Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-07-02

Editor Every Evening: The under
signed is the correspondent of Every
Evening who was the author of the
report OF the statement made by Wash
tngton Hastings before the committee
on credentials of tine National Repub-
lican Convention, sent from ST. Louis
and published In Every Evening on
June 22d. j assert that the remark
accredited to Mr.. Hastings in that re-
port was made by him in my hearing,
and l defy Mr.. Hastings to prove that
my statement is not true. was in the
room during the hearing of the Della.
ware contest before the ittee, as
Ar. Hastings very we'll knows. When
hc made. the statement. which be now
says cast a slur upon Col. du Pont,"
Henry 9. Morse and Col. du Pont were
sitting side by size in the rear of the
room, and ! wac standing directly back
81 them. BY me were Charles Kittin-
ger, ]. Frank Alice, A. b. Conner and
other members of the Delaware delega-
tions. These gentlemen heard the re.
mark Joined in the laugh and can con-
hrm the truth of my report. | also
refer to DIR. Hiram r. Burton. DR..
George W. Marshall, DIR. @. r. Layton,
Mr.. Addicks and Mr.. Murray, who
were at the other end of the room, and
70 the members of the committee. Mr.,
Henry q. Morse, Col. du Pont and ex-
Senator Higgins will also doubtless
admit that my statement is correct
unless they lay aside all regard for
truth and attempt to shield MIR. Hast
ings from the rebuke of his party
friends. The laugh occasioned by Mr..
Hastings' stupid remark was carried to
the street after the arguments had been
submitted, and created much amuse-
ment and comment in the crowd which
stood waiting for the committees de-
cision.
After reading the briefs and listen
ing to the remarkable arguments made
before the various committees of the
Republican party at st. Louis, de-
termined never to be surprised at any
thing which is said or done by a Della
ware Republican. But l counted with
out my host, for I must confess that
the extraordinary communication of
Washington Hastings, published in the
Morning News on Tuesday, was a COM
plete surprise to me. l did not think
that any man would be SO foolhardy
and utterly devoid of conscientious
scfuples, as to publicly deny the au-
fhenticity OF a report when he knows,
or should know, that the story can be
confirmed by dozens Of witnesses. Per-
baps he thought my absence from the
city would allow his denial to go un-
challenged.
Mr.. Hastings pronounced the state
ment made in my ST. Louis dispatch
of June Goth, to the effect that he had
stated before the committee on creden.
tials that the Republicans had "run
lspelling mine, but pronunciation was
hisl out Of material and put up Col
du Pont. y lie. He remembers the
laugh and explains the "incident, "
and in his explanation completely con-
firms the truth of my report He ad-
mits Saying, Eve used up all of our
material, but he fails to say why he
made that statement Did they use
up all of the material before or after
Col. du Pont was decided uponP The
only logical answer, and the answer he
made, was that the material was ex-
bausted before, beGause Col. du Pont
WAS the last candidate. Now what
part of my statement is it that he pro-
nounces a lieP How much better it
would have been for Col. du Pont if
Mr.. Hastings had not attempted to ex-
plain. 1t was considered joke at st.
Louis, but now it would seem that he
meant it seriously!
As to Mr.. Hastings uncalled for and
ungentlemanly personal attack upon
me, have nothing to say. His utter
disregard for the facts in this case
makes 1t unnecessary for me to reply.
] met Mr.. Hastings in st. Louis and
treated and considered him gentle-
man. l now see my mistake.
W. @. Grigsby.
Washington. June 15th 1Sq6