The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-12-17
8 - from Ike one.)
I

..EgOU, Z, v y . - w
fetter received by the Senator
I'm October Conyers said that he
been visited BY Wallace l.. Gray
man who had offered him the pc.
non he referred to, bit he proved
be IA; G. baldwin. the Captain OF
Ineffective agency at Roanoke. In
letter he, repeated long con
NATION Baldwin had with HIM for
spWfpose OF ascerIaIping whether
Negro detective, Lawson, haG
ne an accurate report in~the sum-
6r. 'a..~,'. ..' ...
1911 told him l was sleeping when
t6e shooting occurred he wrote,
&Axnd that It couldn't be true that
stold anything else to Lawson.
told me he did not know anything
Siput lawson; said his brother sent
to him and that he had caught
n sin several lies"
Kept Foraker Informed.
|ek The next time the Senator heard
!, nm Eonyersa was late in October.
G Sin the letter he told Of the visit
= sRroWfte. He said that Brown as
him that het would be protect
&'liaak he told what he knew, but he
4akiRt6d that he had nothing to re-
and that his testimony before
kSA Il Senate Committee was correct.
& 81 practically denied every assertion
him or statement attrib-
u.s. k&dS ITO him by the detective and in
in the latter's affidavit
LITER on.
C3onyers sent another letter to the
Bnatot In November relating how
her detectives had undertaken to
fact information from him which
hts had repeatedly avowed he did not
ED0asess After Conyers letters had
SSsan read the Senate Mr.. r foraker,
rho is most eloquent when aroused,
ASGlaimed with dramatic effect:
..Is there anything more atrocious
Than the way proceedings have been
against these men? This
sixth time they have been on
44ial, Jand five times have been &C
4Gttted, In my Judgment; and when
kSH Investigation of these charges
ssSs,w preferred is completed, it will
aAtn acquit lem.
&3tIs there anything more atroci-
ssSas than the conviction of men of
Estane upon mere e3-parte testimony?
What is thes necessity for such tes-
Inony3 1t may be the Negro sol
&fars did the shooting; [ do not
NOV. There has been no testimony
ElSS offered that satisfies me that they
aah 1t. I do. not mean that there is
40 testimony tending to show that
they did not. do it. 1t is. to my mind
stronger than that
sRiGh shows they did it.
Ss3 do not want to go over all of
no evidence again, but now after
;Ha testimony is all taken men are
aaHAd to pursue these men to ferret
HE matter out if they can, In any
nay described by this poor helpless
man" '.,
5Ss:.7 Is Not Seeking Revenge.
1T was at this point that the Sen
stor cried: Shame upon the Gov
srnment that employs such meth
Dds and then he proceeded: l
aM not know, when | arose to offer
nv amendment, Of the Presidents
message. That did not cause me to
01er it. I had already brought it
KAre to offer. In fact l expected to
aaer it last week. Neither did it de-
Ter me from offering it.
it once and for all be under
stood that I have no desire and no
except only to do my duty as
& understand it. have no embar-
easements to work out for anybody
as against anybody. / have no feel
Ing OF spitefulness or revenge as
against anybody in connection with
this matter.
All have known from the begin
ming is that here are 1877 men, every
one OF whom says that he had moth
ang whatever to do with it, SO com
pietely did they acquit themselves
that the President himself has sent
.ns a message asking us to author
lie him by appropriate legislation to
Fe-enlist them. That is all my bill
does.
whether his bill or any bill shall
be adopted, let us not drift into a
controversy over inconsequential
Jnatters, bat let us do justice to
these men by enactiDg some kind Of
w laeW nnder which they can be heard
All their own defense before an indie
and just tribunal against
serious charges as we listened
2NheTe today and against such espi-
|pnage as we are told by the Presi-
Bnt'B message is to be continued
Spsnding our action.
S|aSs1I do not object to any fair meth
10 being continued to ascertain the
Firth. Let. the guilty suffer the pen.
lily, but II not guilty, let him 90 &C.
Stait. Let rs give to the humblest
Sbat we would not hesitate to give
n4Tm "a maH