The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-02
Says He Was Called
/ Over Telephone From
Richmond.
ELLYSON REFUSES
TO BE SCAPEGOAT
Declares He Did Not Call Swan
son, but That Senator Was
Only One of Claude Swan
son Aliens Friends Who
Asked for Commuta-
ton of Sentence.

Strenuous efforts were made yestcr-
day by Senator Claude A. Swanson TO
escape responsibility rt his part in
the attempts last Thursday night to
snbvcrt the executive authority of Gov
ernor Mann in the Allen cases. In "A
statement given out in Washing ton.
the Junior Senator words his reply in
such manner as 10 make Il appear that
utenant-Goveinor Ellyson called
him or had him called on the telephone
and then laid the case before him
Unwilling to have the burden put
upon him. the Lieutenant Governor last
night denied that he had anything to
do with the call put In from Richmond
for Senator Swanson. or that he knew
the Senator had been communicated
with. Further he repeats the conver-
sation had between them. showing that
the request for extension of clemency
TO Claude Swanson Allen came from
senator swanson and not from Lieu
'cnant-Govcrnor EllySon
Asked Communications
Finally. the Senator asserts that he
suggested a respite under long list
OF possible circumstances. On the con
trary. according to the statement of
tho Lieutenant Governor, the REQUEST
ia he understood il. was for a commu
tation. as the Senator said explicitly he
nio not think Claude Allen should die
~ lis eastly seen that respite would
ne OF no avail To Claude. since Gov
crnor Mann was absolutely set in his
purpose TO lie; the law take it's course
ihereiorc. IL would seem that talk OF
respite would hardly have b.on
H'dhe. although IL would have eouailv
SCI Governor Mann's official .ct aside
IL "a evident that Mr.. Ellyson felt on
IcarhiJiS OF the statement by Mr.. swan
Hon mat the latter desires to put the
blame upon him. where me is deter
NOT Ia.
Sentiment Hns Changed
IN Richmond the rev1,lsion of sentt
'hcnt IN the last five days has been
most remarkab Bile. and is the subiect NJ
seherai com mcnt Governor Mann con-
tinues TO be in constant reccint of Ie,
ters. personal calls and MESSAGES
hcartl!y commanding his action in re-
iusinS TO interfere in the Allen cases
ana IN promptly returning TO the State
when he found that an effort was being
i"aae 10 interfere with his authority
aho 10 overturn his Deliberate action
Men who have always been his politi
cal foes, and never his admirers hay.
made 1t Il point 10 call at his ot,irc o1.
10 write him IN terms OF warmcst nd
miration.
On the other hand. the action OF ,ba
men who tried 10 get Lieutenant-,;oy-
cFnor Ellyson 10 commute th. s.p
tehces during the temporary absence
OF thc Governor from the State is gen
eraliy condemned Officials concerned
III IL are especially criticized as are ,bn
members of the board of directors Of
the State Penltentiary, who agreed m
allow medal TO be presented to Claude
Alien Tor committing II crime for which
ne was about TO pay the extreme non
atty or the law. Eumors as to resigna
ions that may be asked for hay. heep
rife, but have so far not proved tam
Rible
however, the situation seems TO have
cleared as regards Major James e
Wood, Superintendent of the Peniten-
tiaty, who is no longer blamed
Swunson's Statement
When asked yesterday by the Wash
lnston correspondents OF The Times
Dispatch concerning the published
statements as TO his conversation a
Few nights ago with Lieutenant-Gov
crnor Ellyson regarding the case of
claude swanson Allen. Senator swan
son said:
II knew nothing whatever about the
absence OF Governor Mann. or any ,c
tlon in the matter, until about II
o'clock Thursday night. when I return
ca 10 my residence in Washington. and
was Informed that there was n long
distance call for me from Richmond.
l stated to the operator that wou,d
talk to the party. A paSty was tben
put Oh the telephone in Richmond vim
stated to me that Governor Ellysan was
lnere, and that an effort was being
made to get him to take some action
IN the case of >ltude Allen and that
he desired me 10 talk with Governor
Ellyson.
Governor Ellyson came to the tele-
phone, and stated to Inc that some par
ties we're trying to get him to take
action in thc matter. regarding the
clectrocution of Claude Allen the next
day, and said that Governor Mann
was absent from the State. Governor
tllyson told me that ne did not think
ne had any authority to act told
him I could not recall the provision
or the Constitution as to whethor he
mad authority or not to act In this
matter, and that it was for him to de-
'eFm.nc. stated to him. If was
similarly situated and had authority to
act, and petition was pending before
Inc for action in this case, and I selt
like the death penalty should not be
imposed. and the responsibility was on
me TO act upon this petition. occa-
stoned by the absence OF the Governor
that would respite the prisoner. ieav-
ing the responsibility for the electro
eution, II 1t should occur, entirely with
the Governor.
This was the only conversation
mad with Governor Eiiyson or sugges-
ton [ made to him."
This was all Senator Swanson would
say regarding the matter
ElIyson'a Version.
Is easily TO be seen on reading
ms statement that the intention la to
ieave the impression that Lieutenant
governor Eilyson had Senator Swanson
called for the purpose OF consulting
with him. Seeing this. the Lieutenant
Governor said last night:
. ala not call Senator Swanson and
~ Continued Eon-i F1whth TTTspe1