The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-18
State Chairman Says Money Was
Used In First District.
Denies That Jones Did Not Know
About Disbursements Etc, Etc.

of persons in each county and the
| one city then in the First Congress
sional district in MIR Jones hand
writing. to whom the latter desired
that money should be sent. in reply
/ to a rcdu, st from the state CHAIR
man for such information.
Referring to the Inquiry OF Mr..
Jones as to who was meant by us
| in the letter of J. 5. Barbour Thomp
son to Gen. T. NJ. Logan, produced
/ by Mr.. Jones. and in which Mr.. FL
tyson name is mentiOn.d as haN-
ing been friendly to somebody. the
chairman says he does not know
| to what Mr.. Thompson referred. lie
reiterates his former assertion that
| ne was never asked to do anything
during the campaign referred TO noe
iurihg the succeeding sessions OF the
| LEGISLATURE. with regard TO any ran
road legislation.
should MIR. Jones desire further IN
| formation on this point. Mi EllysOh
suggests that he inquire OF the per
son from whom "a r1ttih Il me
| Thompson lett rs.
Mir. Eliyson' = 5 atement is as iol-
lows.
The letter of J. $ b. Thompson
Ito Gen. T. NJ. Logan, which Hon. W.
4. Jones has given TO the puDlic ana
| in which am referred to, and Mr..
lis various comments thereon, haN
no further interest Tor me as an m
dividual. do not need TO be as
sured of the confidence and esteem
of INV fellow-citizens. and If | need
"a sIch assurance have il in over
flowing abundance coming TO me
I from every section of the state.
AS chairman. however, of the
Stat Democratic Committed ought
probably to make this additional
statement The references in that
letter to me are OF two kinds. Mr..
I Thompson tells Gen. Logan that
ne. Thompson. has pledged me a sub
scription of 1000; that $500 of 1t
mas been paid; that my arrangements
were based on the O0riginal pledge
OF $1,000. and that the remaining
$500 must be paid. The letter SO
/ far explains itself to any fair and
open mind, but that there might be
\ no ULUUt " H0AtNtI ~ tNNn AAf itAS
ual reader. | promptly stated 10 the
pubic that the pledge was for $1,000
toward the expenses of the campaign
/ then recently concluded and that
had advanced out of my private
means the $500 to which MrThomE-
son alludes and which he urges must
be repaid
MIR. Jones somewhat grudging'y
seems to accept this statement, but
adds that he wishes to inquire whom
Mr. Thompson means by us in thOs
portions of the letter in which he
refers to my good faith and helpful
ness? | do not know to what Mr..
Thompson makes reference. ! do
know that | have always tried 10 be
just and fair. and even to be Of as
sistance to others in every proper
and legitimate way possible TO NE
do know that the statement which /
gave to the public on July II. and
which / repeat. is absolutely and I'M
rtservedly true This is the state
ment
Il desire to say in This connection
that not at any time during either
Of these two campaigns or during the
succeeding sessions Of the General
Assembly of Virginia. Was | ever
asked by any railroad corporation or
the representative of any railroad
corporation to do anything OF any
sort with regard to any legislation
affecting their interest or any other
interest.
If this statement is not satisfac-
tory to Mr.. Jones. suggest that h
make inquiry OF the man from
whom he obtained the stolen letters.
ANY assistance | may have given
to Mr. Thompson. any fairness
or good faith he may have found in
me was certainly consistent with the
broad and inclusive statement which
| have already made and now reaf-
firm
Mr. Jones. in discussing his party
relations with me, says: If he ever
consulted the executive committee, of
which he was the chairman and |
was member. as to the disburse-
ment of these funds. | am not aware
Of it,. II has been my custom to
consult with members of the eXecu-
tive committee concerning all party
matters. and Mr. Jones has been
consulted particularly concerning tn
disbursement of money for party
purposes in his own district. Tween
~ years is a long time TO be too
certain about matters OF detail in
campaigns where there was natural
~ so much for the chairman to do
especially as / have. of course. not
undertaken TO preserve all the vOlum
nous correspondence and innumera-
BILE records. In the matter of solic-
iting and distributing funds. how
ever, / followed the custom of Hon
John S Barbour and Hon. Basil B.
Gordon, under both of whom both
Mr.. Jones and /. if ! mistake not
served together as members of the
State Executive Committee. AS chair
man Of the State Committee. | have
always given special attention to
the First Congressional District, and
| recall withgreat pleasure my many
visits and conferences with the par
ty leaders in that section, for which
they have often kindly expressed
their grateful appreciation.
Jones and Campaign Fund.
Mr. Jones erred in relying upon
his memory for the implication that [
never consulted him about the dis
bursement of funds / happen to
have before me in a private memo
have before in a private memoran-
randum book which ] preserved for
other purposes. in the handwriting
of Mr. Jones, an estimate of the
needs OF his district, furnished at
my request. This contains the
names OF all the counties in his
district and of the city Of Fredericks
burg, the names OF individuals in
Fredericksburg and i'm these counties
TO whom he wished the money sent.
and indicates the amount he wishes
sent to each person. Why should
he seek TO make the impression that
he has never been consulted concern
ing the disbursement OF funds?
Il have now been a member
of the state Democratic Committee
since 1889, and chairman with the
exception OF one year, since 1890.
OF course, these positions have
brought great responsibility and
great labor l do not, however, re-
greet and have never begrudged the
time. labor and money | have given
to public affairs. During this long
period there have been many siren
uOus and exciting campaigns. 1t war
lof course inevitable that there would
come out of these contests and out
lof conflicting ambitions personal dis