Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-07-13
81. 90 PER YEAR
ATTEMPTED TO BRIBE
SENATOR J. w. DANIEL
He Refused $4,000 When on Verge
of Bankruptcy

warwick Daniel, which would have
stirred Virginia and the nation had
1T been known at the time. but hiss
never before been uttered in public,
or published, was recounted last
week at the Gettysburg Encamp-
ment. 1t is significant, indeed, that
on the very field where the gallant
Virginian fought his hardest battle
at arms there should have been told
for the first time what was perhaps
his hardest battle in peace.
1t would never have been told
during his life. Now that the Sena-
tor has obeyed the call of taps"
be who tells the story thinks it fit
ting that the State which so honored
and loved him should know how, at
perhaps the darkest hour OF his ex-
lstence, Senator Daniel put aside
the cup OF temptation when 10 drain
it would have been to sell his honor
and to betray his State.
Its telling will but add to the
lustre on the unblemished armor OF
the warrior and statesman. 1t has
been known to but few. and has been
carefully guarded by his friends.
Mounted on box in front of Col.
Perry's headquarters, surrounded
by the intensely interested and rev.
erent members of the First Virginia
Regiment, Rev. J. Cleveland Hall
Of Danville, told the story and poin-
ted the moral for his hearers. DR..
Hall is the reginental chaplain.
1t has always been we'll known to
the people of Virginia that Senator
Daniel was poor man. but it is not
generally known that he at one time
was practically financially ruined
and called a conference of one or
two friends and au attorney TO dis
cuss the situation. The men sat
together in the Senator home and
tried to bring some sort OF order
out of the chaos.
While the conference was pro-
ceeding, said Dr.. Hall, some mail
arrived, which Senator Daniel
opened. When he saw one OF the
letters he started. His face turned
white with mental struggle which
followed.
Then he exhibited the letter. 1t
was from an organization which,
said DR.. Hall. you business men
call trust" 1t was briefly stated
that at times the concern needed
legal advice, aud while it did not
especially want an attorney at the
moment, it would be glad to have
the Senator in the list, and to have
him accept a retaining fee. En-
closed was New York draft for
$40. 600. At the time there was
pending in Congress some legisla-
! ton which would affect this con-
Germ.
Twenty thousand dollars in the
hands of ruined man. actually
within his grasp" exclaimed DR..
Hall. What would you have done
with it? What did he dop He
put the letter with its Enclosure in
an envelope, directed it to the
writer and sent it to be mailed at
once.
Although the people of Virginia
have not known OF this incident, it
was because the Lame Lion was
that sort of man that business was
stopped in the Commonwealth while
his body wss being consigned to
the tomb. He went from strength
to strength. Faithful in little things,
he was ready when the big test
came. If honor and honesty and 8
fair and square name count any,
thing in the next world the Sena-
tor got full credit there. No won
der the people of his State honor
the memory of man who in his
hour of financial distress spurned
500. 900 when it spelled dishonor."
IL =.