The Washington herald., 1909-07-14
So . rhe Washington Hernld

SPECIAL to The Washington HeIald-
Richmond, Va. July 12-As a result OF
the political shock following the pubIica-
ton Of letters written TO Gen. Malone
by Judge William Hodges Mann, candi-
date for governor, IN which letters Judge
Mann practically admits political init
macy with the Malone regime, while hay
ing denied publicly OF ever having been
anything but a straight. dyed-in-the-wool
Democrat, it is generally believed that
there has been a great slump in Mann
stock throughout the State. Whether a
recovery will follow is problematical.
The supporters Of neither candidate will
make statements for publication until
their chiefs have first blazed the trail for
them
Capt. Richard s. Ker, fuckers cam
paign manager, speaking OF the effect
the letters may have on the approaching
primary, inclined TO the belief that they
VIII certainly produce a revulsion Of feel
ing among those who have been inclined
10 view with approval Judge Mann's dec
laratiOn Of constant and unfaltering De-
mocraey. and that their consideration by
the Democrats of Virginia will undoubted-
" largely Increase the majority for Mr..
Tucker
Col. Mann's Explanation.
Col James Mann to-day gave out the
following statement in reference 20 the
Malone letters:
judge Mann's friends do not feel that the letters
published Yesterday afternoon VIII have any ad-
verse effect upon the judge's candidacy for the
suoetnatorlai nomination. The letters when ana
lived mean only this: That thirty years ago Judge
Mann was the friend Of a man who afterward left
the Democratic party.
These letters -Eere written thirty years ago. aud
al tine when Gen. MahCne was still q Demo
cTat The general assembly was elected entirely
upon the debt question. TIE fight being between
the Readjusters and the FInders
large malority Of both the Readiusters and
tHndcr1 were Democrats. The best eVidence As 10
how Gen. Malone was then regarded politically ia
Virginia VIII be found IN the fact that in the
election for the Senate az that session q the leg
iSature Gen. Mahone received in the senate seven
teen Democratic votes and Senator Witbers rr-
eeived thirteen. and IN the house Gen Malone 10
ceived forty-thrce Democratic votes 70 forty for
Senator WIthers. making a total Of sixty fer Ma
hons and hfty-three for Withers
In other words. eliminating the Readhlser Repuh-
hcans. Gen. Malone received a najcritv of the
Democratic votes in both the house and the sen
ate. As further evidence of Gen. AIabones DO
lHcal attitude. We find az the head Of the edi-
tcrlal column q .he Whig then owned nv Cen
Malone. az the time Judge Mann's last letter
was written and from then on until the November
election, the names Of Hancock and English. the
Democratic candidates for President and Vice Pres
ldCnI 10 the campaign Of 1850. Gen. Malone first
announced that he would cooperate with the Re-
pubacans on March Il. 1851 nearly year after the
earrcspondenee following sensational speech b.
Senator Hill
Read in the light Of cuntenDornrv history The
letters show only that Judge Mann was then
Gen. Mahone's personal friend and well wisher
Neither Judge Mann nor any one else anticirated
the future political attitude Of Gen. Mah0ne and
Judge Mann did not follow him into the Repuh-
hcan party on the contrary. he remained as he
had always been. a Democrat. and we find him
reelected in 1885 Judge Of NOttoEay County bv
the Democrats. who had regained power in the
State
The letters completely destroy Mr.. fuckers charge
that Judge Mann had been elected Judge Of Not
t0way County because Of his having supported the
Readjuster ticket. aud that be had made uromises
10 Manone IN his letter Of june TO DR.. South
all he said:
Nov, I am Conservative las the Democrats
were then called IN politics and intend 70 act With
the ConeeryatFe party. which. in my Judgment
has saved the State Of Virginia from the horrors
Of the more Southern States and whose mission
Is not yet fully accomplished. I shall deem
II my duty and pleasure 10 support the nominee "
And in the letter Of January %. 1850 the day
after he reelected 10 the judgeship JudCs Mann
says; With 10 political claims TO the position
! could only rely on yOuT personal friendship
These two letters. coupled with the fact that
the headJuster senator and member Of the house
rom NOttCWay would not vote for Judga Mann
show conclusiTey and beyond doubt that he did
not vote the Readiuster ticket. The charge that
any lTumlscs or pledges were made Is completely
dlsslTated BY the following language In the letter
Of January 20.
shall particularly and gratefully remember that
no pledge ot any kind was asked Of me-" The
5eIlous thing ID Mr. fuckers charge was that
Judge Mann had been elected 90 the i1dgssbip In
consideration Of his doing agreeing 20 do certain
things Like many q Mr.. fuckers charges this one
IS now completely disproved and shown not TO be
true
Nothing remains Of the letters but exures~iors
Of strong friendship for Gen Malone the memory
Of whose valcT as a soldier vas then fresh in the
minds Of men who had served under him. and
who az the time a good Democrat V1tb no+b
irg 20 show that more than year later be would
80 over 10 the Republicans.
-. fF4f1T 80