The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-05

account of your familiarity with his
legislative course--there are many
others of the same sort" In this let
ter there is no trace OF fear of negro
domination. The sole compelling mo-
tive is fear of demasosuery against
the railroads. The sole argument IS
the advantage of preventing adverse
railroad legislation
1t will not do now for Senator Mar
tin to say. as he said at Leesburg. NV
letter referring to Messrs Flood and
Parrish was another incident of my
work for the maintenance of Democ-
racy and white supremacy"
II does not so appear to US
III that letter we see a bare and
nndisSuised appeal to railroad lob.
oyist to put up railroad money in or
der that hostile railroad legislation
might be prevented. That letter is a
l'nald proposal of barter and sale
there is in it no discussion of princi-
ples-and not the slightest reference
/ TO negro domination.
| To any ordinary man it is lust =
plain. unvarnished discussion of the
way by which a railroad could buy
protection and support. That is all
I there is to it.
For example. what does Senator Mar
tin mean by We? Does ne mean
the Democratic party when he writes
| i do not see how WE can get along?
| 1t is conceivable that WE might
mean tie white Democrats of Virginia.
but II that Is true. what does OUR"
friend Breugh mean? Breugh was a
man who was nominated on a Lee
platform. and who voted for Martin.
and in this very election was beaten
by large Republican majority be-
cause he betrayed his constituents
And what does Mr.. Martin mean
when he. says that the Democrats who
desire to be conservative and Just to
corporate interest Will be demoralized"
unless the railroads Will help a few
Individual Senator'S? Does he mean
that Democratic principles of conserv-
atism had no hrmer foundation than
railroad help? Does he mean that the
character of the conservative and
Just" Democrats was so feeble and
their principles so unstable that they
too, would become demagogues IL the
railroads stopped putting up money?
or does his letter imply that the de-
mands OF the so-called radicals we're
so Just that only money could prevent
those demands being enacted into law?
And who were the Obscure lot" Of
legislators that Mr.. Martin feared
Were they not white virginians. and
would they not have been chosen by
the votes OF their ow-citizens?
These are some of the comments that
inevitably suggest themselves to the
reader OF Senator Martins appeal to
Mr.. Glasgow
This letter was written in the heat
Of political contest sixteen years
ago At that time Mr.. Martin, a newly
made Senator. was doubtless and de-
servedly grateful to Mr.. Glasgow. who
had done so much toward securing his
election. For this reason. and for
others, Mr.. Martin may have gone TO
extremes then in helping railroads by
secret means that his sober second
sense or his conscience would not have
tolerated afterwards.
But what 10 we see?
These forgotten letters are suddenly
brought to light After three days
Senator Martin answers them, and
what is that answer? In 1t there is
not one word OF regret for the lament
able exposure Of bargainir< between
the railroads ana Democratic leader.
There is no apology to Virginia no
effort to even SMOOTH over the rough
ana crude suggestion from u Senator
to a lobbyist as to how and where
support might be bought.
| Here was a man IN one OF the nigh
est Offices in the gift of the State plot
ting with railroad how to use money
/ TO make sure and fas, the railroad
/ grip on the Legislature. And after
sixteen years when confronted with
/ this evidence that same man finds in
/ II only another proof of patrj,tic and
unseifsh service in the cause of white
supremacy.
=. Does Senator Martin maintain that
the white Democrats of Virginia at
large justified then or would Justify
now the sort Of bargain that his letter
offered the Norfolk and Western in
exchange tor railroad money?
THIS revelation is the worst cri.-
csm that has yet been made against
vtrgin!a's leaders
If our senior Senator secs nothing
Nron,- i-, .u-, ,.f,,,.,.