The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-08

iaFSeiy interested In railroads and at
one time. If not then. a director in one
OF 'he largest railroad corporations in
the country. Mr.. Bryan nevertheless
felt that the Kent bill embraced pro-
visions which Senator Martin and his
railroad allies were not Justified in
opposing.
His Halifax Charges.
Twelve years ago I declared in a
speech which I delivered in Halifax
county, that when Senator Martin was
elected to the Senate, he was only
known to the people Of Virginia as
the agent and lobbyist of railroad cor
poratons. Senator Martin took i'm
mediate exception to this statement.
In carefully prepared statement.
! which appeared in the Richmond Lead
or on July 20, 1899. and which was
afterwards published in pamphlet form
and by him circulated as campaign
! document Senator Martin declared
that he did not know where I got my
information. but he did know that IT
had its origin in falsehood and In
malice. ! read you his exact language:
Mr.. Jones states that at the time
of my first election to the Senate 1
was known TO the Virginia people only
as the agent and lobbyist of railroad
corporations. do not know where
Mr.. Jones gets this idea but do
y
hood and in malice, because l have
never at any period of my life been
! the representative OF any railroad or
otner corporation. or of any person or
/ persons. in connection with any matter
pending before any legislative body
State or national. Many such retain
ers have been offered me as a lawyer,
but invariably l have declined them
] have never in my life had my course
as citizen in respect to any public
matter embarrassed by a retainer. No
! one can truthfully say that I have
been retained to represent. or have in
! fact represented any interest for a
| corporation or any one else before
| legislative body
Question of yerncity
ut can at least be said for this
| statement of Senator Martin that Il is
( not lacking in comprehenslveness or
! in defniteness. 1t states IN the most
| sweeping and positive language that
at no period of his life had he been
the representative of any railroad or
| other corporation or OF any person
or persons in connection with any
matter pending before any Legislative
body State or national.
Nothing could be more explicit and
} direct than this denial. It raises a
/ question OF veracity between Mr..
| William L. Royal. the witness who
testified before the so-called investi-
I eating committee. whose testimony 1
have quoted. and Mr.. Joseph Bryan
! and the Richmond Times. on the one
! side. and Senator Martin. on the other.
I II was upon their testimony that I
| largely based my statement in my Hal
| flax speech, and I might we'll be con-
! tent to rest there the question of We
| racity raised in the authorized state
| ment published by Senator Martin
=
! doubt upon the minds of some people.
! as to whether or not Senator Martin
| was known as railroad agent and
/ lobbyist in 1891. and because 1 am
prepared to establish Independently OF
| the testimony of Messrs. William L.
| Royal and Joseph Bryan the truth of
! every word uttered by me in my Halt
/ fax speech. in which ! charged Sena-
! tor Martin as having been known as
railroad lobbyist before his election
! to the Senate, here and now reiter-
! ate what l said In Halifax county.
/ that Senator Martin was a compare
/ lively unknown man when he was
| first elected to the United States SEN
| ate, and that he was only known as
| railroad agent and lobbyist fur
{ Their charge, and am prepared to
prove. not only that he represented
| railroad interests before the Legisla-
| ture of Virginia. but that he was act
ually one of the disbursing agents OF
! the yellow dog fund OF the railroads
| This not only raises a question OF We
| racity. but 1t presents one OF such
serious import that II my statement is
!. true. 1t establishes the absolute un-
| fitness of Senator Martin to occupy
| seat in the United States Senate
| Challenges Him to Answer.
1 i would have much preferred to
have made this serious charge face to
face with Senator Martin upon the
hastings. but he has given me no
| opportunity to do so. challenge
him to deny 1t. I do not wish to be
understood as desiring to force Sena-
tor Martin into Joint discussion with
me. 1 do not believe. however. that
the public interest will greatly suffer
If he will come to Virginia and make
one speech and deny. II he can. the
charges which I now make. II he
| thinks to do this would involve neglect
of his public duties. then I challenge
him to deny my statement over his
own signature"