The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-13
First District Representative
Says Senior Senator
Clouds Issue
SAYS SOME OF CLAIMS
SIMPLY PREPOSTEROUS
Asks Him to Explain What
He Did With Money and
Why He Does Not
Answer

DENDRON. July 12.-Congressman
william A. Jones, who is opposing
Senator Thomas S. Martin in tho
pending senatorial Democratic pri-
mary contest. spoke here tonight III
the interest of his candidacy to a fair
sized audience which gave him a COR
ulal but not over enthusiastic recep-
ton. Mr.. Jones made practically the
same speech that he delivered this
afternoon at Surry Courthouse and In
each address he confined himself
chiefly to the record of Senator Mar.
tin and the yellow dog fund which
the senator is alleged to have handled
to further the cause of the railroads
twenty years ago in Richmond. He
also paid his respects to State Chair
man Eliyson who, like Senator Mar
tin, figures in the Barbour Thompson
letters read at Woodstock Monday
Mr.. Jones went very infinitely into
criticism OF the real meaning of the
Ave letters. and said that no honest
man could fail TO be impressed with
the fact that railroad funds werc
largely employed TO influence the Vlr-
ginia legislature in 1891 for purposes
totally distinct from that of prevent
ing negro domination. as claimed by
Senator Martin and Mr.. Ellyson. in
statements issued after his Wood
stock speech.
Mr.. Jones laid special emphasis on
the fact that some of the funds con-
trlbated by the railroads were paid
over after the fall election OF that
year. the inference being that such
money was to be employed in actually
influencing votes in the Virginia legis-
lature for the purpose of killing the
Kent bill that was very obnovxioua
Ii~.x, Ie, 81 -
features are now embodied In the
Virginia Corporation Commission.
Discusses Martins Reply.
In his Surry speech Mr.. Jones said:
II have read with great care the
lengthy statement from Senator Mar
tin which appeared In the Richmond
morning papers of yesterday. Two
thirds of that statement Is devoted
to q recital of the charge made by
me twelve years ago that when he
was elected to the Senate he was
known, SO far as he was known at
ali. to the people of Virginia as q
railroad agent and lobbyist. and to
what / said in reiterating that charge
In my Lynchburg speech. The other
third consists OF reiterations OF his
former denials and of ana attempt to
evade the one and the grave issue
between us.
Having explicitly and sweepingly
made denial of my charge when IL
was first made, ii Ia not possible now
for him to strengthen his case by q
mere repetition of that denial. Ono
denial OF the same thing and by thu
same person will carry as much
weight as a thousand. All that SEM
ator Martin says in regard to polite
cal conditions in Virginia In 1891
may be trae, hut that lis entirely
foreign to the issue. and Is obviously
introduced for the sole purpose OF
beciouding that issue and. II possl-
bic. confusing the public mind
The $500 mailed Senator Martin
by the superintendent OF the Rich
mond and Danville Railroad Com
pany on September 2s. 1901, and the
other sum which he doubtless re-
ceived as the result OF Superinten.
dent Thompson's letter OF October
8. 1891. to Mr.. Decatur Axteli. Of
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad.
whatever that sum may have been.
may or may not have been used to
promote tho election Of. Democratic.
members Of the Legislature. for the
purpose of preventing negro ascend.
ancy' and preserving our civilixA-
ton shall only say in regard to
this that If this money, contributed
used for that purpose. 1t should have
been sent to the chairman OF the
Democratic party. 1t Is not shown
or even claimed that 1t ever reached
his hands.
MFR. E1Iyson Again.
But be. this as Il may, neither
Senator Martin nor any one else who
has made a statement in regard to
this matter has even attempted to
explain the purpose for which the
$500 was paid to Mr.. Eilyson on or
intendent Thompson states in his LETT
ter of that date to General T. n.
Logan, OF the Richmond and Dam
willie railroad. Upon this subject.
Senator Martin Is as silent az the
tomb 1t Is not claimed that the
money was paid over to the chairman
of the Democratic party for the pure
pose of reimbursing him for any
funds which he may have expended
in the election of Democrats to the
Legislature. Any such claim would
be simply preposterous. for why
should any railroad company be CALI
ed upon to make up deficiencies In
the campaign funds for the Demo-
cratic party? 1t will not be PRETEND
ed, think. that the railroads an>
thorixed the chairman OF the Dem0-
cratic party to expend unlimited sums
In order to carry the election. and
to call on them to supply all defl-
ciencies. THE LEGISLATURE HAD
BEEN ELECTED AND THE MEM
ACE OF NEGRO SUPREMACY
AvERTED WEEKS BEFORE THIS
$500 WAS PAID.
Senator Martin cannot cherish the
fond hope that those who have read
this letter written on the z4d OF
November are ignorant OF the fact
that 1t was written long after the
election Was over. What answer haa
Senator Martin to make to this stub-
born fact? He has not even attempt.
ed to offer an explanation.
ReclOAds tho Issue.
\ Like devil-nsh. he beclou6B tho
issue with 1 Hood OF Ink and nqu111nn \
ffsn0tfmssIK - s12 T -ss-'sss