The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-08
man to the United States Senate.

man to the United States Senate
Was 1t surprising that Senator Mar
tin. whose vote decided that white pine
lumber. which Is used In the doors,
blinds and window sashes Of every
per thousand. should have offered a
resolution referring the Lorimer in.
vestisat!on TO q committee. the past
performances OF a majority of whose
members had been so gratifying to the
lumber trust?
What the result of this reinvesti-
cation will be IS. of course a matter
OF conjecture. but in view of the
aroused condition OF public sentiment
1t is unthinkable that Senator Lor!ner
will be given second bath OF white
wash.
Senator Martin" Mr.. Jones declared,
has had some personal experience with
legislative investig atoms. The people
OF Virginia will never forget the ia.
nous e-Martin contest of 1895, when
Senator Martin, a comparatively un-
known man. was nominated In Dem
ocratic legislative caucus and suisse
quently elected over General Fitzhugh
Lee. the idol OF the people OF Virginia.
II was then charged and widely be-
lieved that Senator Martins nomina-
ton was brought about through cor
rupt and dishonest methods: that in
tact. the railroad corporations. which
were then, as now, all powerful in
Virginia. had purchased his election
by the lavish and INSCRIPTIONS expen-
diture OF money. need not dwell upon
the character of the so-called inyes-
ugat!on. Since that farcical perform
ance the country has witnessed many
so-called legislative Investigations OF
alleged fraud and corruption, but l
venture the assertion that there has
never been one where less earnest ef-
fort was made to unearth bribery and
corruption than was put forth in this
instance A number OF questions. pro-
pounded by one member of the com
mittee. the late Senator Mushback. OF
alexandria. II honestly answered
would doubtless have developed serious
and important testimony, but objec-
tons were invariably made and sus-
tanned to that character of interroga-
t!on and so this absurd investigation
ended as did the Lorimer investigation.
and as everybody anticipated that 1t
would. When objection had been sus.
tained TO one of Senator Mushback s
questions probing for the truth. he In
d!gnartly exclaimed that 1t seemed to
him that the purpose OF the investiga.
ton was to conceal rather than to re.
veal the truth, and that therefore :,
was useless for him to ask any further
questions.
Reads Editorial.
"Of the election which took place
before the Investigation was completed
the late Joseph Bryan, editor and own
er of the Richmond Times, declared In
leading editorial, which appeared IL,
mil yLa
the election, that Senator Martins cleo
ton in advance OF the report Of the
investigating committee made It's find.
ing foregone conclusion. read the
exact words OF this editorial:
The election yesterday of Thomas
S. Martin to the United States Senate
for the term beginning March 4, 1895
before the final report of the investi-
eating committee makes their finding
q foregone conclusion.
To criticize the conduct OF the
committee IN the examinat ton as we
think the case deserves would be now
put down to the spleen OF disappoint
lnent rather than to calm and sound
judgment. We shall, therefore. with
confidence rest the case upon the tes.
,imony alone, which we will give in
full. al
II any intelligent man-not bent on
concealment"-will say that the com.
inlttees rulings were uniform. and in
FAVOR OF getting ct facts which would
likely lead to important and relevant
developments, we viii make public
acknowledgment of error. But we do
not believe any such man can be
found.
That Mr.. Martin goes to the United
states Senate with a cloud Of sus.
ptcion upon the fairness of his title TO
the office Is due to the committee.
which would not let the light in upon
the dark places
There was one bit of testimony ad-
duced In this investigation to which
desire to direct particular attention,
1t was testified that two years prior
to that time Senator Martin, as the
representative, of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway, co-operated with other
persons In opposing what was known
as the Kent bill affecting the railroads
and then pending before the Legls-
lature; that he stated to Mr.. Joseph
Bryan. who favored certain features
OF the measure. that the railroads con-
trolleu tho Legislature and could de-
feat the bill entirely, and that he
could not agree to anything else Mr.
Bryan's reply was, according to a
stenographic report Of the proceed.
ings. You may control this Legisla-
ture. but the people will send back
another and another until they force
you to yield to their reasonable de-
mands.'
land here permit mo TO say Of Mr..
Joseph Bryan that Virginia never
produced a more high minded. honor
able and truthful man. Himself