The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-13
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT IT

"lt was our cus'o ON 10 solicit con
tribuiions from railroads and il was
well known that IN 1898 g. ; Sena-
tor John W. Daniel, Gen. Fitzhueh
Lee and myself went North and so
iicit,d contributions from corpor
ions and individuals who were In
sympathy with Virginia in her strug
gle Tor white supremacy.
"i have never distributed any
money for campaign purpose cX-
cep' through the regular channels Of
The party.
II received the $500 Mr.. Tnomp-
son mentioned in his letter don't
remember whether ec'ivcd the
full $1,000 or not
IL do not think my papers will
show how the $500 received was
spcn.
a. 10 not know what Mr.. Thomp-
son meant when lac said had act
d in the most thorough good faith
toward his railroad and that | could
be pended upon to help the next
winter. II is "a question for
Mr.. Thompson TO answer"
EN-GoVCrnor \. J. Montague.
II know nothing of any railroad
~ihutions 20 tn gubernaiorial
campaign Of he iall of 1901. If any
contributions were made. II was in
no way known 10 me Mr.. Ellyson
told me the committee was very hard
mp for funds and was then and am
now under the impress ion that so far
as th~ cubernatorial or state ticket
was concerned. that tho same was al
most wholly financed by Captain Jos
f. willard. tho nominee for ii nten-
ant-gOvcrnor.
Decatur AN'CIl.
81 know my name was meh''o",u'
bu. | don't know why. can , ~
member that far back. II ahyDo"y
had asked me yesterday II there WAS
such n letter. would have said no.
Il don't intend to say any
thing about the matter. lh'hk
the whole thing is uncallod ior' anu
I am not interested
II have "A dim recollection OF some
hill called the Kent bill. which had
to do with railroads.
don't remember anything else about
it. never heard Of the Mason
bill-ir have. ! don't remember 1t.
Il don't know anything about the
money mentioned, or about any fund
OF any kind.
1T makes no difference to me that
my name was mentioned in the
letters. have absolutely no ex-
PLANTATION 10 make don't have to.
do -"
An Issue OF Ncracity.
At the conclusion of his address at
Woodstock. Congressman Jones was
interviewed on a train bearing him
to Washington. The reporter said
you are probably aware, Mr.
Jones, that the issue made by you
in your address at Woodstock today
implies the death Of all further sen-
atorial aspirations for either you
or for Senator Martin"
Il am distinctly aware of the
truth Of your remarks" replied Mr.
Jones. land am happy to abide the
decision OF the people in the mat
ter. The charges / have preferred
against Senator Martin. together
with the proofs | have introduced.
and am prepared to introduce, at
tack not alone the political but the
personal integrity OF Senator Martin.
If | shall fail to establish tho abso-
lutte truth OF my charges against
Senator Martin. then | ask no man
to give mo his vote But. when
shall have absolutely proven the I'M
deniable truth OF my assertions then
! claim that no honest and intelli-
gent man can cast his vote for the
reelection of Senator Martin"
How Did Jones Get Letters.
In commenting upon the J. S. b
Thompson letters towards the end
OF his address at Woodstock, Mr..
Jones said to his audience: 1T
would possibly be interesting to some
to know just how I came into pos
session of these documents. | will
tell you this much. my friends, did
not buy them, nor did they cost me
one cent. God. in his infinite mercy,
has delivered them into my hands
in the interest of the people of this
old State. II is intended that
should use them not alone for the
defeat of Thomas S. Martin but in
the interests of public honor and
Of truth"
1t Is stated the letters were
taken from the private files of J.
s. b. Thompson by a clerk working
in the office of the Southern Rail-
way in 1906 and were at one time
sent to Gov. Montagues office in
Richmond while the Governor was
in Europe. They were returned by
r. Lynch Montague,a brother of the
Governor. at the request OF the
sender. How Jones got them has
not developed.
WANTED.