The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-12
Declares He is Supremacy
Confident of Defeating
Senator Martin
THOMPSON LETTERS
SETTLE THE MATTER
Claims His Opponents Ex-
plain-Martin Says He
Will Answer all Let
ters Read

premeiy confident OF defeating Sena.
tor Martin in the approaching Demo-
cratic Senatorial primary. Before
leaving Washington, he had talked
with congressman, senators, lawyers
and business men in the national cap
,tai and he stated they were practically
unit in assuring him that his now
famous Woodstock letters fully sub
stantiated his charges that Senator
Martin lobbyied in Richmond In tho
interest of the railroads and helped to
distribute a yellow dog rund in the
fall OF 1891. when the letters in uues-
ton were written.
Senator Martins opponent looks tho
picture of health. despite the vigorous
campaign he has been conducting His
face is rudy and tanned and his
confident air seems to bear out his
assertion that victory Is already in
sight. He was in his shirt sleeves in
the Offices OF the Virginia Democratic
League when the reporters called af-
ter his arrival from Washington, and
he readily answered questions put to
him. He thought Senator Martin had
falled utterly to answer the charges
and pointed out that the Senator had
side tracked an explanation OF the
faet that sorne Of the published letters
we're written after the fall election had
R~NAA As9iG fhhc Ju5A ~ iot W Tic AsSClIt~
bling Of the already elected legisla-
ture. He laughed at the suggestion
that the railroad contributions were
designed to assist in maintaining white
supremacy.
Proved Charge, Says Jones.
Il have proved by documentary evf-
dence." he said, that Senator Mar
TIN was q railroad Lobbyist, that he
was connected with the yellow dog
fund, and that the conferences. ~ set
forth IN the letters. show this con-
nection clearly II this isn't sufacient
proof, l shall produce other documen-
tarv evidence from time to time to
make my charges good.
1t had been expected that Congress-
man Jones would read additional LETT
tiers In his possession at the Surry
meeting this afternoon, but he has
determined not to do so, believing that
the effect produced by the Woodstock
exposure will be sufficient to keep tho
people thinking for some time. Ten
Of these letters, all bearing on tho
yellow dog fund. are still to be read.
Mr.. Jones seemed trifie surprised
when told that some OF Mr.. Martins
friends in Richmond were claiming
that even II his action OF twenty years
ago were trifle shady that fact did
not prove that his actions IN the United
States Senate had been anything but
proper and correct He did not COM
ment directly on this statement but
he did venture the opinion that the
situation had narrowed down to u
question of veracity which seriously
affected the Senator. lie thought tho
chasm of twenty years had been amply
bridged by the Senator's denial OF tina
recent charges brought against him.
making the Issue one OF to-day In.
stead Of one OF two decades ago.
H.. Hammer Senator's Record. -.
In his Surry speech. Mr.. Jones viii
stress what he regards as the weak
points In Senator Martins statement
of denial and will also continue to
hammer the senator's record On the
tariff and other vital issues.
Mr. Jones declined to comment on
the fact that no court was held at
Woodstock Monday by Judge Thomas
w. Harrison. although 1t was regular
court day thus causing his audience
n be much smaller perhaps than it
would otherwise have been. He re-
called that Congressman Glass. his
running mate. had encountered
similar experience In Accomac. and
commented upon 1t in his speech. but
he did not care to be drawn into .
statement bearing on such matters.
Mr. Jones says that he will not re-
veal how he came into possession OF
the Thompson letters, involving Sena-
tor Martin.
Ancient History. Says Martin.
When seen in Washington yester-
day by the correspondent of The Rich-
mond virginian. Senator Martin said:
Il have nothing more 10 add to my
answer published in The Nirginian
this morning. The charges are twen-
ty years old. l have answered them
fully"
When told that Mr.. Jones claimed to
have other letters. Senator Martin re-
piled that these would be considered
when published and that the matter
was ancient history.
The Woodstock charges have been
the topic of conversation among the
Virginia delegation In Washington. al
though the friends and opponents OF
Senator Martin in the Senate ana
House. had nothing. to say. Tor pubh-4
cation since the matter concerns prin.
cipally the two candidates.
Others Make Statements.
The reading of the five letters BY
Representative Jones in his speech at
Woodstock on Monday. which he
claims established the proof Of his
charges that Senator Thomas s. Mar
tin was railroad lobbyist and distrtb-
utter OF the yellow dog" fund of the
railroads, with the promise OF more
letters to follow. and the replies oe
Senator Martin and OF Lieutenant
Governor !. Taylor Elivson. printed
in The Virginian of yesterday. caused
others. whose names were brought
into the affair, to have things to say.
In some instances the remoteneso
OF the date of the letters read by Mr..
Jones. all Of which were from Mr.. J.
S. Barbour Thompson, at that time
an official Of the Richmond and Dam
Vile Railroad. now prominent bud-
ness man of Atlanta. was given ~
a reason for not remembering details.
The letters were all dated In the fall
of 1891
MIR. Decatur Axtell, an odlciai o&
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad,
to whom one OF the letters was adt
dressed, In which reference wAo
made to giving Mr.. Martin slmila3