Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-28

70 the dictates of the railroads is not
fair, 1t Is not justice. You have as
persed the members of this commit
tee"
That is your opinion" Blakslee re-
sponded. Il said in the letter that It
appeared as though Senator'S had yield
ed to the railroads. Haven't right
to express my opinionw
You couldn't express any such opin-
ION to me-" retorted Senator varda-
man.
Nor TO me. nor to any member of
this committee" interrupted Senator
Hardwick.
while l think there is some merit
in your contention as TO the facts in
this case" Senator vardamnn said.
Il do not think that my colleagues
surrendered to any railroad lobby. You
have acted with the grossest impro-
priety. You have not the right. to
say what YOU did about your greatest
enemy, unless YOU know it to be true"
The office hold" said Blakslee."
does not deny me the privileges OF
n private citizen. This letter to the
postmasters I wrote as u private citi-
zen"
But you wrote it on post-o Office sta
tionery, didn't you. and signed your
self Fourth Assistant Postmaster-Gen-
eral?" Senator Hardwick injured.
Yes"
"ln this letter" asked Senator Hard
wick. vehemently, you assumed the
position of a slanderer, attacking Sem
ators of the United States"
Not at ALL" Blakslee replied. "A
slanderer is one who asserts something
that is altogether untrue, Let me
assure you that my convictions were
sincere. Regardless of the character
OF the verbiage l used. l believed that
the character of the legislation agreed
upon showed that the contentious Of
the railroads were accepted rather than
the advice Of the department"
Senator Hardwick declared Blaks-
lees activities struck him as worse
than the sugar lobby"
Did 1 go around secretly buttonhol-
ing or winning and dining Senators?'
BlakSlee demanded Did go out with
any soft-footed or underhanded me-
thods with these postmasters in this
matter? acted openly and solely
because thought it was my duty
to do So
The Senators often returned to the
object of Mir. Blakslee in writing let
ters to the postmasters.
HAS RIGHT TO GO TO PEOPLE
AND GIVE IMPORTATION
Am ] monkey, that have no
rights as a citizen at all when I come
To WaShinEton? returned the witness.
Il feel that ] have n right 10 go to
the people and inform them on any
subject that affects them"
Senator Hardwick referred to let
ter TO Fred l.. White. of the Atlanta
Constitution. advising him to cease
his newspaper activities" and asked il
this was the kind of free speech" he
believed in.
MIR. Blakslee said, as a personal
friend, he wrote White that it might
he we'll to cease his literary" activ
tiles, because his statements were not
based on reliable information.
The hearing concluded abruptly
without any action. after Senator'S
Nardaman and MARITIME had delivered
parting shots ut the post office official
Your action is offensive TO the COM
mittee and offensive to the Senate"
Senator Vurdaman declared
Il Wish to say that your action was
ungenerouS, unfair utterly and abso-
!utcly discourteous," said Senator Mar
tine.
The future action of the committee
was not indicated. Some Senators, it
was reported, would insist on having
the matter called officially to the atten-
ton of the President
Later il was decided to hold an eX-
ecutive session Of the committee Mon
day to consider what course should he
pursued regarding Blakslec's attitude.