Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-10-26
To the Democrats of the Tenth Dis
trict:

To the Democrats of the Tenth Dis
trict:
In view of the publication in the
Buena Vista Advocate of a speech re-
Gently made by j. Lewis Bumgardner
at Buena Vista, in which he criticlses
me for my Warm Springs speech, made
view of other misrepresentation of
my Warm Springs speech, l deem it a
duty that owe to myself to publish
the facts relating to that speech.
On The occasion of the discussion at
Warm Springs Mr.. Kelley, of Rich
mond. and 1 represented the Demo
Gratis and Mr.. Revercomb. of Coving
ton, represented the Republicans. l
opened the debate. Mr.. Revercomb
followed, then came Mr.. Kelley, and
Mr.. Revercomb closed the discussion
with fifteen-minute speech. con-
sumed my time without mentioning
the name of MI. Flood, and Mr.. Rev.
ercomb consumed his time in reply
without mentioning the name OF bis
congressional candidate and without
referring to ours. MI. Kelley, in his
speech. closed by referring to Mr..
Flood in terms of communication.
Mr.. RevercOmb, in closing his last
speech, said that Mr.. Flood g name had
been brought into the debate; that l
had not mentioned his name, but that
Mr.. Kelley had; that Mr.. Flood had
skinned me. had violated party GUS
tom and party law, and had secured
the nomination "by pulling the wires; p"
that the Democratic county conven-
tion for his county. Allegheny, had
been held at night in Mr.. Floods in
teresJ, and that he did not believe l
wanted him elected. Mr.. RevercOmb
asked me no questions. I had spoken
for my party and it's nominees, and
had thus shown my desire for their
success. and not wishing to become in
yolved in controversy with Mr.. Rev
ercOmb over the charges made by him
against Mr.. Flood as to the manner in
! which be received the nomination,
| thought it best not to interrupt Mr.,
ReyercOmb. And still think served
the best interest of my party in pursu.
! ing the course l did.
Mr.. RevercOmb, who had the adj
| vantage in the close, was not induced
| to assail Mr.. Floods record from any
thing that had said, but it was evi.
IDENTIFY caused by Mr.. Kelley's praise
of Mr.. Flood, which he had a perfect
right to speak, and l do not mean tC
crlticise him for it.
| The claim that I did Mr.. Flood harm
IN not mentioning his name is absurd
and ridiculous. If it were true that q
| congregational candidate is damaged
| in d presidential campaign every time
a speech is made by his supporter il
| NH h 10 no 10 m tinnQd
few of such candidates would be elect
ed.
TO illustrate: J. Lewis Bumgardnel
for the Democrats and 5. Brown Atler
for the Republicans had joint discus
sion at Mt. Sidney in Augusta an6
each spoke for about an hour without
mentioning the name of bis congress
sional candidate or making any refer
ence to him. Hon. Frank T. Glasgow
made speech at Buchanan on thu
9th of this month and spoke with mt
on the 9Th at Fincastle and made NJ
mention of Mr.. Floods name in eithel
speech. l do not remember that Mr.
Revercomb mentioned the name of hit
congressional candidate in the two
speeches made by him at Warn
Springs.
1 am sure the failure to mention tn,
names of the candidates in the in
stances stated did not result from any
intention to injure the chances OF the
candidates for election. The princi
pies OF the party of each speaker wer'
discussed aud advocated, and this wa
all advocacy Of the candidates.
Now, desire to cali attention to tn
part of the Buena Vista speech of MIR
J. Lewis Bumgardner, which relate
to he and which has been given wild
circulation through the Buena Visit
Advocate. Before noticing his speecl
in the public press | wished to leal
from him whether or not he was col
rectly reported and my letter and hi
reply are published with this commun
cation. Mr.. Bumgardner says he is nc
accurately reported, but says he dee
not remember his language or even tn
substance. He, however, does not IL
dicate what part is correctly repOrte
and what not. He let's it stand as
lis, admitting that he detailed th
s bath incident"
a | cannot understand il Mr.. Bun
t gardner desired to do me nOinjusti.
J. why he left Stanton, my home and b
/ home, with our offices in the san
9 building, and where he could have see
l. me at any time, and went to Buel
e Vista to relate in a public speech
: matter so affecting me, which, if tru
re he says, my friends in Augusta woul
l. be ashamed of me, without first SEER
1t Inc and learning the facts. Mr.. Bur
t, gardner aud are both Democrats. al
rs I.have been on the stump makil
lg speeches for the nominees of my part
IS and am convinced that the alta,
Id made on me by him, under the circul
stances, was wilfully and malicious