The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-17

mean improperly intercepted, but had
been used by gentlemen for other than
general political purposes. That Is to
eject certain people to the United States
Senate, whether General Lee or Mr.. Mar
tn DO not know that is what we are
here to find out.
The Richmond Times.
BY Mr.. Thompson: II you will allow
me to interrupt you, Mr.. Mushbach. l
want to ask did you not receive a copy
OF the Richmond Times" Of November
18th, with an article marked?
Mr.. Mushbach: / saw an article In thf
Richmond Times which | understood t'
be an attack on you. and / saw snbse-
| Quent withdrawal OF that charge. Is tha'
what you mean?
Mr.. Thompson: Yes.
Mr.. Mushbach: That is why ] explained
/ Just now that 7 am not making any az
tack on you. The charge is that General
| Lee collected money from different sources
/ and did not turn it over TO the state
| committee.
| Mr.. Thompson: II you will bear with
me for moment and the committee
| will indulge me, ] think ] can state some
/ facts bearing upon the investigation.
Mr. Mushbach: Well. that is what we
are here fOr-to find out all about IL.
Mr.. Thompson As far as my connection
with this matter is concerned. there IS
nothing that shall be concealed. I want
10 say that this is not the first campaign
I'm which ! have felt n deep interest.
Those men who know me- Mr.. Nushhach
amcng the number. know that since l
have reached my majority , have been
an active and earnest Democrat. This is
not the first campaign I'm which I have
tired TO do my duty as n citizen and help
the party IN every way / could. I did
so IN -'4-G-'7-'S-9 -1SgO-1 / did it when
Mr.. Barbour. with whom I was very
closely associated. both as his nephew
and private secretary, was chairman Of
the State committee. I did IL with Mr.
Gordon. with whom 7 was closely asso-
ciated. ] did it with Mr. Ellyson I'm all
those campaigns. / have undertaken TO
render the very best service could pos
sihly render I'm behalf OF the Democratic
party. I'm doing that ! have done what !
thought WAS my duty. and have done as
much as ! could. H. I'm all that time. l
have eyer done anything improper. 7 want
the man who VIII undertake TO speak that
fact TO step forward and state II. Mr..
Mushbach has taken occasion TO say that
/ felt interested in his election I'm my
own town. II Mr. Mushhach has any
reason TO think there was any improper
motive on my part i'm aiding I'm that cleo
ton, he is here 10 say so.
AFtw Tacts
Mr.. Mushbach: ] have not made any
such statement
Mr. Thompson: I know you have not
l want to state two or three facts i'm
connection with this campaign.
First / want to state that any con
tribuuons which were committed 10 me
TO deliver to Mr.. Ellyson or anybody
else, reached MIR. EllysOn or ANYBODY
else. The man who says they did not
wifully and deliberately lies. / have
not come here 40 make any speech or
TO arouse any feeling. but t have come
here 10 state facts 10 this committee.
and not to permit any man 10 cast any
reflections ON me. / want To- say that |
I'm rendering what assistance I could |
I'm this last campaign. that 7 did II I'm /
behalf of me Democratic party of this I
state. without reference TO individuals 4
did IL because / believed The Democratic /
party was the best party. and represented |
the best interests Of the state; because !
also believed that what was termed |
the POpulsr party If they ever got into /
power. would do great harm 10 every /
citizen and every interest I'm this State
I rendered assistance I'm every way T
could. That was proper and right. II
there is man who can say that IN
rendering any assistance that I rendered
that I inquired into. or even desire 10
know his position or undertook 10 make
10 a matter of condition or understand
ing as 10 what position he would take
with reference 10 the senatorial candi-
dacy, or any other Office h. deliberately
and wilfully lies. 7 want 90 say further
more, that In rendering that assistance /
have rendered it alike 90 the friends
of an candidates. 10 never bothered me
or worried me whether "a man was for
Mr.. Martin or General Lee. or Mr.. Hun I
ton, or Mr. Jones or Mr.. Brown. IF !
be- was a Democratic candidate 7 would |
help him I'm every way / could. and there
Is no man I'm this State or anywhere
else can say that in anything 1 did, /
NAL &c a matter OF condition or
matter of understanding as 10 how he
stood. 7 want 90 say furthermore. J can
give YOU the names OF as many friends
,f one man that ] tried 90 help. as Of
he friends of another There are plenty
,f gentlemen I'm this Legislature who
we're the friends of different candidates
who sought assistance at my hands
md asked me % interest myself I'm their
candidacy ] did It, They were friends
IF General Lee. ms well as friends NJ
,lr. Martin. or Mr.. Hunton, ana there
we're men who were not friends OF any
# them IL any man can come for
ward and say that my assistance de-
pended upon how they stood they make
misstatement The part I took IN this
was at the earnest solicitation
If the chairman OF the State Committee.
gave him an the assistance and time
hat I possibly could. I was I'm HIS con-
idence. 7 am quite satisfied. He GER
ainly was thoroughly i'm mine / never
undertook 10 do anything I'm any direc-
ion that the chairman Of the State
did not know of. / have I'm
ny pocket letters from him. which will
.nar out my statements; letters which 7
esire % file with this committee, as
icing I'm the line Of my testimony ! have
abored ON those lines and on no other
nd thought I was doing my duty as a
iflzen Of the state; I never thought
hat any other impression would be
made. until 7 read IN the GichmonO
fines. OF Sunday morning. November I
Sth. an article I'm which certain charges !
we're made as 20 an individual whom
hev referred 10 as p subOrdir ate rail-
Dad official. That article is doubtless
amiliar 10 You gentlemen. as l under I
tand from more than one member ~ j
he LEGISLATURE. that be got a copy of /
be Times with that article marked As {
DON as I understood that article referred e
n me 7 proceeded 10 take the course q
hat n gentleman would follow. Mt once a
with the proprietor OF that G
amor and said 10 him. that understand s
,a tho article referred 10 me. I unhesita- O
nglv denoiSced the statements as false q
, every particular: I demanded from S
I'm the name OF the employe u his I