35
said, "God's will must be done; if it is His will for me to go, I suffer
His will may be done."
  Well. Mr. FORAKER, this is all I think he had to say in his talk
with me.
  Now, what I have stated in each letter you can depend on it to be
the truth, so help me God.  I also hope these letters will help you
some in this case when it comes up again.  I saw in to-day's Constitu-
tion--
  I suppose that is the Atlanta Constitution--
where Oscar Reid, a discharged soldier without honor of the Twenty
fifth Infantry, was going to get pay for his lost time he has been out,
and I feel that we all are entitled to it.
  I will close for to-night.  Hope to get an early reply.  I received the
little pamphlet you sent me; was very glad to get it; sure did enjoy
reading it.
      Respectfully,                                  BOYD CONYERS.
  That was something connected with the case, I suppose.   I
do not remember about it.
  I next heard from him November 30, and that is the last
time I did hear from him.  It is a very short letter, and I ask
the indulgence of the Senate that I may put it also in the
RECORD.
  I now want to read my answer to the letter from him which
I have just read:
                                               OCTOBER 23, 1908.
Mr. BOYD CONYERS,
             Monroe, Ga.
  DEAR SIR: I have your letter of October  21.  I thank you for
taking the trouble to give me in such detail the account of the inter-
views and conferences you have had with your visitors.  I shall look
after them at the proper time.
  And that promise will be made good--
  Hoping you will continue to keep me advised if there should be any
further developments, I remain,
      Very truly, yours, etc.,                        J. B. FORAKER.
  Then I heard from him next on November 30, when he wrote
me as follows:
                                   MONROE, GA., November 30, 1908.
Mr. J. B. FORAKER,
            Cincinnati, Ohio.
  DEAR SIR:  I had begun to think I wouldn't have to write you
any more about the detectives, but I see I will. One visited me at
my home Saturday night, November 28.
  He is still trying to find out if the negro Lawson had any private
conversation with me; he asked me if Lawson did have a talk with me.
I told him, "No, sir." He then asked me were I acquainted with Lonza
Henon, of Winder, Ga., the negro that runs the eating department
there.  I told him, "Yes, sir; I know him."  He says, "Does he know
you?"  I said, "Yes, sir; I suppose he does."  "Well, Lonza swears
he saw you on the excursion to Gainesville and saw you, Lawson, and
Joe Blasingame"--
  Another one of the gentlemen who figure in that report-
talking together going and coming.  I have his affidavit in my pocket
now, with his name signed to it."  I told him I didn't care what he
had; I could prove by every person on that train that I didn't go; and
I have proved it.  The excursion was run on the 15th day of June, and
the people he asked that were on the train told him "No; I didn't
go; but his negro he had here went.  I went by the depot that morn-
ing to see if my mother-in-law went off, and was talking to a lot of
the boys and girls.  I was in my work clothes and had my dinner
with me to go to work.  That is what all the people told the detective
he asked. Now, Mr. FORAKER, you see by this that my witnesses have
condemned both Lawson and Henon, and the white people of this town
    65504--7984




			

OHS Archives/Library Pamphlet Collection

Black Battalion: Speech of Hon. Joseph B. Foraker of Ohio in the Senate of the United States, 1908

B.