Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-08-11

3 ~
by them, and in this way continued
the Democratic party in successful
and consecutive control of our State
government.
Martin and Jones Cooperate
! II was personally active in my
cooperation in respect to these mat
tiers for about ten years-from 1884
to 1894-first under my uncle, the
late Senator John S. Barbour, and
afterwards under Chairman Basil B.
Gordon, since deceased, and Chair
man ]. Taylor Ellyson, of the DEM
ocratic State Committee, and in cor
dial association much of the time
| with Mr.. Martin and Mr.. Jones, both
Of whom were during much, if not
all, of that period members of the
Democratic Executive Committee
and conversant with it's work.
II had every reason to believe at
the time that my efforts were ap-
proved and appreciated by our best
men, and, however much the condi-
tons of those trying times may be
unknown to the younger genera
ton, or forgotten or distorted, I
have always felt supreme satisfac-
ton in the service l was thus able
to render my people.
"These funds thus collected were
always distributed in aid of the
Democratic patry and its candidates,
either directly by the State chair
man, or, If in any case the money
did not physically pass through his
hands. 1t was disposed of for Dem
ocratic purposes in accordance with
his direction or authority. If there
was any instance in which money
was disposed of even in aid of
Democratic candidate without the
knowledge or authority of the chair
man, it has entirely escaped my
memory. Certainly there was no
such practice or purpose. None of
it, so far as 1 know or believe, was
given on condition that the recip-
lent or the beneficiary should act
in his official capacity in any par
ticular way. It was, of course, not
expected that the contributors to
this Democratic fund would be un-
fairly treated, injured or destroyed
by the Democratic party"
what do you understand to be
the meaning of the reference in the
letter to General Logan to Mr.. Ely
sons having acted in the most
thorough good faith to u.s.? Who is
intended by 'us, 2"
How Railroads Feel About 1t
''As l say, 1 do not remember the
letters nor the exact circumstances
under which they were written, but
would construe 'us' as meaning
the railroads, and that when I was
appealing to railroad man, such
as General Logan, for contributions,
Twas giving him the assurance, which
myself felt, that the Democratic
managers, including Chairman FL
Tyson, who were asking the railroads
for help, were not doing so with
the traitorous purpose of first get
ting railroad aid and then entering
Upon a program of unfairness and
destruction against them, but could
be depended upon for fair treatment
and to let it be known, If occasion
should require to prevent injustice,
that the railroads had assisted in
upholding the Democratic party, and
were entitled tofairness at it's hands,
[ expected fairness not only from
the chairman, Mr.. Ellyson, but from
all in Democratic authority-from
both Mr.. Martin and Mr.. Jones, who
were then in the Democratic COM
mittee. I am sure these and other
property interests were entitled to
hat much, and that neither nor
any contributor from whom 1 as
sisted in securing contributions ex-
pected or wanted any more.
II feel great reluctancy about
making any statement in reference
to political campaign in Virginia.
am no longer citizen of the State
having moved to Georgia many years
ago, but as my name has been pub
licly brought into the campaign l
have felt it necessary to make this
statement. hope that no further
participation on, my part will be
required"