The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-02-11
AN ANSWER
The FREQ Lance:

In the issue OF The Free Lance
OF February end, 1911. there APP
peared an article under the heading
OF "A Voice" and signed Under
the Rod" Though 1t Is not my
habit to give much attention to
anonymous letters, yet as that com
munication was widely dispersed
and read, It occurs TO me but Just
10 Mr.. W. A. Jones that II should
not 20 unchallenged.
In that article Is to be found the
gist of the argument OF the friends
and supporters of Senator Thomas
s. Martin, which Is, that he
does things In Washington. That
assertion ia most dogmatically made
by his adherents. yet an impatient
and waiting public is still held III
the dark. because there Is no one
who Is able or willing TO inform il
az 10 what are the things that Sen
ator Martin has done at Washing
ton.
The voters OF the First Congress
sional District would be grauIied
for some Que 10 enumRrate the
things that Senator Martin HAS done
Tor any object or place within It's
confines II | mistake not, the peo-
pic of Fredericksburg would pc
pleasod 10 have some ono to inform
,hem what the Senator has done ior
hat ancient and historic town.
Surely. Under the Rod must
nave some information on these
points. Kindly tell us. Under the
Rod what it is that Senator Martin
has ever done at Washington lot
any s1ioct or any place within the
boundaries OF the First Congress
sional District? make bold to as
sert that Under the Rod nor any
other person, can name any ap-
propfiation accredited to Senator
Martin for any object at any place
wl,hin The bounds OF this district
Ia Justice to Senator Martin name
I Il man. name II.
"rnder the Rod tells US thai
Nr Jones is known az Washington
AS "the silent member from virgin
La" His friends accept that so
briouet and he shall be liEened uh-
10 William the Silent. the Duke oil
Orange. Of Nelherland fame. the
faithful friend Of the Ia'hesiahu.
Yet whatever may be his utle az
/ washington. from the mountains TO
/ th9 saasaore in The Ola Dominion py
friends and foes. ne is known 10
rs q NEST courageous ana effective
champion Of the Democratic caus'.
The Republican party IN ms State
has had good reason often 10 "lsn
+ hat the voice OF W 4. Jolts ccuin
90 silanced And though he mas
shaken in the interest OF Democratic
.anlidates and principles all over
+ .ir.inia. and though In the inter-
o. Of his own candidacy he mas
s.uu,ped the First Distinct many
imes over. vet he has never been
f ,etrd 10 cite or boast OF the amount
~ dollars and cents he has been
liable TO cure for his district rs
AMY argument or reason for his re
f.rtiOn In his seat as ConsressuitN
from This district.
Though he has obtained millions
az dollars for this district since ne
has been in Congress. ID mas Deeh
baneath the dignity OF W \. Jones
- che such facts as any jusuIlca-
+ icn OF the people supporting MIN
/ Consa quently, Under the Roo mas
40, vet heard "Of his achievements
from his own lips. The scope oi
mis- article will not permit Inc 70
-numerate all OF the things MI
Iones has achieved, but, as an eA-
,rrnlc ~ his achievements for MS
co.-.ifucncy. let us take the Guy
OF fredericksburg
rbis Information is given princi-
o1ily Tor the benefit OF under 'he
Rod. =" who plays ignorance so cleV
rly and is a plain and correct state
,,c,.l NJ the facts Congressman
/ William A. Jones has procured III
,,,uaI cash from the National GOV
! -~,,ncot between 100000 ana
SEQ 0OO for deepening ana nam
IN an omen channel In the Kappa
haonock river at and near the CITY
Of Fredericksburg. This aiohe 10
an achievement of no mean o'uIi
IN sDite of the rule obtaining III
/ CONGRESS- that no public money shali
+ he anpropriated for any pupiic
} s,,ii6ina in any town of less thah
/ IA 0o0 inhabitants. Wilpam a
Ions got an exception made In iaV,
ar nj fredericksburg and obtained
from Congress an appropriation Oh
/ s65. 900. which was used 10 GU"
struct the handsome, new ana com
modious postoffice building JUST
connIeted in that city. There is no
nublic work or object in that falr
and ancient town in which its peo-
nile take a deeper OF more laudaoie
bride than the handsome statue
erected there some years ago
IN the memory of General hugh
Mercer. To the people OF tnat CIT!
/ cav. that Congressman william a.
Zones procured an appropriation OF
$4,000 with which to erect tnat
monument. Ii stands there TO-DAY
"a tribute of a nation 10 Gen.
Hugh Mercer. but III every patrl-
Otto and grateful breast it Is none
the less also a monument 10 the
valiant. faithful and lofty services
OF William A. Jones.
submit these things to a lar
and impartial public through the
valued columns of The Free Lance
and If in any particular they are
/ not true. | trust that my desire LOT
/ the truth, and nothing but the
truth. will cause me gladly to ADMIT
iit when a different set Of facts are
adduced.
Respectfully,
r. l.. b.
.. Go W Ircb a 1911