Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-06-22
THURSDAY. JUNE %, 1905.
NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN.

FitZ Lee against him. The record III
the Lee-Martin investigation by Leg
islative committee during the Winter of
1884 is again brought to light to show
that Senator Martin had defeated Fitz
Lee by unfair and corrupt means. Per-
haps the charges were true, and at the
time the general public, Democrats and
Republicans, believed that the investi-
CATION was fake; and that it was so
managed as to prevent thorough ex-
posture of the corruption of the Vir-
ginia Democracy.
From our recollection of the investi-
cation and the facts that came out, even
if the charges made by the Lee men
against Martin were true, the Lee men
had no just grounds for complaint. The
committee, in its report made after the
investigation, reported:
81. That certain practices and acts
were proven connected with the cleo
ton of November z, 1893, which your
committee does not commend, but such
practices and acts are without the as
sent or appreciation of any candidate
for the United States Senate, and not
differentfrom those resorted to in form
er campaigns.
What is the legitimate inference from
this report, and what were the certain
practices that were mot different
from those resorted to in former cam
paigns?" The committee reported fur
Their:
"2. That this evidence fails to show
that any improper methods were used
by any candidates for the United States
Senate, to influence the vote of mem
bers of the General Assembly at the
caucus held December 7, 1893, in the
hall of the House of Delegates"
The Bird section of the report was in
tended to acquit any candidate for the
nomination of United States Senator of
a charge of using Improper methods
or means in securing Delegates or Sena-
tors in his or their interest at the cleo
ton held on the 7th day of November,
$685." General Fitz Lee was witness
before the investigating committee, and
part of his statement was very sig
niicant. We refer our readers to the
statement made by General Lee, which
is published in another column on this
page of the Republican" for the pur-
pose of sustaining the conclusions we
shall endeavor to draw therefrOm,
In his statement General Lee pub
fishes to the world the fact that in the
campaign of 1893, as well as nprevious
campaigns, the railroads and other cor
portions contributed large sums to the
campaign or corruption fund of the
Democratic party in Virginia. Not
only did General Lee acquiesce in these
contributions by the corporations but
he interested himself industriously to
control their distribution. Of course he
knew the motive of the railroads in
making these contributions was to Sc
cure assistance in the way of favorable
legislation. A fund thus raised was a
direct corruption fund. 1t was intend
ed to buy the friendship of the Demo
cratic party for the railroads, and was
to be used as fund for corrupting the
voters for the benefit of the Demo-
cratic candidates. Not only did FitE
Lee approve of this but he went North
with ]. Taylor Ellyson, the State chair
man of the Democratic party in Virginia,
to solicit campaign funds. He says!
Gas result of our trip Mr.. Ellyson
obtained several thousand dollars for
the campaign" Among those who con-
tributed to the Fitz Lee campaign fund
was Mr.. Cleveland, who sent his check
for one thousand dollars. General Lee
seemed to be more disturbed about the
campaign funds being used in behalf of
Mr.. Martins candidacy than he was by
the improperly of soliciting, accepting
and using a campaign fund that any one
but fool must have known was given
for improper purposes. He had no obs
lection to his friend, Mr. Ellyson, hand
ling this corruption fund, but he did OBJ
ject to any part of it going into the
hands of Mr.. Barbour Thompson, Mr..
Martins manager. No wonder General
Lees friends on the investigating COM
mittee were ready and anxious to stop
the investigation and make their white
wash report after he had put his STATE
ment on record. 1t was evident from
his statement that General Lee and his
friends were using methods very similar
to those they claimed were employed
by Mr.. Martin and his friends.
What was the use of that large cam
paign fund which General Lee and Mr..
Ellyson were SO eager to raise? The
Virginia Democracy were not seriously