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

senate, on December Z, 1HST
Mr.. Wickham. ! do not. sir. /.
Mr. Moon.
Mr. J. y. Moon was then called I
the stand. and questioned as follows:
Mr.. Nicoi: Please state whether or no
you know Of your knowledge whethe
any improper means or methods wer
used In electlng delegates or senators q
the General Assembly OF Virginia. II
the interest Of any candidate or candi
dates, for the United States Senate?
Mr.. Noon: None whatever, sir, that
know or
Mr. Nicol: DO you know OF any money
being contributed for that purpose oil
any used for that purpose?
Mr. Moon: / have no knowledge on that
subject whatever.
Mr.. Nicol: DO you know whether there
were any improper methods or means
used In the interest OF any candidate or
candidates for the nomination OF united
States senator at the caucus OF the
! Democratic members OF the House ana
Senate. held in the hall Of the House
| Of Delegates on December Z. 1897
Mr. Moon: No. sir. | know nothing at
! all Of anything Of that kind. There was
not the least approach TO improper
methods. so far as my knowledge was
concerned
MI. DtSG@s
Isaac Digs was then questioned by
the committee In the following manner:
Mr.. Nicol: Your name has been given
as a gentleman who has some information
I'm regard to- the subject-matter Of this
investigation. DO you know whether or
not any improper methods or means were
used in eecting members Of the General
Assembly Of Virginia, at the election
on November T. 1893, in the interests OF
any candidate or candidates for the
United States Senate?
Mr.. Digs: i do not sir. ] desire 10
emphasize that fact-that / do not know
OF any improper means or metn0ds belns
used by any one, either for or against
rny candidate-'yhich is as broad as a
statement can be made. I can only state
that of my own knowledge / know moth
ing I'm this world, sir, about any i'm
propcr means being used 10 influence any
body In any way.
Mr. NiCOl: DO you know whether or not
any improper means or methods were
used i'm the interests Of any candidate or
candidates for the nomination CT United
States senator at the caucus OF Demo-
cratic members Of the House and Senate,
held In the hall Of the House OF Delegates
on December T. 1893?
| did not consider that any Of the
methods used were improper. Gentlemen
on both sides approached me TO vote for
their respective friends. / was beseged |
by friends Of General Lee TO vote for him. |
1 was requested by intimate personal t
friends particular fiiends-to vote Tor
Mr. Martin. No inducement was held out |
for me TO vote for either side. other than |
a request. such as has been made by the |
friends Of every candidate before the |
LEGISLATURE.
Mr.. Nicol: Were you under obligations |
TO vote for any senatorial candidate?
Mr. Dggs: l was not. except that re-
neived a communication signed by every |
member of the convention which noni-
nated me a candidate Cor the House. ask
ing me to vote for General lee. Up 10
that time | had not made up my mind |
IS 10 which Of the two leading candidates
would cast my vote for Then | made
10 my mind There was a communica-
ton addressed TO me from a. the gen
lemen who had nominated me except |
me. and. In addition. endorsed by all the
prominent men of the district. / did not
consider that an improper method, and
Ipon that / decided TO cast my vote for
General Lee
Mr.. Nicol: Had you committed your
self by letter or otherwise TO any candi-
late for the United States Senate?
BODY stated that ] had? I recolect that
some twelve months ago there was some
between Mr. Meredith and
myself in reference to my becoming a
for the Legislature from King
William county. l may have then eX-
pressed myself as favorable to General
Lee but that was long before l had made
up my mind.
Mr. Tredway: How did you vote IN the
caucus?
Mr.. Diggs; I did not vote on every bal
lot. Every ballot that / cast was for
General Lee. As the matter has been
made public / suppose that I am at
liberty to state that on the final ballot
intended TO cast my vote for General
Lee, but when my name was called /
vas discussing with a gentleman the
question as 70 how | should cast my vote
whether / should change my vote or con-
inue TO vote for General Lee. / rose to
address the chairman Of the caucus. in
rider that my vote might be recorded.
,ut in the confusion ] was not recognized.
nd ! could not get recognition until after
he caucus adjourned Then l went to
he chairman of the caucus. Senator
4ovenstein, and asked him, whether my
'ote could then be recorded for General
zee. He said that under the rules of the
aucus 1t could not be.
senator Watson.
Senator Watson, being duly sworn, tes-
fled as follows:
O. BY the chairman: Mr.. Watson, have
you any knowledge of any improper
Methods or means being used in electing
delegates or senators. at the election
cid on November 7, 1898. in the interest
f any candidate or candidates for the
Inited States Senate?
A. L have not, sir.
O. Have you any knowledge on the sub
ect whether or not any improper means
+ methods We're used in the interest OF
ny candidate or candidates for the nomi-
alton Of United States senator, at the
aucUs of the Democratic members OF !
he House and Senate held In the hall OF
t the House OF Delegates on December
1893?
A. No, sir.
Q. Have you any knowledge that Will
brow any light on the subject of this
lVestigation, Mr.. Watson?
a. MIR. Chairman. 1 don't know that 1
Understand the subject of the investiga-
ion at all
Q. You have read the resolutions that
ave been adopted have you not?
A. No, 1 haven't read them at all
Chair orders the stenographer TO read
ne resolutions.
Witness: SO far as the election OF
nese delegates and senators, with re-
erence TO their preferences for senatorial
hndidates is CONCERNED, l have no such
iformation.
g. do you know whether or not any
honey was sent to your senatorial dis
rict on the condition that 1t should be
sed provided the candidates would pledge
lemseives 20 any particular candidate
- he. F.ats