The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-29

party was dethrOned from power
measures of most revolutionary
character were projected, which thor
oughly alarmed the managers Of the
railroad corporations and business
people generally. The officers and
managers of our railroads at that
time were, too. with few exceptions,
Democrats They felt an interest in
Democratic ascendaucy, because they
believed the best interests of the
country would be observed thereby.
| They also entertained the greatest
fear as to the evils which would
likely result In case the Democratic
party should be Overthrown. The
people all over the State understood
these conditions and knew that the
party managers were raising ths
necessary campaign funds, and ras-
ing It chiefly from the railroad cor
porations. In the campaign Of 1891
/ gave much Of my time in aiding the
work of Chairman Ellysou. l raised
funds for the state committee, and
they were used in the interest Of the
Democratic party and for no other
purpose. Chairman Etly$on and my
self were In perfect accord and co.
operated throughout. l did nothing
{ except in accordance with his au-
thority and with. his full kuoWIedee
and approval Daring the time I was
actively engaged In the campaign work
was In his office or he in my room
at the hotel every day, / did uoth-
ing which was not strictly ia the line
OF my duty and my authority as "A
| member of the committee and in
perfect accord and cooperation WITH
Chairman Ellyson and under his au-
thority and direction. What We were
doing was no secret.
Jones Knew All About II.
There is not doubt about the fact
that Mr.. Jones was as familiar us
anyone else with the method OF rails
ing and using funds in our campaigns
at that period OF our political history
The people understood IL all. ueu
money was raised by Inc it Was either
paid over 10 Chairman Elysou or APP
piled to campaign purposes IN Accord
ance with plans fully understood ana
agreed upon between Mr., E.iysOn and
myself. | have no apology to make rpr
the part | took III our campaigns Ia
those days, OF course, no mans mem
DRY could be reliable about small de-
{ tails Of a campaign conducted twenty
years ago. / remember the conditions
] which existed, the part which / tooki
! tho motives which actuated me, and
I the general results which were accom-
/ plished. The circumstances in con-
/ neetion with individual cases and
! specific matters can not, after tim
lapse OF twenty years, IN the nature
OF things, lie recalled. | do not pretend
/ to be able to 90 So. On the con
/ trary, l positively say | can not do
, so. II l we've to pretend To be ab!e
! to do 50 | would be untrutdtu
Now let us see what these eight
stolen letters which have been read
! and published III this campaign say.
/ Let US see how far they concern lu#.
Let US see what / ought to be ex-
pected to remember about them and
1 what / do not remember about them.
First. there is q letter addressed u
me, of date September 2Sth In Whle.
reference is made TO an enclosed check
for $500, To 10 applied TO the purpose
stated. In the. same letter MI Tho1np-
son ailudes 10 d conversation lie had
had with Messrs. Moon, Parrish, Nor
ris, and Peyton. OF the four gentle
men referred To tae are dead-Mr
Parish and Judge Morris. They were
all honorable men, highly esteemed ty
/ the people Of their county, and by L
large circle Of prominent men through
out the State. Mr.. Parish, VINO Is
dead. was the treasurer Of his county.
Judge Morris, who is also dead was
one OF the highest and most accom-
pi!sed men / ever knew. lie died Il
few years ago. willie serving as Judge
OF the Corporation Court Of the city u
/ Charlottesville. The mention Gf these
( names In connection with Mt Ihosup-
son 3 visit 10 Char lottesVil(e is suiti-
Gent to satisfy All Reasonable and fair
minded men that 10 GsaAoHurap.e or
unworthy transaction Was Elade or
contemplated at that t4ne. ! viii say
very frankly that | have mot thu
slightest recollection OF receiving this
letter or receisIf the check referred
TO in II. II / received tbs cheek
could not. after the .apse Of twenty
years now. say what disposition l made
OF 1t. II is perfectly manifest on the
face Of the letter that III case the
money was sent ii was for campaign
purposes.
One thing l do know: il l received
the money 1t was either turned over
to Mr. Eliyson or Used 6y ms for cam
paign purposes in the manner which
was thoroughly understood between
Mr.. Ellysou and mySelf The letter
on Its face shows nothing which 1
have ever concealed or OF which [
have ever been ashamed, II shows
that ! was raising money for the cam
paign in the fail of 1891. 1t Was a
disinrerested public service il was a
service in the -interest Of the Demo-
cratic party. 1t was a service tn the
interest OF the welfare OF my State.
/ raised many thousands of dollars for
the same purpose. Not only every
member OF the executive committee
and OF the State Committee knew
what We We're doing, but the intellI-
gent people OF the State GENERALLY
knew of II, and approved It. They
were the henehciarles then and the
people OF the State are sim enjoying
the benefits of the Victories won By
the Democratic management in that
day.
The next letter is dated October 2.
and was addressed To Mr.. Decatur AK
tell. In that LETTER pr. Thompson
suggests to Mr.. AXtell that 1t would
be We'll for him TO turn over to me
a similar amount TO the last one given.
have no more. recollection OF that
letter or the amount turned over to
me. If It was turned over. than have
OF the first letter | know that
solicited funds from Mr. Axten and
l know that he was on many oc-
casions Instrumental in securing funds
for the Democratic party / have
known Mr.. Axtell since he first came
10 Virginia, and / have always known
him as a man of the highest honor
and as an earnest Democrat. / do not
believe that there is a man In the
sound of my voice who would sus-
poet him OF being connected with any
corruption fund or any FUND TO be
used for any improper or immoral
purpose.
The third letter bears date Novem-
40 ND xxyap a f., II