The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-29
A Statement to GoebeI That
Creates a Sensation.
Openly Declares That the L. &
N. is Fighting Democracy.
LETTER READ ALOUD
At an Immense Gathering In
EIizabethtOWn.
The louisville & Nashville Con-
trOlIed by BeImOnts.

Louisville, Ky, Aug. ga sensation
was created at Elizabethtown when Sen
ator William Goebel, during an address
before 5000 people, read a letter sent him
by August Belmont, who openly declares
the Louisville and Nashville railroad is
leading the fight against Democracy in
kentucky. Senator Goebe1 ard Mr.. Black
burn were checred time and again by the
big u.asss of people. BeImont's letter in full
- as follows:
New York, Aug. 1S.-Hon. William
Goebel. Kenton. Ky; My Dear Sir-I no
tice in a copy of the Courier ournal, dat
ed Sunday, August 13, the following para
graph from a speech made by you at
The Louisville and Nashville railroad
company is controlled by the Betmqnts.
who are and for many years have been
Rothschilds and Mr. Belmont is the chair
man of the executive board of the direc-
road company The Cleveland and Car
Isle gold bond sale contract was signed
of Messrs. Rothschild & Son of London
and themselves, and none other have a
gold standard than the RothschildS and
the Belmonts, because they are the larg-
''The agency through which they can
more effectively work in Kentucky is the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad com
pany. Now, as in 1896, that corporation
and intimidation against the Democratic
party, and now, as IN 1870 II uses me ne
Kentucky to send broadcast over the
commonwealth many thousands of free
copies of newspapers that it has subsi-
80 ~ IIf7- and i+s candida4es that
malignity and mendacity can invent
wealth and therefore. should not pre-
sumo to NEEDLE with politics which are
purely local. but, inasmuch as you nave
deemed it policy to make the above state
ment, I assume the privilege of giving
currency to my unqualified repudia ton
of its truth / am the chairman ofthe
IsOU Nashville Railroad.
stockholders are very equally divided be-
tween Europe and this country, and there
were at the time of the last election 1.93S
tween Europe and America. and on an
average. stockholders represented by 3o3,-
900 to $50 600 shares of both classes, out of
a total of $4,000 shares, have sent me
their proxies to vote annually ever since
my official connection with the company.
presume that the Stockholders have been
satisfied, or they would not have me in
! my present position. for there IS no 1nfltl-
ence or control of stock which I PERSONAL
ly or Messrs. Rothschilds direct which
could erect the result contrary 10 me
general wishes of the shareholders. The
corporation, under the management of
Milton II. Smith, as president and the
other officers of the company. including
the board of directors and myself. has no
ing the L. & n R R, as a business en-
terprise, and can only do this by nurs-
it serves, and promoting the welfare of
those who use it as a means oH trans
IF in order to gain adherents to your
political ambition in the state you en-
deavor to create a prejudice of the people
against the L. & \. R. R., and try to ex-
cite animosity and legislation destructive
to its interests, the L. & n. R. P. is driv-
en- to. take the best means within the law
and its right to meet such attacks. and
this it is now doing by bringing before
the public the arguments which are at its
command to cOunteract the evil influences
of your unjustifiable hostility. The com
pany takes no part in politics, nor does it
intend to in order to promote or undo the
political fortunes of any party or indi-
vidual and its present attitude has no
such purpose in view.
Believe me yours respectfully,
AUGUST BELMONT,
Chairman"