The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-20

out VIII this well laid scheme
work. II is desperas.on's last refuge
now addressing do not credit these re-
ports. Perhaps II ia dimcult for you
TO believe that one who boasts OF
ttular leadership in the Senate could
descend to political tricks which would
not be creditable even in ward poll.
tician.
Time alone Will demonstrate
whether or not these reports are well
founded trust they may not be
true Should they prove to be. feel
that can rely upon the innate sense
OF fairness and justice of the Demo-
Gratis of Virginia to place upon any
such denial or explanation the stamp
of their disapproval and reprobation"
The Thpmoson Letters.
MT Jones then took UP the now
famous Thompson letters. reading
them one by one. analyzing each letter
and then commenting upon the eight
q 8 a whole, saying that the true mean
ing and full significance could only
be completely understood when the
series vas treated as whole.
I'm no statement made by Senator
Martin has he touched any of the let
tiers save the one TO himself. and that
TO the vice president OF the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railroad, both of
which were written prior 10 the cleo
ton Of November 3. 1891. and both
Of which. referred to money that went
into Senator Martins hands" said Mr..
Jones He has contented himself
with the statement that this money
was used for cam paign purposes, and
ne has reiterated mis- former state
nent that ne has never acted as the
agent and lobbyist of any railroad or
person in connection with any legis-
lattve matter, State or national
He has made no statement in re-
gard TO the other six letters. in four
Of which, al least, his name appears.
all of which were written twenty
days after the election, and all OF
which seriously implicate him in an
attempt TO influence the Legislature
in the interest Of railroad corpora
lions. at the same time challenging
his veracity, and thus involving his
moral character
The people of.virginia have right
to expect that he and ne alone shall
explain these letters so far as they
relate to him and remove the stigma
that now rests upon him. Can ne.
with seif-respect and honor. delegate
his defense 10 others? VIII he longer
even permit this defense to be made
b. another?
he is not charged with g crime
which the law can reach. He does
not need the services or an attorney
skilled in all the intrtcaoies and tech
niceiities of the law. It Is charge
of moral turpitude which he is called
upon 20 meet-which must be met BY
himself and not by another.
The only explanation which has
been offered by anybody has come from
certain railroad attorneys. who. either
voluntarily or at the instance Of their
employers, have attempted to excul-
pate him. Even they have not had the
courage to do this from any public
platform, IL we except that remark
able gathering in his own town when
some OF his neighbors felt called upon.
II reports be true. to testify a $ to
his reputation for veracity.
These attorneys all assert one
thing They all assert that the let
tiers which summoned the representa-
tives OF three railroads to report to
Thomas S Martin at Richmond on the
eve of the assembling CT the Legis-
iature for the purpose or rendering
him assistance IN the matters which
were to come before that body do
not constitute such legal evidence as
would be admissible in a criminal trial
in a court of justice
Meredith Docs Not Agree.
II shall not stop to discuss with
them this proposition. I may remark
in passing. however. that a lawyer
OF such high character and such wide
" recognized ability as air. Charles
V. Meredith. OF the city OF Richmond,
does not agree with these railroad
attorneys in regard to this
1T may be remarked, too, IN this
connection, that Mr. Meredith's sympa
thies with the people and freedom
from corporate influences are written
in the Constitution OF Virginia, and
known Of ell men In legal ability
and strength Of character. he Is not
only the peer OF 9Ir Martins apollo
any lawyer in this Commonwealth.
But even il It should be admitted
for the sake OF the argument that
these three letters would not De COM
petent legal testimony upon which to
convict Mr Martin In court of jus
tice, their competency to convict him
in the high court OF public opinion
is not open TO question.
1t is admitted by these attorneys
that Nr Thompson ordered at least
three railroad officials TO report to Mr.
Martin at RichmonIN tust before the
Legislature assembled. and TO render
him all possible assistance. but, ask
these legal sages, what proof is there
TO show that he was actually in Rich
mond at that time. or. If there, that
they actually reported to him and
rendered the assistance they were di-
reoted TO give.
May Dcmend Acuutttal.
They insist that Whilst it cannot
be denied that NIr. Thompson sought
to put Senator Martin in command
over the legislative forces OF the rail-
roads, the proof falls short of show
ms that he actually accepted this COM
mand. They maintain that 1t is a
prthciple Of the Jaw that every man
Is assured 10 be innocent in court
OF law until his guilt Is actually
proven, and that Senator Martin may
therefore, under this we'll established
rule Of law, simply deny his guilt and
demand his acquittal
They seem to forget. certainly they
Ignore, the fact that the man in whose
behalf they thus interpose this techni-
cal defense is United States Senator
and not a common criminal. The peo-
~