The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-13
Statements Presen ted
From Wexford, Jett
and CHM.
w. M 'DONALDLEE
NOW MENTIONED
Said to Have Recommended w
D, cardwell' to Represent
Fishermen Against Well
ford Bill-Mr. Jones Be
lieves His Charges
Fully Sustained.

siisil std tcrHentS from r. Carter Wexford
and j. W. Chinn. Jr. OF Warsaw, and
(. oorroborative note from r. A. Jet.
OF northumberland. in reference to
the lobbying charge made by Repre-
sentative ". A Jones in his Rich
mond speech on Friday night Of last
week. have been received by rhe
Ilmes-D tspa tch from Mr. Jonea The
Congressman says he thinks these
statements completely cover and album
dainty justify what was said by him
IN relation to the Introduction in the
A Legislature of bill seriously affect
Ing one OF virginia's great industries.
Mr.. Jones insists on the authority OF
the men he quotes, that Cnptair j ohm
A. Curtis, of Richmond, did state 10
his fellow menbers that no introduced
The bill in question at the request OF
w. y. Cardwell. referred to by Mr..
Jones In his speech as machine poll.
tician and lobbyist. The First District
Representative further repeats that an
effort was made to induce the fisher
mems organization 10 employ Afr. Card
well to defeat the passage Of the bill
and that he chr. Joncs) strongly adj
vised against st.
Says Curtis Made Rcmnrl
gMr. Wexford states that he, with
Mr. Jett. spoke TO Captain Curtis on
the floor of the House Of Delegates
about the progress OF this measure,
and that the Richmond member told
them his friend Cardweli gave him the
hills (th!s and nnother) and that he
introduced both as a result.
The statement OF sir. Chinn refers to
the employment OF Mr., Cardwcll 10 OPP
pose the bill introduced by Mr.. Well
ford by request which was another
measure. He says Mr.. CardwelI was
employed as tho result or recon-
rendatton made by Fish Commissioner
". Mcdonald Lee to the Fishermcn's
Associn ton. TO night the Wexford bill,
and that Mr.. Cerdwel! was paid $3.50
for this service.
4 Mr.. Lee Is said to have urged the en-
ployment OF the former Speaker be-
/ cause of the influence he possessed with
Il the Legislature. 1t is further said By
MT Chinn that Mr.. Cardweil wanted
Sl,500 10 represent The fishermen on all
matters affecting their business. but
that he was employed with reference
only 10 the Wexford MEASURE. II
VIII Defend Honor. n
it{ feature of the discussion was the
statement made yesterday By Captain
Curtis for publication He says that
he has Cancelled all his arrangements
to attend the Confederate reunion al
Little Rock and Will remain in Rich
mond to defend his honor against the
most malicious. unwaxanted, far
fetched. un-Christianlike attack" made
upon him by Mr.. Jones.
The letter OF Mr. Jones, with the
statements furnished by him. are as
follows:
Mr.. J0nes's Letter.
Warsaw. Va May 10, 1911
+ Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
5t}aYour telegram of to-day, Informing
me that you would be pleased 10 re-
ceive Wellford-Jett statement FOR pub
lication," has been received. Awaiting
myself OF this permission. shall mail
you these statements on tomorrow 1t
as now too late TO send by to-day's
mail. i think 1t will be admitted that
they completely cover and abundantly
Justly what was said by me In my
Richmond speech In relation to the in
PRODUCTION in the Legislature OF bill
seriously affecting one of VirginIa's
great industries. AS subsequently ex-
planned by me- this bill waste prohibit
the catching of rnenhaden tsh in the
waters OF the Chesapeake Bay, and was
introduced by Ar. John a. Curtis.
I am also sending you a letter re-
ceived BY me from Mr.. j. w. Chinn. a
prominent attorney OF the Northern
Neck. Mr. w. ID. Cardwell mentioned the
name of MIR. CHM in his statement.
and this letter VIII throw some light
upon the subject under discussion.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Weliford.
referred TO by Mr. Cardweil. had no
connection with the Curtis bills n
was introduced BY Mr. Wexford al
the request of several of bis con-
stituents. but was never favored he
him This was the bill for opposing
which Mr.. Cardwell received a fee of
$3.50 n
It may be true. as Messrs Curtis
and Cardwell affirm. that the latin.
did not request the Introduction or
the bill to which referred, but
Messrs Wexford and Jett, gentlemen
of unquestioned voracity and the
highest integrity maintain that Mr..
Curtis stated exactly the contrary TO
them.
II is true, however. that an effort
was made TO induce the Virginia
Fishermen's Association to employ
Mr.. Cardwell to defeat, the passage
of this bill. and that | strongly adj
vised against 1t. holding that the
NTidewater members OF the LegisIa ture
did not need the assistance Of any
lawyer TO defeat so drastic and so
unjust a measure.
3 fla Very truly.
5. iE4 (Signed) ". "a. JONES
Wexford md Jett Statements.
Having seen the statement of MIR.
John A. Curtis, which appeared in The
| Times Dispatch of Sunday last In re-
ference to n bill introduced by him in
the House Of Delegates prohibiting
menhaden fishing In the Chesa peake
Bay, etc, at the session Of 1910, 7
desire to state that near the close of
the session, in conversation between
Mr. Curtis, Mr.. T. ~ lett the dele
gate from the counties OF Northnm-
4 berland and Westmorelnnd. and my
q self, on the floor of the House re-
N mark ed 10 AIR. a Curi Ia Tim his ]. hill