The age-herald., 1900-02-19
ENTERS PLEA OF SELF-DEFENSE Claim Y S Goebel Democrats Veg ntagonistic to Co. APES TO BODY OF THE PEOPLE Us II Lawful Means to Protect It's Interests - Criticise Watterson's
 Language Regarding Meth
 ods to be Employed

Louisville ky, February 1S.-Mr. Milton Milton H. Smith, president of the Louis vile and Nashville Railroad company, has given out the following correspondence, mention of which was made in the ed- torial of Henry Watterson, regarding the Kentcky election
 (Telegram).
 "New York, February b, 1900. 'tH M Smith, President Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, Louisville, Ky:
 Persistent allusions to the correspond ence of Colonel Watterson and myself, of July last, and a tendency to misrepresent its supposed contents, compel me to au- thorize the publication by you of the en- tire correspondence, as well as the min utes of the meeting of the board of the Louisville and Nashville Railway com pany 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 ex- pressed feeling that it was not an oppor- tune time in the present state of the pub lie mind in Kentucky, were that l felt reluctant without Colonel Watterson's con- sent to publish the letter of a gentleman in Colonel Watterson's position. and for whom l have always entertained a per sonal regard, containing the bald state- ment that before the actual campaign had fairly begun, that the election was not to be left to chance which meant, of course, that the will of the people was not to de- termine the result of the contest. Coming from him, recognized he was then. and has since proved himself to be, an intlu- ential supporter of MT. Goebel such a statement was well calculated to alarm all vested interests in Kentucky, to which MT. Goebel and his adherents were known to be hostile, the property confided to my supervision being especially singled out by them for assault and destruction, if their public utterances during the past cam paign and since are to be taken as an in- dex. As to the correspondence, it speaks for itself, and must so stand; for I say now, and don't propose to be drawn from the position, I feel my official duty and trust require as well as my personal dig nifty, that I will under circumstances enter into controversy with Colonel Wat terson or his newspaper, feeling that the abuse of both the officers and the Louis- vile and Nashville railroad individually and the corporation itself does not even now, and certainly will mot later when cool judgment reviews the past, meet with the appreciation of the thinking people of Ken lucky at large.
 at is useless to attempt to stem vitupera- ton, which has become both a habit and a political convenience. The public will in due course appreciate 1t, and the Louis- vile and Nashville road will ontinue, as heretofore to attend to its business and the share it has in the welfare of the state.
 (Signed) AUGUST BELMONT,
 'sChairman.' Watterson's Letter
 Louisville, Ky, June so 1S9s
 My Dear MT. Belmont: As your per- sonal friend and as a friend of the Louis- vile and Nashville railroad, I venture to write this letter. In my judgment the lo- cal admins tration of the road Is entering upon course which. If 1t does not tend to destroy the property, will greatly burden and impair it.
 1.-The democratic state ticket just nomi- mated will certainly be elected. Under the operation of the Goebel law the result is not left ito chance. Tn dts purpose to beat Goebel the Louisville and Nashville mana gers have already expended large sums of money in futile attempts. To do this they have not only made themselves responsible for two unpopular and uninfiuential news- papers. but they have set up their visi- ble and accredited representative a man by the name of Whallen the proprietor of variety theater, and undoubtedly the most odious personality in the city and the state. At every turn they have met de- feat, and they will surely meet 1t next No. vemoer For thirty years the Courier- Journal has been the steady. disinterested friend of the road. Believing it a public institution of the greatest usefulness and a most important factor in all our affairs Mir. Haldeman and myself have supported 1t at every juncture requiring support. This has never cost the road a penny. But un- der the policy now adopted war of ex- termination 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 bhe day of election. The issue as 1t now stands is the democratic party vs. the Louisville and Ma shville railroad, and on that issue the
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