The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-07-27

anu AuSiiS W OChy NtlS pldlu IdCIS OF
1891 and 1S93-that Thomas S. Martin
was a railroad man, and as such was
, chosen and elected by the railroads to
represent them.
We have analysed the evidence above
we trust, with no animus against Sen
ator Martin aud, certainly with no dis
position to favor Mr.. Jones.-News
Leader.
Just now when every one is
watching with eager eyes each
development Of the senatorial
campaign. the above extract fur
niShes food for thought. Opinion
is devided as to whether or not
Mr., Jones has substantiated the
charges made against Mr.. Martin
at Lynchburg, viz: that he was
the disburSer Of the Yellow Dog
Fund, an amount Of money put
up hy the railroads in 1901. to
prevent the Legislature Of Virgin
ia from passing bills injurious to
their interests The proof produ
ced by MIR. Jones consisted of FIVE
letters written by a railroad Off
cial. several enclosing amounts
to be applied ito the PURPOSE
StdteG' and all directing the men
to whom they were written TO
seek interviews with Senator Mar
tin. Mr.. Martin strongly denies the
charge claiming that the money
referred TO was used for Demo
cratic campaign purposes. That
this explanation is far from sa tis
factory even TO followers of the
Senior Senator who are open to
conviction is best proved by the
above quoted verdict. from the
News Leader, a journal which
frankly owns its preference for
Mr.. Martin.
Certainly study of the conGi
tons existant in Virginia at the
time these letters were written
does not strengthen one belief in
the correctness Of Mr.. Martins
statement. In the first place all
OF the letters we're written to
railroad officials or ATTORNEYS with
one exec ption, which was to
member OF the legislature. and
directed those addressed to con
fer freely with Mr.. Martin or in
case Of failure to locate him, with
General Hill. Railroad commits
sioner, showing the formers init
mate connection with the inter
ests. In che second place sew
eral Of the letters we're written
after the general election was
over at a time when the newly
elected Legislature was about to
convene and when the railroads
were making q strenuous fight
to defeat the Kent Bill, a measure
meant to place them under the
control Of the State, which was
defeated. They contain referen-
ces like this, Martin and / uere
impressed 1Oith the fair manner
he (RllySOn) dealt NTH US"
Another instructs a railroad attor
ney to go to Richmond. look up
Mr.. Martin. ''ReRderin0 wh0teUer
assistance you can to .Nr. Gard
neil and our other friendS". fur
Their on the same letter says. Get
.Nr. CdTdHeU 10 assist .Hr, Bend
helm 10 q firm position on commit
tees railroad mapnate assist
ing, the speaker of the House of
Delegates. Of Virginia in the ap-
pointmeht Of committees is surely
looking for something besides
White Supremacy" Thirdly
there is serious question of We
tacity between Mr.. Jones and Mr..
Martin. On Friday July 9TH, at
Lvnchburg. Mr.. Jones made the
above mentioned charge and on
Sunday Mr.. Martin through the
Times Dispatch characterized
them as false and added. mo one
can truthfully say that have
ever been retained TO represent
or in fact represented any inter-
est for corporations or any BODY
{ S e before a legislative BODY.
T h e following Monday, in a
speech at Woodstock. Mr.. Jones
read the letter referred to above.
Here we have a denial unsdpport
ed opposed by an assertion back |
ed by telling proofs.
We believe that Mr.. Jones has
proved undesirable connection |
between Mr.. Martin and the
railroad interests. The issue is
before the people of Virginia and |
in their hands rests the Verdict.
We will only say BY way OF com
nent that No man can serve
-wo masters" certainly cot two
masters whose interests are so