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

Pto9 heH'' lhey would not have
promptly repudiated the letter and de-
hounced the author thereof
Only Reasonable Conclusion.
Senator Martins apologies. how
ever, do not even intimate that his
friend. Barbour Thompson. took an un-
warranted liberty with him when he
penned the instructions in those let
tors. The only reasonable conclusion
at which any intelligent mind can ar
rive Is that Senator Martin did not
repudiate the action of Mr.. Barbour
Thompson, because he could not do
SO No man having eny regard for
MS reputation and character will ever
rest his defense upon naked techni-
cality. unless he is forced to do go.
Especially Is this true of one who oc-
cupies high station. and enjoys pop
ular confidence. 1t IS idle to argue
that the fact that Senator Martin had
been selected as chairman of the Dem
ocratic caucus demonstrates that his
colleagues believe him innocent of the
conduct involved in these charges His
selection was far from unanimous. and
it IS not believable that 1t could have
BEEN made a all had the disclosures
In the Thompson letters been made
public az that time
NJ. Jones had something to saw IN
regard TO the Martin rally at Char
lottesville. He rldiculed the resolution
adopted at that meeting Whilst in
tended TO reflect the boundiess faith
OF their author in Senator Martins
veracity in the face OF all proof to the
contrary. he said. they certainly dem
onstreted a lack of common sense and
ordinary intelligence upon his part
They declare that Senator Martins
mere words will stand with his neigh
hOTE ~
Ing proof TO the contrary.
With those subscribing to them
neither fact nor reason counts for
aught. Senator Martins mere word In
their estimation is sufficient to over
come any evidence however strong and
unimpeachable that evidence may be.
Was there ever a more ridiculous ex-
hibition OF iubecility than this? For
tunately for mankind most people are
amenable to the dictates Of reason and
conscience"
The 'Whife Supremacy" Question.
Mr. Jones also discussed the claim of
Senator Martin and his friends that
tie money contributed by the railroads
was used solely 70 prevent negro dom
nation and to preserve white suprern-
acy and our Anglo-S2xon civilization.
This claim he declared. was too pre-
posterous and absurd to deserve seri-
Gus consideration in the face of the
documentary evidence which had been
produced. and which conciusively es-
tablisned Just the contrary. TWO wit
nesses. he said, are relied upon by
the Mart!nites to establish this idiotic
contention.
The Democrats of Virginia are Sc
riously asked to believe that the large
sums of money expended BY the rail-
roads in Virginia In the fall of 1891
and the winter OF 1s9i-'e2 were en-
ployed solely for promoting the cleo
ton OF Democrats to the General AS
sembly, and that without any refer
ence to their attitude towards legis-
letion affecting the railroads. We are
asked to believe this in the face OF
the fact that large part OF the
railroad money expended during the
campaign for the Legislature was eI-
pended through the employees and
agents of the railroads themselves and
without the previous knowledge on
the part of the chairman OF the Dem
ocratic party.
we are asked to believe It not
withstanding that Mr.. Thompson's let
ters TO c. c. Holland. written during
the progress of the campaign. clearly
establishes that one railroad official
at least, was directed to withhold A.
nancial assistance to the extent of ST.
coo from the Democratic candidates
until thoroughly satisfied as to their
position. We are asked even to believe
the impossible thing that money con-
tributed by the railroads long after
practically solid Democratic Legis-
lature had actually been elected. was
expended in the election of that Leg
islature.
There can be but one OF two con-
structions placed upon the thoroughly
established fact that the railroads CON
tributcd considerable sums of money
towards the election of Democratic
candidates for the Legislature which
did not pass through Chairman Ely
sons hands. and Of which he had no
knowledge. Either the railroads were
distrustful of the Democratic chair
man. or they wished to expend their
money without his knowledge or in
tervention through Mr.. Martin, Mr..
Holland and their other attorneys and
agents, IN order to place the recipients
under obligations to them. II this
money was contributed solely to pro-
mote a success of the Democratic party
as e. party, those who contributed II
could have had but one reason for not
entrusti ting 1T TO the chairman OF the
party into whose hands IL should have
rightly gone. Why. I ask. was not the
money given to Mr.. Ellyson, to be by
MIN expended in the interests OF the
party of which he was then. as now.
the chairman? Will he say that it was
because the railroads did not believe
him trustworthy?
Irrelevant to Issue.
Both Mr.. Ellyson and Mr. Thonn.
son have much to say in regard to the
use Of money in political camnaisns
which Is wholly irrelevant to and
wholly aside from the issue which had
oeen raised between Mr.. Martin and
myself. What we are concerned with
Is not the use. but the misuse of tho
money contributed by the railroads in
1912.
I know and everybody else knows
that before the restriction of the cleo
torate both the Democratic and the
republican parties used campaign
fnncs TO carry elections. 1t is one
thing to use money contributed to the
Democratic party as a party from anv