The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-08
Mr.. DiggS Explains How He
Voted at That Time
ASSOCIATION OF
ELECTION OFFICERS
Mr.. Diggs Says Mr.. Saunders Offered
to Secure Him Seat Thereby In
the Constitutional Convention
if He Would Put Up $3.50.
Mr.. Saunders Says the
Statement Is False.

The feature Of the meeting Of the Com-
mttee of Municipal Investigation at the
City Hall yesterday afternoon was the
colloquy between Messrs. Isaac Diggs and
Clyde w. Saunders, the former testifying
that the latter had tried to induce him
to run for the Constitutional Convention,
Offering him the inducement of political
influence to elect him. Mr.. Saunders Bit
terly denied the charge and declared that
he had no political organization. Mr..
Diggs made counter statement in which
he reiterated that Mr. Saunders had ap-
preached him on the subject, and finally
tho episode passed off. no blows being
passed.
The other witnesses were Messrs. w. H,
Zimmerman. Herman Stein and ]. Gar
land Pollard
Nothing startling was developed at
the hearing. and the committee decided
to meet again on tomorrow night at
o'clock.
SPIRITED SESSION.
The committee was called to order at
4:05 p. NJ. by Chairman John B. Minor
and quorum Of the members answered
to their names. Mr.. Isaac Diggs was the
first witness sworn. He testified that
he was a citizen of Richmond since 1899.
and was a member Of the Legislature
from King William and Hanover at the
time.
While member of the Committee on
Counties. Cities and Towns and its
chairman. he was urged by Mr.. Clyde
w. Saunders to be candidate for the
{t,,ti o1 ~.
mond
Mr.. Saunders told witness that there
was an organization in Richmond COM
posed of the election officers of Richmond,
about 300 in number, which, If put hn-
hind witness he could be elected. The
fee named to get the support of the or
ganization was $3.50. which Mr.. Saunders
told witness would insure his nomina-
tlon for the convention.
Mr.. Diggs. examined by Mr.. Minor, said
that the impression made upon his mind
was that If Mr.. Saunders had such an
organization he could do what he said.
and further that his offer was a cor
rupt one.
MR.. POLLARD.
Mr.. John Garland Pollard was next
sworn and he testified substantially in
corroboration of what Mr.. Diggs had
said and his testimony was along the line
sation to witness.
Mr.. Clyde w. Saunders was sworn and
denied that he had told Mr.. Diggs he had
any political organization in the city.
He denounced the statement of Mr.
Diggs as n malicious falsehood.
"Thht is a lie out of the whole CLOTH"
said the witness, In answer to a ques-
ton by Mr.. Pollard. as to whether Mr..
Diggs had been promised conditional sup
port of the witness He said he would
not have supported man who had been
repudinted by his people. When asked
what he meant, he said he understood
Mr.. Diggs had promised to support Genes
raj Lee for United States Senator and
had supported Mr. Martin. Witness de-
MED that he had ever received dime
from any candidate for office though
he had distributed money for Mr.. Swan
son In 1901.
Mr.. Diggs resumed the stand and said
he had not appeared of his own accord.
but he desired to relterate all he had
formerly said, despite Mr. Saunders de-
malls
HOW HE VOTED.
Witness now told that he cast threa
votes for General Lee In the caucus and
on the other three ballots he did not vote
He was sorry, he had not voted on all
ballots and was sorry he had not always
voted for Senator Martin.
He stated that he had never been res
pudiated by his people and had been
several times reelected.
Here Mr.. Diggs and Mr., Saunders en-
gagged In colloQuy as to when Mr.,
Diggs was asked to support Mr.. Saund-
ers as member Of the State Committee
and when Mr.. Dggs left the stand, Mr..
Saunders reiterated that he had told the
whole truth about the matter,
Alderman w. II. Zimmerman testified
that he had visited Mr., Stein and asked
him to vote for the proposition of the
Traction Company to go OF Main Street
and that the latter had agreed to tho
proposition. He thought Mr., Stein was
an honest man and he had no reason now
to change his mind,
Councilman Stein swore that he had
always been Traction advocate and
that though he had been offered $1,000
in gold, no would have voted the way
he did, because he thought the people
wanted the Traction Company to go ON
Main Street
MIR. ROBERTSON ON.
Mr.. John G. Robertson. OF Manchester.
was now put ON and examined by Chair
man Minor He said he knew of the
spending of no money IN any franchise
fights In Richmond.
There had been rumors In the air, but
the witness could not speak OF them OF
his own knowledge.
Witness told how In the organization OF