pledge but
if YOU have no objection, we would be
glad to have you tell us how you stand
on the Senatorial question" He said
he had been nominated without max
ing any pledge and he wanted to be
elected without making any, and then
asked why we wanted to know his pre-
ference. We told him if he could say
to us that he was not pledged against
Mr.. Martin, nor so uniriendly toward
him that he could not consider his
claims, we thought we could get some
aid in the campaign from some of Mr..
Martins friends. He then spoke ofthe
railroads backing Martin. We incl
dentally said we knew nothing of that /;
that Mr.. Martin was not dependent on
railroads he had means of his own,
and so had some ofhis friends, but nat
urally his friends did not care to spend
their private funds in those districts
where the legislative candidates were
unfriendly toward him. There was no
unpleasantness in our conversation
then, and we have been as cordial since
as before. We were both left under the
impression that Withrow would sup
port neither Martin nor Lee. We con-
linued TO do all in our power 10 secure
his election, and he has since often e1-
pressed his gratitude for our efforts in
his behalf. had no authority, direct
nor indirect, from Mr.. Martin or any
one else, to make any offers i'll his be-
half. What l did was done solely Of
my own accord, without the suggestion
or knowledge of any one.
Mr.. John II. Delany reiterated the
occurrence of the conversation with Mr.
Withrow, and in all particulars sub
stantiated Mr. Moore's statement.
At the afternoon session the first wit
ness was Mr.. G.. V. Litchlield, of Wash
ington county, who was the author oil
certain letters to Mr.. Joseph Bryan,
read on Saturday. He asked the priv
ilege of making personal statement in
reply to the charge that he belonged to
a ring and had lead the independent
movement in his county. The witness
then proceeded TO tell how the nomi-
nations in Washington county had been
made. He knew of no improper meth
DDS used in securing the nomination OF
| United States Senator.
General Fitz Lee was then recalled.
He said ne had letters from certain
members of the legislature who pledged
themselves to vote for him, but who
finally supported Mr.. Martin. These
were private letters and he did not care
to produce them unless compelled to do
so. He asked the privilege of reading
statement of certain evidence that had
come into his possession. He said this
statement would put the committee on
the track of matters that might very
we'll be investigated. The committee
took vote as to whether or not Gen.
Lee would be allowed to read the pa
per and the result was in the negative,
by vote of to 3.
Continuing, General Lee said that he
wanted to say this: In his position as
candidate for the United States Senate
he would be the last man to charge that
money was given to influence any one.
In common with the whole State he
had heard great deal. He had put it
down on paper and if the committee
wanted to go into thorough investiga-
ton he would read and give it to the
committee, with the names Of witnesses
and what they would prove. If this
could not be done he would like to file
it as part of the record, and if this was
not allowed he would give it to the
press for publication. He had not talk
ed directly with any one affected, but
had his information from persons who
could be depended upon.
Mr.. Boykin opposed the reading Of
the paper. A vote was taken upon al
lowing General Lee to read his state
ment, which resulted in the negative.
Mr.. Cooke thought it would be well
for General Lee to state the names of
witnesses and what could be proven by
them.
General Lee said his idea was to give
the committee the information on which
they could proceed. He had no person
al end to serve. If the information
brought out such damaging facts as
might call for new caucus his name
should not go before it. 1t had gone
out to the State what methods were
used and was doing the party no good.
AS to his paper, if it went on record
the committee could have it; otherwise
he would publish it. This was greeted
with applause by the crowd present.
The committee assured General Lee
that they would decide at once upon
the admissibility of the document. AZ
ter considering the question about
twenty minutes the committee inform
al tha ..-;t.o-- that ha nonld raaA La