The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-03

EifilH From q conscientious. high sense
OF hutN ,hcy have been silent under these
atticks until the legislative body of this
Et,te havo come and called for tho facts
attheIr hands. they welcome that call
a,sl feel grateful that their tongues have
bden loosed. and the facts MS to Which
tly,y have been silent for all these weary
days arc row before this committee and
before the people Of the Commonwealth
OF Virginia.
shall not discuss thsc facts. 30 fnr NJ
they relate to Major Lanier and Mr.. Up
slur. unless 1t IL essential TO consider
atIOn or the facts developed by this evS-
d.ncc as to the position OF Judge Crtimp.
Now, from this testimony, as here, with
nll It's mass IL In perfectly easy and clear
to determine what has been Judge
tr,imp's connection with all OF these un-
Fortunate troubles, and to determine
whether In these matters lie has been
1indiscreet. whether he has been to blame,
or whether he hns been guilty OF any
wrong.
There are three things that this evil
dence shows that Judge Crump hns done
and none other. First. Major Lanier nd
vised with him ms to whether he should
organize tho Virginia Corporation Com
pany. incorporated: there is no question
Of that fact. Second. that Judge Crump
did know that Mr.. Campbell. the general
counsel of that company worked at the
rooms OF the commission at night. Third
that Judge CrIimp was n subscriber to
share Of stock of the Virginin Corpora
tlon Company. Incorporated. And these
nre the only three facts established by
this testimony. or claimed to be ostab-
llshed, In connection with which he can
be criticized, considered with reference
to this unfortunate affair.
Give Lanier Warning.
Now let lis consider these facts more
IN detail Let us read them in conrlec-
ton with all Of the testimony. and let us
soc II there have been any iinprs S<rSk:as
there. as to the formation OF the COM
pany. Judge Crump has explained to
this committee too well that this com
mission was overworked and thnt n great
deal of routine would be saved to the
commission II those details were attended
In orderly and properly by those familiar
with them.
In addition to that 1t would proclaim
to those outside the State the advantages
OF the corporation laws of Virginia; they
arc regarded by those familiar with
them as very great and In some respects
superior to any State Of the Union. He
felt that any such institution OF that
kind. properly conducted. would be of
great good to Virginia and great relief
TO the commission. But when an en-
ployc OF the commission goes to organize
n company OF TINT sortt-and / recognize
the indlscretion of an employe of the
commission holding stock In company
OF that sort. what did Judge Crump say
Yes get up such company But
what else did he say to Major Lanier?
"afajor, get up n company. but be care
fu to have no official connection with
"a nd a. mt IN, ynIx fs.
affairs with your duties az clerk OF this
commission Is there any intelligent
body OF men that can say that anything
there reflects upon Judge Crump. his
integrity or his fitness for the position
nc fills with such distinguished ability
mud with such high character?
Unwise? Yes. God Almighty has put
into our prayer not to lead us into temp
tntion. and 1t was temptation for Ma
jor Lapier 10 own stock In company
that he could benefit MS an omployc OF
the commission. And Judge Crump erred
therein. and that was the head and front
OF his offending.
rs there any doubt about Judge Crump
having warned Major LAME? Major La
nier has said that no consulted freely
with Judge Crunp. He has never said
that Judge crump was familiar with the
acts OF tie employees of the commission
In aiding the Virginia Corporation Com
pany. As often as he has risen TO his
feet. he fas never made that charge.
But when examined By the commissions
ers. these facts Were pointed out TO him,
aud he said 10 Judge CruInp: You. sir.
approved OF my going IN and organizing
this company "oh. yes. but ] warned
you not to hase any official connection
with 1t and not to permit II to mingle
with your duties as an smploye OF this
commission" This Is his admission: it
Is testified to by all three OF the com
missioners. and Major Lanier admitted
on that occasion that 1t liz true. and he
hns never denied 1t on the stand here.
Mr.. Fairfax testified on that: he said
that his understanding OF the warning of
fudge Crump WAS that It covered all
these transactions that went on in the
pffices of the commission. Was there
aDy indiscretion there?
AS an abstract proposition, can you say
is more than unw!se for an employee to
get up such company. had 1t properly
conducted and had no Official connection
With 1t. and not have mingled 1t with the
tffairs of the commission. He would have
been placed. however, in the position of
temptation. and where he might be criti-
csed and where he was liable to be led
by his interests into unwise acts Isn't
that all there is to 1t? Had Major Lanler
lived up to what Judge Crump told him.
would there have been all of this talk
would there have been all of this inves-
tigation? say no. there would have
been nine.
What more: take the second fact. and
that is that Judge Crump knew that Mr..
Campbell was working at the offices of
the commission at night. Judge Crump
has stated, and it is not contradIcted. that
he knew of this by complaints. believe.
but he said that his opinion was that
that office should not be opened Mt night;
but if Mr.. Campbell wanted to work there
and one of his employees came there and
supervised him. that he thought he might
do SO. There was nothing wrong in that:
nothing uniting to Judge Crumbs high