The Sunday globe., 1901-06-16
Richmond. Va, June -

Richmond. Va, June ID.
The contest being waged for the gu.
bernatorial nomination in this State is
free from political partsauship, but is
being fought on the lines of bossism
versus reform. Never since 1878, when
the late Senator Malone and the pres
ent Senator Daniel were aspirauts to
fill the chair Of the Chief Magistrate
Of the State, has political feeling ran
so high as in this campaign.
The two leading candidates, Messrs.
Swanson and Montague, are both able
men, experienced in public and State
affairs, but the latter has proven him
self the best yote-getter when the odds
We're all in favor of Swanson.
A summary of the situation is this.
Senator I, 5. Martin has become what
he believes an absolute dictator of
State politics, This disposition he
successfully managed to conceal from
the people at large throughout the
state during his first term in the Sen
ate, but Immediately after his re-elec.
tion in 1900, his cloyen foot began to
manifest itself, and he launched forth
Swanson's boom for governor 1t is
said he Systematically inaugurated a
canvass of the entire State in the in
terest of his prOtege who, it is stated,
through railroad and corporation in
fuence assisted him to retain his seat
in the Senate, The senator evidently
thought he was playing a fine hand,
and nearly every day during the last
session of Congress this self-styled Ma
poleon of politics and his protege could
be seen in the Senate clOakrOOm in
close and earnest conversation, discuss
ing the progress being made They
were aware that Montague had an
nounced himself a candidate for gov
ernor, but no attention was paid to
this announcement, it being treated as
a mere bauble As wOulu be naturally
argued, what could Montague hope to
accomplish when Swanson had the sup.
port of the entire State machine be. !
hind him, with the astute Martin at !
the helm. This state OF affairs existed |
until the early part of march, when, |
after conference at Richmond be- |
tween Martin and Senator Daniel. the |
latter announced himself to support |
swanson. On its face /, looked like !
a combination hard TO beat, with both |
of the United States Senators, ma |
pority of the congressional delegation,
and the heavy" politicians pledged to
his support However, another move
ment was on foot, started by Attorney
General Montague, which has develop
ed into formidable proportions, He
sounded the keynote and the death
knell at a speech delivered in Manches-
ter, when he openly and boldly de.
clared the existence OF this political |
ring, which had for its purpose the |
sole dictatorship and control OF the |
suffrage Of the people. Its effect was |
magical. From that time Montague |
has been leading in the number Of |
pledged delegates TO the convention, |
and now leads Swanson by a comfort. |
able majority. This was manifestly |
embarrassing to the willy Martin, for
he has since retired to his country
home and disClaims any connection |
with the conduct of his favorites cam.
paign. He realizes that Montague's |
nomination not only means his found.
ling's downfall and absolute retire
ment from public life, but he sees his
political star and prOwess vanishing
over the horizon of oblivion. When
the two bosses realized that the intel
ligence and the bone and sinew Of true
Democracy demanded to be heard in |
order to protect, promote and develop |
the industrial and commercial bust |
ness Of their State Senator Daniel
found he had important business be.
fore the constitutional convention to
attend TO- and all the other stalwarts
concluded likewise, that there was
nothing doing" but are still striving
ig various schemes and political ma
to save from ignominious |
defeat the idol of their boss and his |
factotum-Daniel
II Montague is nominated, as it is |
believed he will, it will |
only date the beginning Of the end.
1t means he will IN all probability, |
name Senator Daniels successor, and |
he. as a Just reward for his work in |
saving the State fasten to his belt |
the political scalp of Boss Martin.
Another significant feature noticed /
here is the presence Of General FitZ /
Lee, who, it is whispered, has declared |
himself as not out of politics, which is |
taken to mean he will lend all his |
power and influence TO beat Swanson.
General Lee is very popular among |
the masses Of the people all over the |
State, and his support at this time will |
count for considerable. He has also |
an old political score TO settle with the |
machine, as IL was this same influence |
that defeated him for the Senate at .
the time Martin was elected. Inasmuch |
as the general has declared himself |
still i'm the political arena he may yet |
be able to retire from public, after !
serving his State as Senator.
Mr. Swanson, It is known, will not |
have an easy time Of even retaining |
his seat I'm Congress. He would have |
strong opposition for a renomiRation |
if Col George l,. Cabell Jr, Of Dan |
VILE. could be induced 10 enter the |
race against him. The latter gentle |
man is an able lawyer, a finished or.
ator, and extremely popular among F.
the people Of the Fifth Congressional |
District. II is he who has been doing |
such effective work for Montague
among the laboring classes and farm
ers.
Of this lt is certain, il Montague
is not nominated he will be in absO-
lutte control and viii name the man
who will be the next governor Of Vir-
ginia.
JK.L.