Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-19

Mr.. Mushbach. before General Lee nm
Ished reading his paper. arose ana ex-
plaIned 10 the Ex-Governor That the news
naper report read by him did not con-
tain all of his CMushbachs) remark about
the collection OF funds by General Lee.
re said that he Q.ee) had collected money
Tor canpaign purposes which he had duly
turned over without regard to where IL
should be placed. or In whose behalf IL
should be used. General Lee. IL seems
had only seen the part which had re-
ference TO his having collected fundS.
lust before the Ex-Governor finished
-sadIn1 his paper Mr.. Downing arose
and objected TO It. but the General had
onlv few lines 10 read, which he got
through with before the member con-
Guided his objection. This caused some
laughter in the Senate chamber, wnich
was promptly checked by Chairman NicoL
General Lee said he just wanted the COM
mittee to understand that every cent ne
got was turned over 20 the state cnSlr-
man without asking where 1t should go.
IMPROPER USE OF MONEY.
He was asked II ne had any knowledge
of any money that was used Improperly
TO influence the vote Of any member OF
the General Assembly for senator. His
reply was:
"As a matter Of fact, I have not. /
think that the distribution OF money 10
a railroad candIdate"-
Mr.. Downing: Mr.. Chairman, that Is
not evidence.
Witness: 1t f. not evidence. but 1t ought
TO go before the Virginia people.
The admissibillty OF this character OF
evidence was discussed and General Lee
made reference 20 couple OF letters
Ia tvnz
asked 20 bring them and put them be-
fore the committee. and his examination
was here suspended until o'clock.
Publication Denounced.
At this juncture Chairman Nirol waq
handed a letter, which lie read. In II
was appended the following clipping from
Sundays issue OF the Richmond Times:
This letter the author OF which is ona
Of the most distinguished lawyers in Vir-
gInia, was telegraphed to this ONCE last
night:
"DANVILLE. VA, December 16.-(Spe-
claD.-To the Editor Of the Times: Nothing
has been done so bravely and honestly IN
Virginia politics as the bold stand OF the
Times in favor of purity in elections, state
and legislative. The people are with the
Times I'm it's hatred to fraud and corrup-
ton. and desire that not even suspicion
should sully the fair name OF Democ-
r0cy.
1T looks as II the joint committee ap-
pointed 70 Investigate the recent senatorial
contest intends TO hurry through the I'M
portant duty committed TO II by an eX-
animation Of such witnesses as Mr.. With
ers. who has declared. in advance OF be-
ing summoned, that he has no knowledge
OF the matters 10 be investigated, ana
reporting on such evidence that the FEARS
and beliefs of the people are without
foundation. This will be a grave mistake,
and must lead 10 the oytrthrow OF Demo-
cratic ascendancy. Let us have a full,
complete. and thorough investigation.
ITO this end beg TO say that there are
r1mors in this section Of the State that
Mr.. ]. Taylor Ellyson. our party leader,
has declared that II is absolutely neces-
sary for the Legislature to elect Mr. Mar
tin To the United States Senate and give
the railroads what they ask for, as the
railroads furnished most OF the money
with which he conducted the last cam
paign. II this be- true the people should
know II. and I suggest that the commit
tee summon Mr.. Ellyson and inquire as
to the facts. ClNlS.
THE CHAIRMAN'S LETTER.
The letter was as follows:
Virginia Democratic Committee, Hon. I.
T.. Nicol. Chairman:
My Dear Sir-I beg leave TO call your
attention to the enclosed communication
from Danville. which appeared In
the Richmond Times OF yesterday.
1 respectfully request that you
promptly summon the author or
that article 10 appear before your com
mittee. and that he be instructed TO bring
with him any individual or individuals
from whom he obtained his alleged IN
formation. / denOunce the charge as
cruelty false and as oltrageousiy hbellods
az any statement could be made.
Respectfully yours, .
Chairman State Democratic Committee.
WANTED THE NAME.
The Chairman asked Mr.. William L.
Royau. of the Times editorial staff. who
was present, II he could not furnish the
name Of the writer OF that article. that he
might be summoned. Dir. Royal said he
ala not feel warranted in giving the name
of the author unless the committee de-
manded him to do 80. He would com
munlcate with the writer, and II no did
not object TO his name being gwen ne
would give the committee the Information
It desired on this point. This was agreed
upon as the proper plan.
The withrow Case Again.
Mr.. c.. +. Moore, Of Clifton Forge. was
called and asked TO state TO the commit
tee everything that he knew on the sub
iect Of the investigation. lie said he
knew OF improper methods. but that in
his section there was a dearth OF proper
methods. Q4aughter. He met frequently
with his friend. Mr. Withrow, the mem
Der from Bath. Allegheny, and Highland
counties, and they talked about the cam
paign In that section. The fact was ire
quently commented upon by them that the
State committee was apparently doing
nothing for their community. About the
third day before the election Mr.. Withrow
and the witness went to Coyington- There
he came into contact with his friend, Mr.
John Dulaney, and witnesses first ques-
ton was as 70 tho progress Of the CAM
paign. The reply was that 1t was going
along very slowly, and Mr. Dulaney
added that one OF the reasons was
that there were no funds for carry
ing on the work. The witness and Mr.
Dulaney knew how each other stood upon
the senatorial question.
II remarked" the witness proceeded.
that we were both Martin men, and 1
thought we might see how he (NIthroW)
stood in the senatorial matter. as II was
generally understood that he was an anti
Martin man. l asked IL II would be i'm
proper in any way 70 call in Mr.. Witbrow
and ask him. Mr.. Dulaney replied that
he did not think so, and he called Mr.
Withrow into his Office We explained to
him why he had been summoned into the
Office. and he said that he had not been
pledged to any one, and intended TO go to
Richmond unpledged. But he asked US
why, and one of us replied that we
thought we could raise some funds from
certain friends OF Mr.. Martip II Mr.. With
row was not unfavorable to Mr.. Martin s
candidacy. Mr.. Withrow, Mr.. Dulaney
and / discussed the relative merits Of the
candidates. but 1 am sure that none Of
us considered It an improper offer TO Mr..
Withrow. as we did not endeavor TO have
him pledge himself.
II desire TO say that anything done by
Mr.. Dulaney or myself was totally unau-
thorized by Mr.. Martin or any one repre-
senting him. Mr.. Withrow said that he
had heard that money was being used by
the railroads and by the candidates. but
that he would not commit himself"
Mr.. Cooke: You did not raise any
money. did you?
mo, sir. All that l paid out came from
mn own pocket
Mr.. Cooke: You say it was understood
that Mr.. Withrow was AN anti-Martin
man DO you know whether or not the
Executive Committee sent your district
any funds7
None ware sent so far as know"
MR. DIII.ANEY's EVIDENCE.