The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-29
W. D. Smith Defends Hin Sc +.
Editor of The Times:

Editor or The Times:
Sir,--T notice in your issue of the Use
instant that J. B Richmond, the Inde-
pendent, or rather Republican member
of the Constitutional Conventions from
Scott county. went out Of his way IN
discussing an important question to make
ar unprovoked and unwarrauted attack
on me, to which desire TO reply III
brief through your columns.
In the first place | wish TO state that.
between Richmond and myself. there has
existed an intense and implacable enmity
for six or eight years. hence his purpose
knowing the protection of his position
III making his imputations before ina
convention, which I denounce as false
He charges that l am Il political ring
ster,' '.ballot-box suffer- or the head
OF an organization that does such work:
that l am known for my political per-
fdy.', and lastly, that he has made these
charges all over Scott county and ulsder
my nose.
l deem it, unnecessary to notice the
epthet political ringster' further than
| to say it is the threadbare refrain or
! demagogues and holters who have no
| political standing or political principles
| at home or abroad.
| 1t is. true there have been some cleo
| ton Irregularities in Scott county an9
| no one CepioTeS lNeIl lllcIt tHd!i !, btS
when Nj. Richmond charges that l am
! Il party to such, or that am Il ballot
| box suffer- or the instigator of such.
| brand his statement as false. He says
| that he has made these charges all over
| Scott county and under my nose. IL ne
ever made such charge in the county
| 1t was in a whisper to my political enc
/ mics and absolute secrecy enjoIned from
me and my friends.
| And finally. wler he charged that
| am known for my political notorietv
and perddy,' il he means that 1 am dis
liked. abused. and hated by ]. B. Rich
mond for whatever zeal aud ardor
have manifested or work l have done
for the Democratic party, plead guilty:
but the reasonable innuendo which the
term implies denounce as false, af'a
challenge him to the proof
Ny official record is an open book anr
I invite the closest inspection of 1t by
friend or foe. AS TO my efficiency. re-
fer the public to the State Board OF t.du-
cation and others in position TO know
not to a prejudiced persona! and poilucai
/ enemy.
AS to my political standing, | claim
| none with Mr. Richmond or his political
allies and servants. I have just closed by
third campaign in the Ninth Congression-
! al District. During those campaigns
have had as co-workers one campaign
| committeeman and one county chairman
from each county, one city chairman and
| our congressional committeeman Tor this
| district and defy Mr. Richmond. or any
| other person. to say that one or these
men ever said or i:tsinCatcd that | ever
directed hin. TO do an mproUper thing
| in politics. My campaign committeeman
and congressional committeeman, toSStft-
err with the county chairman. are tho
| men through whom | have endeaVored 10
! organize. the district and make the par
tvs fights And I desire 10 say IN this
/ connection that 4 better. more Intelligent
and Ioval number of Democrats are not
in the State-na rot in the United states.
! TO these men Just mentioned. as well as
many not mentioned. men who fought in
the dttcres. are due the splendid victories
won under my Craftsmanship.
The term political perfdy applies
more aptiy to the author since ms at
! tempt TO pose fby word Of MOUTH before
! the convention and people of Richmond
as a Democrat and the representative oe
| the Democrats of Scott county Without
atten, ptlng to expose 10 the pubiic's view
| nj this time his political record and con-
| duct for years past ] desire to state thac
| Mr. Richmond was not the candidate OF
tho Democratic party in Scott county nor
| Is lie known to the party as Democrat.
| but on the contrary, he was the endorsed.
supported and agreed candidate OF the
| Republicans as proved by the aftidarits
| OF the two prominent Republicans, DR..
! n w. staIlard and ]. H. Catron. who ms
| rounced themselves as candidates sue
| cessive,y and upoE Investigation with
! drew because they found Mr.. Richmond
to he the candidate OF the Republican
| party. With all Or. Richmohd's deeIara.
lions on the floor es the convention that
| lie Is q Democrat. he had no sooner
reached home for the last election thar
| he went into caucus at his residence with
the Republican nominee, Mfr. Bond, and
other Republicans. ard voted for Bond
against the Democratic nominee. Ar Z.
NJ Carter. In fact, Mr.. 8iehmocd mas
(! not supported or voted for Democratic
| nominee for tie Senate or House from
| Scott county or the Democratic nominee
| for Congress, or President since 1894.
| / ask pardon for intruding at such
I length upon yours and the public's tin,c.
| NJ. Editor. BIZ. J deemed IL necessary to
| reply to the false charges made by Mfr.
| Richmond ana felt that the press OF tka
city Of Richmond was the proper mcdsu,a
| through which TO paka it
y. D. SMITH.
| Yuma. Va, Nov. Is. lsa,-