The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-15
BITTER FIGHT
FOR THE LEAD
Struggle for Party Supremacy in
the State.
MON TAGUE WANTS SENATORSHlP
Little Doubt That Ee Will Aspire TO Succeed
MIR. Martin and the Lines OF Battle
Are Already Being
Drawn.

Those who are familiar th political
conditions in Virginia pre@ct a long
drawn-out and bitter struggle for supre-
macy ana leadership between what are
commonly known as the machine and
.'anti-machine factions OF the Demo
cratic party in the State. and 1T begins
to look as if their predictions are not
without foundation-in fact. even tho
most casual observer of public affairs
cannot fail to hear the rlutterinss that
now and then como from one camp or
the other and a sulphuro storm WOULD
cause no great surprise at any time.
Senator Thomas S. Martin. of Abe
marie, is the head and front of the for
mer organization. and Goverror-elect a.
J. Montague, of Danville. is the recog-
nized leader of the latter. They have
drawn around them the BEST and BRAY.
est party leaders in the State. and every
move that is made in public affairs ~
holly contested.
Every one is familiar with the recent
hot battle for Governor In which Mr.
Monta que was the victor and it is said
that deep suspicion lays in the minds
of Senator Martins friends that this
brilliant young leader will be i candidate
for the Albemarle statesmans seat IN
the Senate when his present term shall
have expired.
~ prominent state Senator doubtless
had this in mind when he declared that
the upper branch OF the Legislature
should not be organized with the view
to furthering any mans senatorial am
billions.
This was regarded as an intination.
If not a charge. that the followers
of the newly-elected Chief Magistrate
purposed to gain advantage for their
leader by capturing the organization OF
the Senate committees.
BITING COUNTER CHARGE
But there was bold and biting counter
charge on the part of the antf-mac chine
leaders in the Senate and about the Cap
itol, ana it was that the Senator himself
wrote letters to members. giving in
structions as to the composition of tina
committees; that Congressman was
heard tslephoning how it must be done
In fine. that the edict had gone forth In
no uncertain tones that the upper branch
of the Legislature must be organized on
lines hostile to the new State admints-
tratfon. And so it will be seen tina.
even before the new Governor has as
sumed the great Office to which he was
recently elected. the storm which rag ed
so violently throughout the old State
last summer has begun to sweep over
the hills and through the valleys again.
But it is not only In the organization
Of the Senate committees that the lines
are drawn. They sharply divide the
State Committee on every proposition
that comes before it for adjustment and
run through both branches of the Gem
eral Assembly and every other body that
has to do In any manner whatsoever with
public questions.
a DANGEROUS ANTAGONIST.
So far as is known, Mr.. Montague has
never intimated that it was his purpose
to run for the Senate and most OF the
talk about his probable candidacy is hea rd
from the friends of Senator Martin. who
seem to regard the new Governor-elect
as q dangerous antagonist when he sets
his head toward a given position. Thers
IS one thing in his makeup about which
there can be no question-thS,t Is that
he is not by any manner of means a.
gutter. The way he immersed old
leaders and swept away old landmarks
in his recent gubernatorial canvass Is
calculated to make his adversaries feeI
at least that he.is a powerful il not a.
dangerous. antagonist. But the feeling
between the friends of Mr.. Montague and
Senator Martin does not appear altogsth-
er unnatural, even though the long deep
aisles OF the United States Senate had
never 50 much as fitted before the ina
sination OF the former. It is an undeniah,s
fact that there are two distinct wings
of the Democratic party in Virginia that
are as wide apart on public questions as
are the poles. and Mr.. Montague and Sen
ator Martin are their logical. respective
leaders. It is 4 struggle for party man
age1nent and party leadership. which 10
the legitimate offspring of party politics.
ard were there no future Offices III sight
It might still be so. One thing is cer-
tain and that IS that the recent Nor
folk Convention fell far short of healing
any party differences and that the breach
has steadily widened ever since that body
adjourned.
What the end will be no man can tell.
but interesting developments are looked
for at any time. {. A b.
Eede raj Rujitirg News