The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-06-20
rmE STEPHENSON LITTER.

THE STEPHENSON LETTER.
Richmond, Va, June 9TH, 1901.
Hon. Claude \. Swanson. Richmond Va
My dear Sir am just in receipt Of
your letter. in which you say "ln re-
cent speech | (you) stated that Mr.. A.
j. Montague had promised and agreed
before he was appointed United States
District Attorney for the Western Dis
trict of Virginia, that he would recon-
mend you (me) for appointment as Az
sistant l'nited States District Attorney
He (Montaguc) denies this Please write
me all that you may know in reference To
the natter You further state 81 (you)
also stated in the same speech that Mr..
\. j. Montague, ut the Roanoke cOnycn-
ton. held in 1897 at which he was nOmi-
mated for Attorney-General promised
that the Rockingham delegation, OF
members OF it, should have the privilege
Of naming his assistant or clerk. He
(Montague) also denies this. Please
state what you know in reference to this
matter
! desire 10 say. in reference To your
first inquiry, that in the spring of 1893,
after the caucus was held of the Demo
cratic Senators and Representatives from
Virginia, in which they selected certain
gentlemen for various positions under
the Federal Government, To disappointed
by Mr. Cleveland, | was informed by the
Hon. Chales +. O'Ferrall, who was then
the representative Of the Seventh Dis
trict of Virginia, and a resident OF llar-
risonburg, that before the caucus was
held Mr.. \. j. Montague and yourself
had agreed with him that in the event
that Mr.. Montague was elected by said
caucus AL appointed by Mr. Cleveland
To the office Of United States District At
torney for the Western District VI Nir-
ginia, he would select me AZ his Assist
ant District Attorney. Some time in the
summer Of the same year ! was informed
by Mr. Montague that he had made this
agreement with Colonel q 'Ferrall. and he
proposed To carry il out. unless his selec-
ton of myself for the position OF As
sistant District Attorney should be over
ruled by the President. Ii il but due
to myself To say that had no personal
connection with this agreement or ar
rangement whatever. ! did not know
Mr.. Montague, had no personal acquaint-
ance with him-indeed | don't think
had ever seen him.
A. to your second inquiry, | can only
say that after the convention was held
in 1897. at which the Governor, Lieu
tenant-GOyernor and AttOrney-General
were nominated, | was informed by GER
tain friends of mine, who were members
of that convention from the county Of
Rockingham. that Mr. Montague had
agreed that il the delegates from Rock
ingham county would east their votes for
him for the nomination Of AttOrney-Gen-
eral in that cOnvention. he would appoint
any man they might select from Rock
ingham county To the office Of Assistant
Attorney General or clerk in his office.
These gentlemen. who informed me Of
this, were under the impression there
was such an office a. Assistant Attorney
General. to which this agreement or
promise referred As il well-knOwn, there
tx no such position as this, but it was n
clerkship in the office of the Attorney
General Subsequent TO this in the fall
of 1897, Mr. Montague rendered me this
position in the town of IIarrisonburg,
which declined, and it was subsequent
~ given to another gentleman In this
ease. as in the first, had no connection
with il whatever, but the agreement was
made through the Intermediates have
named. The above, ! presume, fully re-
spends to both the inquiries that you
make. am,
Very truly yours,
(Signed) J. b. STEPHENSON.
PROM CONGRESSMAN HAY.
In further substantiation of my asser-
tions, publish herewith n letter from
Hon. James Hay, present member OF
Congress from the Seventh District OF
Virginia. which gives his knowledge OF
the matter in further support OF my
statement:
Madison. Va. June IL, 1901.
Hon. Claude A. Swanson, Richmond, Va.
My Dear Sir.-I have just received your
letter, asking for my recollection IA to
what occurred at the Roanoke cOnven-
ton with reference to the appointment OF
clerk to the Acknowledgement in the
event that Hon. A. J. Montague should
be nominated by that conventionfor the
office of Acknowledgement.
went to the Roanoke convention as
the friend and supporter of the late Hon.
William X. Alexander, Of Winchester;
after several ballots had been taken, and
Mr.. Aexander's name had been dropped,
and the final ballot was about to be had
between Mr.. Montague and Mr.. Lassiter,
you came to me and asked me what |
could do for Montague. | told you that
personally was for him, but thought |
could get other votes il could be assured
that Mr.. Montague, il nominated and
elected, would appoint n Seventh District
man as his clerk. You stated that you
could make me no promises until you
could see NJ. Montague. A short time
afterwards you came back to and told
me thatyou had seen Mr.. Montague, and
that he had promised to make the APP
pointment in the event of his nomination
and election. With this assurance | went
to several prominent gentlemen ir the
Seventh District delegation, told them
what had occurred, and the result was
that nearly the entire delegation voted
for Montague, and he was nominated.
When the election was over, | saw you