The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-09
PEOPLE AND POLITICS.
BY AN OBSERVER.

vocated his claims before the indlViduai
members of the Legislature ana NOT pe-
fore the people at large. Ihey aiSo re
call a fact that the efforts OF tnose
friends were OF such doubtful purify inal
II was necessary 10 appoint an ,r'eSu.
eating committee of the Leglsia'uie ~
look into the charges OF Dripery' Anu'
while that committee exhonera'eu NJ
Martin from these charges. yet enough
was proven 70 show that unhealthiiy
large sums of money were USED In the
election Of certain members or the Leg
islature Whether Il was just feelnB UT
not Virginians were left under the I'M
preston that the very methods they so
heartily condemn in other Stdles-io' III
and west OF us-had invaded our own NJ
sides. SO that II IS not necessary 10 90"
ceal the fact that a large NUMBER vi MI
Martins fellow-citiens throughout tns
state prefer to have nominated anu elc''-
ed this time a man who has IN no way
been mixed up in these matters-w,ose
skirts are clean before the world. 1hen'
again. the ardent silver men In the party
condemn Mr.. Martins course In the SEN
ate In not standing firmly by the side OF
Senator Daniel and voting against the
repeal of the purchasing clause OF
the Sherman law. which, as they see II
now, was the sole means IN tner "aH"S
at the time 10 compel the government 10
adopt remedial financial legislation. They
claim that II was a choice opportunity
which a Senator should have seizeu W
force the national banks and gold stan
dard advocates 70 give the people imam
cial relief. But they say Mr. Martih uo'
only voted 10 repeal this clause. but he
voted against the coinage OF SILVER az
every ratio at which it was presented
to him. At any rate. they condemn MS
hestating and equivocating manner OF
treating the burning question OF SILVER
coinage. and they have little confidence
In his painful conversion as announced
al the stanton convention. AS Tor tne
gold men OF his party-notably the rail-
road men OF the State-they are some
what disatected because they looked 10
Mr. Martin as their leader. but just az
the time when they were about TO put
him up "a the candidate Of the minority
for delegate at large to the Chicago con-
venton they suddenly woke up to the
fact that their leader-their main prop
and suppOrt-had vanished into thin air
Then. there are many farmers or the
State who still feel strongly on the SUD-
jet OF the tariff; and they are dissatisfied
with Mr. Martin because he sat In MS
seat I'm the Senate and allowed the IN
iauitous and unequal Dingley tariff bill
to become 4 law without once raising
his voice 10 expose or protest against
the same In fact. II is a little difficult
10 point out anything in the record OF
Mr.. Martin on account Of which the peO-
pie OF Virginia feel towards him any
widespread gratitude or deep admiration.
They look upon him simply as a success
ful attorney OF A very powerful railroad,
and for that very reason consider the
prOpriety somewhat doubtful of elacting
him 10 the United States Senate. With
these impressions pretty Well scattered
throughout the State. ii behooves Mr..
Martins friends 20 court popular choice
Of candidates. and 10 seize this 0ppor
tunity OF clearing up all OF these impress
sOns and set him before the people as Il
strong and gifted man. suitable at every
point 20 represent them I'm the American
Senate. They cannot rely. and ought not 10
be allowed 10 rely. upon the still-hunting
tactics with which the campaign was
conducted six years ago.
This brings MS up 10 an editorial pub
lshed in the Danville Register which is
owned and edited by state Senator r. \.
James. Mr. James is known as an en-
thusiastic Martin man. He says IN this
editorial that Mr.. Martin has already won
his fight before the Virginia Legislature
ia the old way. and intimates that he
already has tWO-thirds of the next Legs
lature pledged 10 his support. and re-
marks casually that having won the fight
in the old way, his friends will see to 1t
that he does not have 10 win Il again IN
a new way. Now. how does Senator
James know that Nj. Martin has won
his hght In the Old way? There are one
hundred and twenty of the next Legisa-
ture, viz: one hundred members of the
House and twenty members Of the Sen
ate. who are not yet even nominated.
Has Mr.. Martin. with the assistance OF
such hearty friends as Mr.. James. picked
out his man in every county and sena-
torial district of Virginia 20 run for the
Senate and legislature? Have these men.
being truc-born Virginrans. given him
pledges of their support. regardless or
who enters the field against him. Has
he taken a receipt from them for their
votes2 The positive statements of such
editorials as this In the Danville Register
would indicate that a certain secret circle
I'm virginia politics knows already who
will run In each county and senatorial
district OF the State and that they have
Martin men picked out grOomed. sad
died and bridled and ready FOR the drop
OF the flag. II this Is not the case how
does Mr.. James know that he has won
his fight I'm the old way2 Are all twenty
OF the hold-over Senators for Mr.. Martin?
Who IS authorized 10 speak FOR them2
VIII Mr.. Fairfax or Mr.. McCorkle vote
for Mr. Martin? VIII Or. LeCato or Mr..
Foster? How about Senator Munford OF
Richmond2 Some say he would make
a pretty good candidate for the Senate
himself. II the opportunity should come
his way. Is he pledged In advance 10
Mr.. Martin. so much so that such edito-
rails as this can be given out. and such
positive statements can be printed2 On.
no. Mr.. Martin has not won his night
yet In the old way. II he can win II In
the old way, why not win 1t in the new
way? AT any rate Mr.. Martin should
pray 70 be delivered from such indiscreet
statements as these.
Senator Daniel is the pink OF delicate
feeling and fine courtesy. II would be.
however. an anomalous thing in Amei-
can politics TO see one Senator already
elected unanimously by his people. taking
sides In a fight among his permanent
friends for the other position In the Sen
ate But this seems to be the attitude IN
which Senator Daniel has placed himself.
He recalls with lasting gratitude the part
Mr.. Martin took years ago Ia deieauhg
his old chief Mr.. John S. Barbour; ana
now he throws himself into the breach 10
champion the cause OF his friend. GOOD.
old countryman with an abundance or
canny mother-wit. sized up the situation
with this remark. Said he; 81 love John
k.. n