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

candidates for the Legislature-who wrote
TO me that they were going TO vote for
me-
Mr.. Downing; Have you these letters
with you?
General Lee: / have one. and can send
for another.
Mr.. Downing: Please furnish these let
ters. l think that that is the best evil
dence.
Mr.. Tredway: General Lee, please read
the letter you have with you.
General Lee: | thought ] had the
letter in my pocket, but find hat
have not.
G. 4. Moore.
The committee then granted General
Lee time to go and obtain these letters.
In the meantime, Mr.. G. +. Moore was
called TO the stand.
Mr.. Nicol: Have you ever READ these
resolutions?
MIR. Moore: | have.
Mr. Nicol: Where is your residence
Mr.. Moore: Clifton Forge, Aleghany
county. this State.
Mr.. Nicol: VIII you please state 70 ths
committee anything you know In resaru
TO this investigation?
Mr.. Moore: As understand, gentlemen
of the committee. the purpose of this
Investigation is to inquire into the ques-
ton of whether any improper means or
methods were used In the election OF
members of the General Assembly, or
Tinted States senator. l would say gene
raUv that | not only know or no improper
methods being used, but in our section
there was a dearth of proper methoas.
Then 1 would like to make some personal
%explanation. Being located IN OIltoD
Forge, l naturally came in contact ire
quently with my friend MI WllnIo"'
His home is i'm Bath, but being the Pres
ident of the Withrow Lumber Company,
which operates i'm Clifton Forge, he MADE
hat his headquarters. / have always TAX
on an active interest i'm political matters
| have lived I'm this State but three years
but prior 10 my coming here was chairman
of the Democratic Committee I'm Foca-
hontas county. West Virginia, ana nave
lost no interest in politics by removing
my residence. Mr.. Withrow talked Ia me
frequently about the campaign and the
fact was frequently commented on
bv us that the state Executive Committee
showed great Indifference to that sec
ton OF our state. II is true. perhaps. that
we were unnecessarily alarmed, but AT one
time there was great apparent danger
and we did not know what combination
might be formed against us, and az the
same time the state Committee was dong
nothing for that section. That matter
been talked about by Mr.. Withrow
and myself, on the LIST day OF October-
and not two weeks before the election. as
Mr.. Withrow stated-on the LIST day or
October. that being court day, Mr..
and myself went 10 Covington.
We went there and proceeded al once 20
the courthouse, where / was engaged IN
some matters i'm the courtroom until
about noon. Their ! came out into the
yard, and there I casually fell
in with NY friend Mr.. John y. Delaney,
r. member Of the County Democratic COM
mittee-in fact the secretary Of the com
mittee-snd active man on the committee
How f.. the Campaign?
We had a talk with each other about the
campaign, and 1 had not seen him Tor
about two or three weeks, so remarked
him John. how is the campaign get
ting along" Capt. Reinhardt was the
Hartman of the committee, but he was
away and the burden OF the work fell on
Mr.. Delaney. He replied TO my inquiry
that IL was getting on very slowly, ana
hat the reason for its proceeding so slow
y was the scarcity OF means 10 do the
proper work. IL is a fact that in Alleghany
county we have a very large floating popu-
and that on account of the hoat-
population our whole registration books
llEHI lIOAM Ai'lt " AAHiE Uf HAA So !
and that a number of Democratic voters
lad moved into the county, and these
ought TO be looked after and brought 10
he polls and registered. He said that IN
)ider 10 do this work properly, as the
committee had not time 10 do il, we must
get the services Of some persons, and that
hey would not do il for nothing, and
hat we had no funds from the State Exc
'utive Committee. and no funds at all,
go IAH D
collected 1 remarked that l had done
l could to get help, but that we did
lot know how Mr.. Withrow stood, but
the impression was that he was an
man. Then / said II he is In
position 10 consider Mr.. Martins can
lidacy. / think l could, from some friends
II MIR. Martin, get some funds 20 help
lin in the campaign, and / asked would
{ be improper 70 ask Mr.. Withrow wheth-
r he is committed in this matter, so that
may say to these people that he is not
against their friend. and that
/ knew that every man would oe
more inclined 10 aid us If he knew that
ir. Withr0w was not opposed TO his
riend. He said that he saw nothing i'm
in asking Mr.. Withrow how ne
TODD. Mr.. Delaney then called him, and
.sked Mr.. WithrOw TO go into his office.
Ne all went In.
with Withrow.
] began the conversation with Mr.. With
ow by remarking 10 him MIR. Withrow,
'ou know that Mr.. Delaney and myself
re your friends. We are WithrOw men.
We supported you before the convention
Without knowing how you stood on the
enat0rial question. and we viii support
on TO the end. II does not make any
Inference how you stand. but. II you have
10 objection. we would Ike 20 ask how
on do stand" assuring him IN the begin
Ing that IL was neither our purpose nor
.ish that he should commit himself 10
nybody. but solely 10 ascertain that ne
not pledged TO anybody. and had no
ef sonal feeling towards Mr.. Martin that
fould prevent him from considering has
lie said. You know ! was unpledg-
and 1 prefer 70 go 10 Richmond un-
We repeated that We did not
csire him IN any way 10 commit himself
or 1 had talked 10 Mr.. Withrow about
same matter when he was a candi-
before the convention, and told him
OF 10 pledge himself. Then he said. why
o you want TO know" Then we remak-
d that II we could give assurance that
on are favorable 10 Mr.. Martin, or not
against. or in any way opposed
him that you cannot consider his claim.
re think we can perhaps get some Ot
ir. Martins friends 20 give US some pri-
contributions. Ar. Withrow then re-
yes, that he supposed he could
et money from Mr.. Martin II he would
upport him. He said: II know more, 1
Xpect. about this han you all do. l kno" ]
fhere he f. going 10 get his money, the (
lilroads will furnish him money. lie
II know the candidates are