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

!, that he withheld iunus iioih ~ -,
ton for which they were ihtenueu 81
~rror,ea them TO advance the aspiration
~ 9 particular candidate for the Unite'
states scnatorship. l felt that lie was eh
,itIed after all his kindness TO me. 10 III
s,ronc a letter as | could send him, as
surfing him OF my confidence ana esteem
IN I had done less / would have peeh uh
worthy OF any mans friendship. You have
my cordial permission to show TINS letter
10 Mr.. Bryan Yours very uuy,
j. TAYLOR ELLYSON.
Outside Turds.
Mr.. E1lyson, continuing his testimony
said: 1T has been our custom for many
years TO obtain funds outside OF the
state for campaign purposes, and upon
looking around me TO secure the services
Of some one to help me / thought OF -
Mr.. Boykin: / object.
Mr.. Boykin's objection was noted and
Mr.. Ellyson continued:
| saw General Lee. and had some cor
respondence with him. / went to Wash
ington and secured from him letters OF
Introduction TO some prominent gentlemen
with whom he had influence and went 10
New York. where I presented the letters
and was successful. General Lee rem
dered valuable assistance by speaking IN
the campaign and In other ways. ard at
the close OF the campaign ! wrote him a
letter. thanking him for his aid. When ]
exhausted every possible source that |
could think Of In securing funds. I went
10 see Mr.. Barbour Thompson, whom l
had seen upon a previous occasion. and
Invoked his aid. He promised to do what
he could. SO much has been said about
the funds that have passed through Mr..
Thompson's hands that ! want TO say that
he gave me n larger sum of money than
any other individual I'm the State. | am
more indebted to him for contributions re-
ceived. not from railroads. but from
friends, than to any other man I'm the State.
j nave been with Mr.. Thomson during
several campaigns; knew he had an ac-
~quaintance with the work, and that he
was very helpful in a campaign. WAS
glad to have him, and / want TO say this.
that there is not a member of this Cen
eral Assembly who can say that ] ever
approached him on the subject Of the
United States senatorship. There are not
SIX members Of this General As
sembly who can say ! ever spoke to them
about the senatorial contest in any way.
ana i repeat that there is not a man I'm
the General Assembly who can saw that
/ ever sought to influence him I'm any
a
Impartial.
General Lee and Mr.. Martin both had
my assurance that l would be impartial
and If | was not so. let the members of
the General Assembly produce evidence
to that effect. / think you gentlemen
VIII bear me witness that / never spoke
70 any OF you on the subject. or any
other member Of the General Assembly.
.. Was any money used by your con-
sent knowledge, or I'm any way that
came to your knowledge in the interest
OF any candidate or candidates in the
senatorial contest?
A. / not only do not know Of any f,nds
having been so used, but have not the
slightest suspicion or the slightest cause
10 suspect that any money Of the kind
was so used. Gentlemen. / am here TO
be asked any question on any point bear
ing upon this investigation. you please.
II you want me TO give YOU a detailed
statement Of the distribution of the cam
paign funds which passed through the
hands OF the State Executive Committee.
! think | can do that. but I do not wish
10 go into that unless the gentlemen pres
ent desire II, as 1t will prove very long.
] want TO say this, that the effect of
this investigation, whatever NAV have
been the design Of those who brought II
ABOUT, Is TO reflect upon the management
OF the Democratic campaign. Now. there
mas nothing been done in that campaign
OF which any Virginian might feel
ashamed; there is nothing connected with
1t which l am not perfectly willing 10
state and | believe I can account for
every fve-cent piece received and ex-
pended in this campaign. It Is an inter
esting fact, in looking over my memo
randa, TO discover that the largest
amounts OF money were given TO those
who favored General Lee.
o. MAS any coufrfbutfo, e. -
where asked for and the committee could
furnish II, that II was refused because
the candidate was known to be favorable
TO General Lee?
A. We not only did not do that during
the campaign, but 10 show how far we
were from any desire Of the kind. we sent
FUNDS to the county of Gloucester. where
the candidate was known TO be a Lee
man. | do not know Of any camDaign I'm
twenty years and I have been I'm many
city. State, and national campaigns) in
when the management Of the Democratic
party was so clear. so absolutely clear.
any imputation Of unfairness or i'm
proper means, and / defy the State OF
TO successfully deny this.
q. Have you anything to say i'm regard
10 the communication from Danville. Va.
which aTTeared in the Richmond Times?
A. l have this to say: l cannot respect
any man who seeks To ruin the reputa-
ion Of another from behind the cowardlv
'mbuso"de Of a nom de plume.
The Chair: We will ask Mr.. BRYAN 10
INFORM us who wrote the article I'm ques-
and we will nave him here as a
witness, ard we will notify you when we
ind him.
Mr.. J. ;. d. Thompson.
Mr.. ]. S. B9rbour Thompson took the
and testified as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen. / have al
eady made my statement before the
'ommittee, but It seems to be a fact that
here are some people who think a man
'ould rot occupy a position such as |
ID, but / am not responsible for that
of mind l am not here to make
my shameful or improper BETRAYAL of
confidence; / am here TO state frankly
nat IN the last campaign | undertook TO
all the assistance l could, and in
OH that l sought all the aid / could
mmah AS 10 any subscriptions made
o me TO give TO Mr.. Ellyson know OF
nut one.
@. Did you distribute any funds other
wise than through The State Democratic
Committee?
a. l did so to parties who were inter-N
sted IN the welfare of the party and OF X;
State OF NiTginia-people who recog- y
lied that the success OF the PopuIist !
meant incalculable damage to the
interests of this State. / therefore wish
o state distinctly that these funds were q
lstrlouted without any understanding as
o What position a man would take with
eSard 10 the United States senatorships.
l a candidate was known TO favor Mr..
AR. Martin, Mr.. HuntOn or Ar