The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-23

made any such statement to you or to
any other living being, and. further,
have the absolute knowledge that no
word or conduct of mine could have
given any cause whatsoever for any
such statement.
"Inasmuch as Mr. Glass has quoted
you as his authority, 1t has seemed
to me but proper that before proceed
ing any further IN this matter, which
II is my purpose to do. / should first
acquaint you with this information.
and ask that you state in writing your
authority for making any such repro
sentation to Mr.. Glass as he advises
and very fully as to what that repre-.
sentation was.
Il have requested Mr.. Lauren Fore
man to bear this communication to
you. and to request an Immediate re-
Spouse.
Yours very truly.
'I. S. r. THOMPSON"
1 this morning received Mr., Smiths
reply. as follows:
Newspaper Mans Answer.
House of Representatives, U. g.,
Press Gallery,
Washington, D. c., Aug 49, 1911
MI J. 9. B. Thompson Atlanta. Ga:
Dear Sir.-I have yours of the 18th
instant delivered to me by Mr. Lauren
Foreman / have carefully noted its
contents. and in reply beg to say
Il am in no way responsible for any
conclusion or deduction that Mr.. Glass
may make. and can only state to you
exactly what occurred. first. between
you and myself and, then, between
Mr.. Glass and myself
You will doubtless recall that
shortly after the late Senator Daniel
was stricken with paralysis met you
in the Senate wing of the Capitol
that I inquired of you what you were
doing In Washington, as l I'M accus-
toned to make this inquiry of Georgia
visitors on account of my newspaper
duties, and that I further asked you
whom you thought would be Senator
Daniels successor. in the event of his
death. You will also recall that you
stated to me that your opinion was
that Mr.. Swanson would be appointed
by the Governor OF Virginia. and that
you were en- route to the marble room
of the Senate to confer with Senator
Martin, OF Virginia From this my
own inference was-and think II was
justifable-that the object of your
proposed conference with Senator Mar
tin was the subject we were then dis
cussing. You will also recall that on
this occasion you told me that you did
not think there was any chance for
Senator Daniel to recover, and that his
death was only q question of a very
short time
II did not regard this converse ton
as confidential in any way, as you
made no request of me to so consider
1t, and our relations were not such as
to require me to regard the informa-
ton as confidential. subsequently. |
" in
Martin In the marble room of the SEN
ate on the same day.
II did not regard this as news OF
any particular interest or Importance
to the people of Georgia, and hence
did not print the story in the Atlanta
Journal subsequently 1 happened to
meet my friend MIR. Carter Glass. Il
member of Congress from Virginia,
and detailed to him just what occurred
between u.s. as matter of news and
gossip OF Virginia politics, In which
knew he was deeply interested, and
doubtless the above is the foundation
for the statements OF which You COM
plain.
What | have written TO you as to
what / told Mr.. Glass Is absolutely
true. and you must recall the facts
yourself. In repeating it to Mr.. Glass
had no desire to misrepresent any
one, ana ala not miSrepreSent any one.
1 had no desire to violate any per-
sonal confidence. and did not violate
any such confidence.
Very truly yours,
RALPH SMITH"
Did Not Aid Swanson.
In submitting this correspondence
to the public l desire to relterate in
most unequivocal terms that the state
ment that had come to Washing ton
then or at any other time In the In
terest of Mr.. Swanson, or had en-
deavored to use any influence in re-
spect to his appointment ms Senator
Is absolutely without foundation.
1t Is entirely possible that Mr.. Smith
asked me who I thought was going
to be Senator from Virginia to succeed
senator Daniel. and, IL SO. 1t Is en-
tirely possible that 1 may have given
an expression OF opinion that Mt
. a