Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-07-26
MR.. JONES A BENEFICIARY


sayings One of them which Hon.
William A. Jones now constantly
brings to mind is: It's an i'll bird
which detiles it's own nest" There
are very few birds guilty of this Of
> Tense, and these are classed among
the less desirable creations OF ma
ture. When Mr. Jones assails the
Democratic party, his charges, ever
if true, convict him of the grosses'
ingratitude. The fac: that these
, charges are false and made to aid
his political advancement makes the
matter all the worse.
Mr.. Jones was an aspiring politi-
clan in those days when Virginia
was actually in the power of Re-
publican majority composed largely
of negroes. He was factor in the
political life of the State when tue
white man representing the forces
of civilization girded himself for the
tremendous struggle which involv-
ed white supremacy and the very
existence of the Common W ealtb as
cizilized community. He knew all
about the almost successful effort
to reduce Virginia TO the con dition
OF a Hayti or San Domingo. He
knew that in in those dark days the
railroads as we'll as every other in
strument of progress were threaten
ed by greedy and mongrel ma
jority. He knew that in that crisis,
all classes Of men bankers, rail
road men, farmers, business men,
clergymen, banded selves
against the common enemy-an
enemy which boastsd that, unlike
the Roman Scipio who carried the
war into Africa, it had carried A fri.
ca into the war.
Mr.. Jones knew that be and his
Democratic co-workers had chosen
a railroad president, Mr.. John S.
Barbour, to be the chairman of the
Democratic State Committee He
knew that the ability and patriotism
OF Mr.. Barbour was a great factor
in the redemption of the State. He
knew that the railroads, with other
important interests, contributed TO
the Democratic campaign fund. He
not only knew this, but was him
self the personal beneficiary OF this
fund so contributed. Mr.. Jones
was beneficiary at his own demand
made upon Chairman Ellyson.
In 1891 the State was still in the
danger zone. Thousands of en-
franchised blacks threatened the
ballot boxes. Close and effective
organization and constant vigilance
was the price OF safety. Mr.. Jones
was then, and has been continuous
ly since, a member OF the State
Democratic Executive Committee.
a score of years has passed since
that day. Children then in their
mothers arms have come to man s
estate. Now comes Mr.. Jones moved
by his desire to walk into the Uni
ted Senate over the political corpse
OF Senator Martin and reads letters
written twenty years ago which
we're stolen by somebody from the
files of Barbour Thompson, nephe W
OF John S. Barbour-letters which
show that the railroads had made
ntributions to the Democratic
party-and makes the unsupported
charge that these contributions con-
stituted yellow dog" fund, and
that Senator Martin used it to cor
rupt the members of the General
Assembly of 1891 and 1892.
Many of the men who we're men,
bers of the General Assembly of
1892 have gone to their long &C
count and from their graves cannot
refute these calumnies. Others are
vet alive and fill high and honorable
positions on the bench, at the bar,
and in the business and administra.
tive circles of the State. For twen-
ty years these members OF that Cen
eral Assembly who are still alive
have led honorable and useful lives.
Now Mr.. Jones comes forward and
for his own purpose tells us that
these men we're corrupted-thatth the
money used in electing a Democratic