Evening journal., 1913-07-11
NEW MEMS OF YESTERDAY
How General MAhOne Out
witted Senator Ben Hill
3, HoIl.n4


Late in the summer II 1851 . Ropubl.
can State convention toi the purposc Of
nominating a candidate tor governor was
hrld al Richmond. Va. II wac AT time
when President Gariiclds phy-iclanr re-.
ported that they were greatly encouraged
aud hoped for his recovery from the
wound which had becu inflicted by Gn-
tcau For that redsOn u WAS possible
to attend what promised TO be- an cs-
citing Republican convention az I;cls-
mond. especially as the chsnce- seemed
in favor of the election OF the candidate
nominated. This proved TO be All accu-
rate forecast. and Governor tarolln. who
was then nominated. was elected the
last Republican governor 10 be- elected IN
that state.
The controlling force OF tho cvnven-
tion was General William Malone who
IN March Of that yeai began lnr term a-
United states Seuatvr from Nirginiu. He
held the convention absolutely ia his grip
With him M political aide. De- camp Was
john s. Wisc. who died rcccnlly and who
was elected in the tail OF that year 10
Congress from one OF the Richmond dis
tricts, aud Senator Riddcberg,f The
latter was wid,l, known throughout III,
Jnited states rs th, author OF the bit
which provided tor a rcadIustment Of th,
financial obligations OF Virginia
Just as the convention was closing
Senator Malone invited several Of In,
correspondents TO supper az the lead
ing club OF Richmond OF that time. H'
vas the host of the occasion. aud il
would not be possible for any one I,
display more graceful. kindly considcrs
ton or cordial hospitality than did Geu
cral Malone upon that occasion .lusi
after the coffee and cigars we're brought
took a scat beside senator Mahonr an,
aasked him this question.
Senator had You any idea that sen
ator Ben Hill. Ot CcUrgia. was 10 attack
you soon after you took your scat az
SENATOR
les. 1 know that Ben Hill was eolu.
TO attack me. and J also knew what a.,
reason was, he replied There ncvti
was momcnt when did not feel PEE,
iectly competent tu answer him. | knew
some things that had happened when th,
Confederate government was a. eNis
tcncc which could have used with su,l
effect a. to crush Ben liill to powder
aud II he had gone little farther in hi.
speech ! would have done so.
he whole trouble Mh- lust here. Tho
senate was very close. practically evenl,
divided. had not been eirctcd senator
as "a Republican The issue upon which
] won in Virginia was exclusively the
ISSUE Of the reddiustmcnt Of Virginia :
state debit
but therc had gone out an impress
sion that | had decided 90 act as q Re.
publican. aud Ben Hill was determined
II possible. to lrighten me SO thar
would either 20 over TO the Democrats or
else maintain perfect, independent
attitude II is very possible that lt llill
had not decrled 10 make that speech
might have maintained lor Willie nisu.
lntc Independence but when | was cuu.
ldrntmlly told that TIN was going tc
attack me aud would uy to max, It ap-
prar that an old Confederate soldier
was acting with the Democratic. party
I made mp nv, mind that would CIV,
him as co0l i- he sent and in addition
10 that ! would aligr myself With th,
Republican party in tic senate. Tina
WIS the whole story 10 thr feIson %
llills attack upon mr and of my reply
10 him. and itnlso explains why inrnic
diatol,. allied myself with the Republ
can. in the Senate"
Copyright. lnla by T. J fdwsrds Al
lights reser'cdl
Tomorrow Mr.. Flwards viii tell nj
General Mahoue', Maidcr Speprll in th'
senate"