Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-22
WALKER WROTE LETTER
At REQUEST OF WATSON?
Says That Watson Wanted In
formation Against "Bunch
at Union City"

A. NJ Walker, of 207 Pulliam street,
admitted Tuesday afternoon to the COM
mittee on public property from the
house of representatives that he wrote
i the letter to Thomas E. Watson which
charges graft and mismanagement in
! the office of ]. Lee Barron, keeper OF
public buildings and grounds, and that
he wrote another letter addressed to Gov.
> Joseph E. Brown. He said that the let
ter concerning Mr.. Barron was written
at the suggestion of Mr. Watson that any
ammunition that could be used against
| the Union City bunch would be availa-
! BILE; and explained that it wasn't in
tended as charges against Mr. Barron,
but was merely report of indefinite
rumors which he had heard and which
I he intended that Mr.. Watson should in
vestigate and confirm. @-' ..
! The letter to Governor Brown had not
! been made public before. 1t is COM.
plant by Walker that he was not ap--
pointed as keeper Of public buildings and
grounds. He threatens in 1t TO apprise
! Thomas z. Watson OF facts in his pos
session and says that from time to time
/ he will be heard from through the city
! and country press. -"
! After he had declined Tuesday after
! noon to give the legislative committee
any information Walker made this state
ment concerning the letter to Thomas Z.
| Watson. Following it. the committee
concluded its investigation Of the graft
charges against ]. Lee Barron. deciding
there was nothing to suort them and
instructing a subcommittee to prepare
report generating Mr. Barron: -E-' 3
I'm corresponding with Mr.. Watson"
said Mr.. Walker, "he suggested that If 1
could give him any ammunition against
the Union City bunch he could use 1t.
understood that by the Union City
bunch he meant DucKworth, Lee and
! Barron. 1 had read statements in the
papers that the expenditures at the cap
/ itol were too large and had heard some
talk. 1 didn't have any personal infor-
nation of graft. ! did hear guard
say once that there were guards and
porters on the payroll at the capitol who
were not in the service OF the state, and
heard some others say the same thing.
though 1 don't know VINO they were. l
have no personal knowledge of any mis-
management Of Mr.. Barron's office and I
don't know of any one 10 has.
| LETTER NOT FOX l. ~IISLATURE.
81 never intended that my letter to Mr..
Watson should be sent to the legisla-
ture or made public In any way. He
had requested me to give him any In
| formation l could against the Union City
bunch, and 1 simply informed him OF
rumors ] had heard. intending that he
should investigate them and see If there
was any truth In them.
II marked the upper corner of my let
ter private and personal. And inside l
wrote: Strictly confidential The letter
was meant for Mr.. Watson and Mr.. Wat
son alone" 49,. ....-. ,.-
He said that the letter hewrote to Gov.
srnor Brown had no connection whatever
with the letter addressed to Mr.. Watson.
EAe letter to Governor Brown follows:
~. ATLANTA, Ga, July 6, 1910.
Gov. Joseph NJ. Brown: noticed
your announcement for reelection in
Yesterdays Constitution In your race
! two years ago I did IL Z could for you
and in return for time and money spent
and services rendered, 1 ASKED you to
give me the appointment Of keeper OF
public buildings and grounds. You dis
regarded my application and gave the
| position to a young man. ignoring the
claims of all veterans in order to en-
! deavor to capture the Farmers union
influence and even refused or neglected
| TO return my testimonials after being
earnestly requested and promising to do
So / feel that you have treated me
unfairly and unjustly, and 1 shall do
all 1 can to defeat you. Do not flatter
yourself with the Urea that 1t was your
ability or your popularity which ele-
waited you to the high position you now
occupy-far from tit was a peculiar
train of circumstances and conditions
which never existed before in the politi-
cal history of the state, which have
passed away, and the people now fully
realize their mistake, which they are
anxious to correct.
81 have letters in my possession
which will surprise you if made public.
I shall apprise Thomas E. Watson Of
all the facts in my possession and from
time to time you will hear from me
through the city and county press. The
people of Georgia will never honor
man with the highest office In their gift
who is vice president and a director in
| a bank that returns it's property for tax
alton at only 40 per cent on the dollar.
Selah. Respectfully :...
"a. M. WALKER"
DECLINED TO ANSWER.
When Mr.. Walker was first called be-
fore the house committee he declined at
the advice of his counsel, Senator M. D.
womble, from the Twenty-f1fth district,
to answer questions. He was asked re-
peatedly If he wrote the letter sent by
Mr. Watson to the legislature.
at decline to answer that question"
he would answer.
He refused to say whether or not he
wrote the letter to Governor Brown.
He was shown the letter and asked II 1t
was in his handwriting. ..... g.,
ct don't know" he said. ...
do you know your manner one Of the
committee asked in evaporation.
Joe Hill Hall said to Mr.. Walker in
refusing to answer questions he was
pacing himself in contempt Of the house
Oh representatives and that the commit
tee had it within It's power to order AIS
Imprisonment. At Mr. Halls suggestion
the committee went into executive sea-
! sion. ....... ....
Mr.. Walker. in the meantime, was ad-
yised by Senator Womble to make a
frank statement concerning the letter to
Mr.. Watson.
When he was called again before the
committee he was shown a copy of the
letter and asked IL he had ever seen the
original. .
ADMITS AUTHORSHIP.
"I nave" he said. .-.
Did you write it?'
! "I did" e.. 'f-s
! He said that he has no knowledge
! that Barron is irresponsible and that he
doesn't know of Barrons having let any
contracts at one price and of the states
having paid for them at another. He said
! that he couldn't recall ever having heard
! any one make the statement that Barron
pot graft ont of the contracts he let.