The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-19

,'NriFsu as fOloWs. From Straus
Brothen, of New York. 500; from -,
ssv. from President Grover Cleveland,
slvo; from the president OF the HanoyeI
National Bank, $50. There Yves some
money which was to be sent down to Mr.
Eliyson, but | got a note from him this
morning stating IL was not received. The
totsl amount collected was s., 80. | was
ohly In New York about two hours, as ]
was very busy Ia the campaign. / want
10 say, In reference TO Mr.. Cleveland. tina
l dld not ask him for any contribution
10 the campaign, nor, so far as l know,
did any one ask him. | was talking 10
MN ABOUT the election in Virginia. and
ne expressed great hope that the Demo-
cratic party would triumph, and when I
was leaVlng he asked me where / was
SAVING told him at the Shoreham
ho.ei, IN Washington, and I bid him good
evening. and that was all that passed
Nhen | got back to the hotel I found a
note, saying: Let me know IL YOU get
TINS safely. @. c." In that note were
twenty hty-dollar notes for the Demo-
cratic campaign fund.
Where Grover Stood.
MT. Downing: Do you object to saving
whether Grover Cleveland was favorable
or not to your candidacy for United
states SENATOR
~ % iar as / remember. | never had
any conversation with MIR. Cleveland on
.ne suuJect' he certainly never said any
lHlhS 10 me about IT, nor 10 | remember
ever having said anything to him. |
lllsht state, also. in this connection. that
L near II has been charged that | had
some Federal patronage to bestow: that
1 offered some Federal patronage. l never
approached anybody on the subject OF
giving them a Federal Office i'm eonsidera-
tion or their voting for me or getting
.nelr representatives TO vote for me In
this State or elsewhere.
Mr.. Cooke: I would like IN ask co,aral
Lee IL ne knows whether this canvass
was conducted differently from any other
canvass heretofore.
y. 1 think II was conducted differently
I,o" any other canvass, with probably
'he exception of the canvass of two years
ago, at which time we had two different
parties distributing the campaign money.
:. fhen there were elections when per-
sons distributed money besides the Execu-
tive Committee before this election.
=. heard that was the case In the can
Vass Of two years ago.
Mr.. Treadway; Was that money raised
Dy the Democratic party or by individuals
two years ago1
o"' VI IT, as L understand, was
raised by the Democratic chairman .and
his committee, and some of II by the rail-
ROADS. The railroads distributed their
money direct 10 the counties and tho
campaign money went, / suppose. through
the regular channels OF the committee
! want 60 say with reference 10 the letter
Oh Dr. Priddy, that Or. Priddy wrote. ana
l nave his letter here, early | think before
MS nomination. He told me the one
OBJECT ne mad In going 10 the Legislature
Was 10 vote Tor me for United States
SENATOR After he was nominated | wrote
MN d letter just simply stating / was plad
TO near that he was nominated. do
not recollect the exact language of tho
letter, but here is the reply I received
from him. With the exception of ;bis
letter to DR.. Priddy, | cannot recall that
l ever corresponded with any candidate for
the Legislature direct or spoke To MIN
-2~the subject. The letter is as follows:
Keysville, Va, July -. 1898.
General Fitzhvgh Lee, Lynchburg, Va:
Ny Dear General Lee.-Yours of 22d
instant duly received. and / should have
replied to 1t sooner. but for so many de-
mands on my time. You were correctly
Informed that / have been nominated
by the Democratic party for the Legisla-
ture from this county, and tina after the
bitterest fight ever known I'm our %oounty's
history, in which | had 10 defeat a COM
binatlon Of Democrats, Third partyites,
and Republicans, as well as Prohibition
lists, but ! fear the fight has not yet ended.
My opponent il certainly not displaying
much patriotism or desire to strengthen
the party, and IL may be that he will op-
pose me, but 1 hope not.
AS ] told our mutual friend, Colonel
Catiett, In March, it was largely through
- desire to vote ior y that / consentedl
To be a candidate for the Legislature.
ana "hiie II then looked as Il / would
have no opposition, / did not think II
best to pledge myself to any one positive
~, OF which he fully approved. and even
now the outlook is too cloudy for me To
consistently avow myself for you or my
n 4 KNOW not what may happen.
but be assured Of one thing, YOU have my
best wises and my hope that al may end
so that 1 can actively support you.
Inc rot which has been developed I'm
the Legislative canvass. I am afraid.
preclude the hope Of ~electing a Demo-
crat 10 the Senate from our district. I
very much hope that you will understand
my position.
With kindllest regards best wishes,
Very truly yours.
illa \. S PRIDDY.
DIR. Priddy.
Or. Priddy being duly sworn. t~estiies
as follows:
Q. by Chair. 10 you know the object
OF this investigation?
\. The object OF this investigation is
to ascertain whether there have been
improper means used in the election OF
delegates and senator's TO the General
Assembly Of Virginia. and whether i'm
proper influence has been brought TO bear
on those member i'm the caucus for
United States senator?
.. State TO the COMMITTEES all you know
on the subject.
4. ] know Of no improper influences I
that were brought to bear on me or
any other gentlemen, who are members
Of the General Assembly Of Virginia.
.. Were you under obligations to vote
for any particular candidate when you |
came to the legislature?
a. I should like 10 read a letter, which
| received frem General Lee, which
brought forward the letter from me.
Chair: You have q perfect right 10. do
so.
Witness read as follows:
Rockbridge Company.
Office Of the President.
Glasgow, Va, July %, 1893. |
Confidential.
My Dea! Doctor: I am told by some
Charlotte fellows hat you got through
all right. / was very glad 10 hear II, as
we had some brief correspondence on the |
question. VIII you be opposed
a Republican or a third party man.
me know how matters are I'm youF
Your letter WIN be treated rs
private, and the information i'm
win be for my eye alone.
Yours truly.