The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-19


H. Smith, president of the Louisville &
Nashville Railroad Company, has given out
the following correspondence. mention Of
which was made in the editorial or Henry
watterson regarding the Kentucky cleo
tion:
Telegram
New York, Feb. Is.
IN. H. Smith, President L. & N. Rail-
road Co, Louisville. KY.-Persistent al
lusions to the correspondence of Colonel
watterson and myself Of July last and
tendency to misrepresent its supposed con-
tents compel me to authorize the puDllca-
ton by you of the entire correspondence.
as well as the minutes Of the meeting OF
the board of the Louisville & Nashville
Railway Company, copy Of which was
sent to Colonel Watterson at that time.
The reasons for my hesitation to give the
correspondence to the public, apart from
my already expressed feeling, that it was
not an opportune time in the political state
of public mind in Kentucky were that /
felt reluctant without Colonel Watterson's
consent to publish the letter of
gentleman in Colonel Watterson's
position and for whom l have always en-
tertained personal regard, containing the
bald statement made before the actual
campaign had fairly begun. that the cleo
ton was not to be left to chance which
meant, of course. that the will OF the peo-
pie was not to determine the result of the
contest. Coming from him, recognised as
he was then and has since proved him.
self to be, an influential supporter of Mr..
Goebel. such statement was well cal
LOT Tod 10 oil ol m
Kentucky to which Mr.. Goebel and his ad
herents were known to be hostile, the prop
erty confided to my supervision being es-
pecially singled out by them for assault
and destruction, if their public utterances
| during the past campaign and since are to
be taken as an index. AS to the corre-
spondence, it speaks for itself and must SO
stand, for 1 say now and do not propose to
be drawn from the position / feel my Of
fetal duty and trust require, well as
my personal dignity, that / will under no
circumstances enter into a controversy
with Colonel Watterson or his newspaper,
feeling that the abuse of both the officers
OF the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in
dividually and the corporation itself does
not even now, and certainly will not later.
when cool judgment reviews the past, meet
with the appreciation of the thinking peo-
pie of Kentucky at large. 1t is useless to
attempt to stem vituperation which has
become both a habit and a political con-
venience The public will in due course
appreciate it, and the Louisville & Nash
| Vile Railroad will continue as heretofore
| to attend to its business and the share ii
| has in the welfare of the State.
AUGUST BELMONT,
Chairman"
wATTERSON'S LETTER.
Louisville, June 30. 1899.
| MY Dear Mr.. Belmont:
"As your personal friend, and as friend
| OF the Louisville & Nashville Railroad,
venture to write you this letter. In my
! Judgment the local administration of the
| road is entering upon course which. If
| it does not tend to destroy the property,
| will greatly burden and impair it.
"The Democratic State ticket just nomi-
mated will certainly be elected. Under the
| operation of the Goehel law the result is
| not left to chance. In its purpose to beat
| Goebel the l.. & N. managers have already
| expended large sums of money in futile at
| tempts To do this they have not only made
| themselves responsible for two unpopular
and upinfiuential newspapers, but they
| have set up as their visible and accredited
report a man by the name of Whalfen. the
| proprietor of a variety theater, and un-
| doubtedly the most odious personality in
| the city and the State At every turn they
have met defeat, and they will surely meet
1t next November.
''For thirty years the Courier-Journal has
been the steady, disinterested friend Of the
| road. Believing ii public institution Of
| the greatest usefulness and a most impor-
| tant factor in all our affairs. Mr.. Haldeman
| and myself have supported it at every
| juncture requiring support This has never
cost the road a penny. But under the policy
now adopted, war OF determination Is
| made upon us through the two newspapers
| in question and the man Whallen. backed
up by the money of the road. The end is
| as certain as the day of election. The issue
as II now stands is the Democratic party
versus the Louisville & Nashville railroad.
and on that issue the road could not win
even If its newspaper supports were
handled with capacity and discretion. But
they are not so handled. They are the
merest partisan concerns without circula-
tion or influence, conducted apparently
| with no other purpose than to abuse the
| Courier-Journal. IL you will cause to be
sent you the Dispatch and the Evening
| Post for a single week and will look over
them each day. you will be able TO see for
yourself how the matter stands. On that
showing alone. / should be willing TO rest
/ the case
| I'm my judgment the situation is both
! momentous and critical. and ought to ar