Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-19

ests it has been 50 intimately iden-
tilted, for protection from its ayowed
enemies, and as such this board be-
lieves the enemies Of the best interests
of the State.
Resolved, That . certified copy Of
these minutes be furnished Mr.. Wat
terson.
sOn motion the board adjourned.
(signed) AUGUST BELMONT,
chairman.
ATTEST:
tSigned) "a. ". MORRTSS,
Assistant Secretary"
The Reply.
NEW YORK, July IL, 1898.
my Dear Colonel Watterson:
Your favor of the 30th ult. was duly
received. Fully recognizing the dam
ger which you so grapnlcally describ-
ed, 1 submitted your communication to
my co-directors. and / enclose here
with copy Of resolutions this day
adopted.
"You are well aware that the L & n.
Railroad Company should not and
does not engage in partisan politics.
Its interests, like those of many other
corporations. are subject to attack,
especially by vicious legislators and,
necessarily, when SO attacked, the
management must adopt proper meas
ures of defense.
st would be unreasonable to expect
corporate interests to 70 wholly disre-
gard the injury inflicted or threatened
by constant attacks of political agita-
tors as to be entirely silent so long as
the politicians seek Office by appeals
to the passions and prejudices OF the
voters, and especially by efforts to ex-
cite hostile feelings, to be followed by
hostile legislation. The only protcc-
ton of corporate interests generally is
TO appeal to the sober Judgment of the
people. This is a right enjoyed by all.
individual and corporation alike, and
the exercise of this right should not
be construed as meddling in politics.
The management of the Louisville C
Nashville Railroad Company does not
desire, even if it had the power with
out the expenditure of a dollar, to in
~luence, much less direct, party poll
tics, nor to impair or promote the po-
litical fortunes Of any candidate, un-
less the party or the candidate in
dorses and supports measures and poll
cies which would injure the company
in the employment of it's legal rights,
and in the prosecution of its lawful
and proper business.
81 have made such Investigations as
enable me to assure you that the man
agement has not, up to this time, es-
tablished the relations described by
you with the two newspapers, and that
the relations between them and Mr..
John H. Whallen arises from the fact
that they, like the Louisville & Nash
Vile Railroad Company, desire that
the political ambitions Of Hon. VIM.
Goebel be not gratifed. Nevertheless,
no one understands better than you
the influence of the press as a means of
educating the public and disseminat-
ing information, and | am sure you
will readily concede it will be entire
ly proper for the Louisville & Nash
willie Railroad Company, in defense of
it's interests, to aid in disseminating
information through the press. 1t is
TO me a source of regret that in this
critical ju%ncture the columns OF the
Courier-Journal are not available, and
that we are, therefore, compelled to
rely upon others to oppose those who
openly threaten, and are endeavoring
tt greatly injure, and If possible de-
stroy material interests of the State of
Kentucky, for the railroads and the
ramifications are such.
~necOSulLluS UuS mutudl DSAeutS
that have in the past resulted from the
friendly association between the Cour-
ier-Journal and the Louisville &
Nashville Railroad Company, and the
encouragement which the efforts of the
management has received in its en-
deavors to furnish improved transpor-
tation facilities and develop the re-
sources Of the State, and regretting the
present complications, / remain, with
personal regards to yourself and Mr..
Haldeman, yours very truly.
AUGUST BELMONT, Chairman.
"Col. Henry Watterson, Editor Cour-
ier-Journal, Louisville, KY"
Comment of the Courier-JournaI.
Regarding this correspondence the
Courier-Journal has the following edi-
torial:
The correspondence between Mr..
Watterson and Mr.. Belmont, which
has been given to the press, and ap-
pears in this issue Of the Courier-Jour-
nal, disproyes none of the distinct ac-
ot,cn+forc hro,oh+ 49, A. r-..s--