The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-08-08

matter OF course, did solicit and
contribute to the campaign fund.
and so far as | know. every dollar
was spent legitimately and with the
knowledge OF the campaign commit
tee | glory in being able to say
this. There was no corruption OF
which | was aware
Il am charged with having con
Quoted this yellow dog fund
In 1891. AT that time the late Sen
tor Barbour. my uncle. was In the
Senate. and Martins campaign was
not even thought OF In 1898 the
Legislature. composed OF young Nir-
ginians, elected Mr.. Martin. after
the death of my uncle
stolen From His Files.
The letters about which you ask
purport to have been written In
1891, now twenty years ago, and, OF
course. have no reason to suppose,
however. that ] did not write them.
II they are copies, as | understand
they are said to be. they were stolen
from my letter files.
After this long lapse OF years
| IL is impossible for me to recall IN
detail all the circumstances under
which the letters were written; but
| Il Is evident from the reports In the
newspapers that an effort Is being
made 10 distOrt their meaning and
to put an Interpretation upon them
entirely unjustified by the facts.
For example, It is claimed that
these letter show that a yellow dog
fund had been prTided by the rail-
roads and that senator Martin was
one OF the railroad agents for the
1 disbursement OF this fund. This Is
OF course, intended TO make on the
public mind the impression that the
railroads had subscribed and were
using a corruption fund.
"Such a statement is absolute
/ " false. There was no yellow dog
or corruption fund. so far as ever
heard or believe. Virginia has, in
my belief. always been free from
any such corruption. and does not
deserve this stigma. Certainly, SO
far as an attempt is made 10 link
my name with any such fund, In
dignantly repudiate 1t and denounce
| II az false.
THE letters, in so far as they
relate to money. have reference 70
the campaign funds contributed by
the railroads or by their owners and
by men of means generally to the
Democratic party OF the State. Such
contributions were unquestionaiiJ
made. and were made at the
earnest solicitation OF the Democratic
managers
Different Issues Then.
The issues, then. were not be
tween the railroads or the property
Interests. on the one side, and the
people. on the other. but were be
tween Anglo-Saxon civilization ant
negro domination, represented b.
its opponents.
1T was in answer to this plea o.
the Democratic managers that thes'
contributions were made. and / ac
lively participated with Mr.. Ely
son. the Democratic chairman, ant
with others, Including Mr.. Martin
who at the time was the most ac
tive member OF the Democratic
Committee In raising the necessar!
funds
Contributions OF the kind men
toned. made to uphold and sustain
the things that were dearest to thu
people of the South and most imp0r
tant to their civilization, were full.
approved by the sentiment OF tina
day. and to make these contribu
tions was considered a patriotic serN
ice.
ITO seek to condemn them nov
by an appeal TO an altered pubic
sentiment, when the condition
which required them have disappear
ed. is an effort to secure political a'
vancement by sacrificing the Demo
cratic sentiment and Management
which at the time approved ant
profited by them. and in this wa.
continued the Democratic party II
successful and consecutive control o
our State government
= Martin and Jones Cooperate.
81 was personally active in m,
> cooperation in respect to these mat
ters for about ten years-fron
p 1884 to 1S94-flrst under my uncle
the late Senator John S. Barbour
and afterwards under Chairma
Basil 3. Gordon. since deceased, AM
Chairman J.. Taylor Ellyson, of tn
State Democratic Committee, an
, in cordial association much of tim
! with Mr.. Martin and Mr.. Jones. bot
OF whom were during much, II no
al - .hot ,orfod roamhorq Cf th
DemocraticExecutive Committee an
conversant with its work.
II had every reason to beliey
at the time that my efforts wer
approved and appreciated by on
best men. and. however much th
n conditions of those trying times ma
. be unknown to the younger genera
= ton or forgotten or distorted,
have always felt supreme satisfactio
in the service I was thus able to re
der my people.
These funds thus collected wer
always distributed in aid OF IN
n Democratic party and its candidate
e either directly by the State Chail
s man. or. il in any case the none
: did not physically pass through b.
4 hands. Il was disposed OF IL
; Democratic purposes in accordanC
with his direction or authority.
there was any instance in whic
money was disposed Of even in al
of n Democratic candidate withol
the knowledge or authority OF u
chairman, It has escaped my men
, ory. Certainly there was no sue
: practice or purpose. None OF IT,,
far as I know or believe, was give
on condition that the recipient
the beneficiary should act in his o
ficiaI capacity in any particular wa
II was, of course, not expected tni
the contributors to this Democrat
: fund would be unfairly treated, Il
4 jured or destroyed by the DEM
. cratic party"
= What do you understand to
the meaning Of the reference in u
letter to Gen. Logan to Mr.. Ellyson
having acted In the most thorout
good faith to US? Who is intend'
by 'us'?"
= How Railroads Feel About IL.
LAS / say, | do not remember u
letters nor the exact circumstanc
under which they were written, b
!. would construe us as meaning [
N railroads, and that when was
I'd pealing to a railroad man. such
I'd Gen. Logan, for contributions, | W