Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-08-30

family disclaimed all sympathy what
ever with Mr.. Glass criticism and that
he thought it proper for me to know
that Mr.. Glass was not voicing the SEM
timents OF those nearest and dearest to
Senator Daniel, that he had full knowl-
edge of my attitude towards Senator
Daniel and his family during his last
illness and entertained for me the kind
est and most grateful sentiments. Be
ing cognzant OF what transpired, at
the time the criticism appeared he did
not think it justified and felt that it
should not have been made. He also
stated that Senator Daniel most highly
esteemed me during his lifetime both
as friend ard as a public officer. |
have no stronger supporters in this State
than this talented young son OF Senator
Daniel and the other members OF his
family and close relatives. This should
constitute complete reply to Mr.. Glass,
because they and not Mr. Glass, are the
proper defenders OF Senator Daniels
memory. | am satisfied that a vast
majority Of the people OF Virginia de-
precate the opening of the grave OF
Senator Daniel to try to make 1t SUBJ
serve the purposes OF selfish political
campaign. Mr.. Glass, himself, in the
campaign of Governor Montague against
Senator Martin gave expression TO a
rebuke TO Governor Montague which |
think can now be fttingly applied to
Mr.. Glass. Condemning an effort TO
aid Governor Montague by appealing to
the supposed grievances OF General Lee
against Mr.. Martin, Mr.. Glass wrote
the following:
This thing OF making merchandise
Of the imaginary grievances OF a dead
soldier for the benefit of an ambitious
politician is not the most inviting as
poet OF the political controversy in Vir-
gina." Mr.. Glass, as usual, inconstant
and inconsistent, furnishes sufficient
condemnation OF his present position.
Ny fellow Democrats, Mr.. Glass hav-
ing utterly failed TO make any impress
sion upon the people OF the State by his
attacks upon my public record as Con-
gresham and as Governor and in the
other matters tc which have replied,
III the closing hours of the campaign,
in his desperation, has seen proper to
delve into my private business affairs,
hoping that through prejudice and mis-
representation he might injure me and
benefit himself. He has seen proper to
inject into this campaign some business
transactions Of mine occurring more
than ten years ago. He first charged
that | was partner and large stock
holder in the American Tobacco Com
pany while l. was member Of the
Ways and Means Committee. When l
replied to this charge, stating to the
people fully and frankly the transaction,
he then changed his contention and
said ! was a gambler i'll the stock OF
this Company. have stated and will
state again frankly these transactions.
While my business affairs can hardly be
matter Of interest to the public, yet
| have none that ! would be unwilling
to throw open to the view of the Vir-
ginia people; especially am | willing to
do this when they are made the. subject
OF false and slaude1ous charges. As
! stated in the interview which | have
given out, in the year 1899 when Con-
gress was not III session and when |
was at Chatham, | purchased through
licensed and reputable broker, four
hundred shares Of the stock of this
Company, which the broker bought and
held for me on my account as specu-
lation. | furnished the broker with a
margin to carry these stocks for me
TO insure him against loss, He held
these stocks only short time and sold
them at my risk Several years later
| made purchase OF two hundred and
fifty shares of the stock of this COM
pany for similar speculative purposes.
hall
risk. wish to say that these were the
only transactions and the only instan-
ces in which have ever held any of
the stock OF the American Tobacco
Company These stocks were purchas-
ed because thought they were low and
stood an opportunity to make profit.
The venture was speculative and |
took the risk myself, furnishing sufti-
cient margin and iii doing so placed my
self under obligation to no one These
purchases were made when Congress
was not in session and no legislation
was pending and | knew OF none con-
templated that would affect the value Of
those stocks. Being a minority mem
Der OF the Ways and Means Committee
| had no opportunity for acquiring in
formation except such as is possessed
by The ordinary business man. A min
GRITTY member OF the Committee is not
consulted by the majority in connection
with bills, nor has he any knowledge
OF the legislation proposed by the ma
Jorlty. The majority meet among them
selves, consider their bills, reach their
OWN conclusions, publish them TO the
country and then invite the minority
members OF the Committee formally TO
appear. This has been the course pur-
sued i'll al! Congresses, whether con-
trolled by Democrats or Republicans,
and was the course pursued by the
Democratic majority OF the House of
Representatives in the session just end
ed. could have possessed no knowl-
edge superior to that OF others Con-
grcss had adjourned and no legislation
was pending. Thus there could have
been no improperly in the purchase
OF this stock on account OF my being a
member OF Congress and OF the Ways
and Means Committee The only i'm
propriety that could have existed, if
any, is such as would apply TO the pur-
chase OF stock for speculative pur
poses. Stocks of this Company were
permitted to be dealt in by law and were
bought and sold on the open market by
brokers as other stocks were They
were not purchased in bucket shop,
such as IS characterized as gambling
transactions. They were bought by me
through licensed and reputable brokers
IN the way that other purchases OF
stocks are made, the brokers holding
the stock and furnishing the margin
There never has been = law against
these transactions. They occur daily
Such purchases must be numerous. even