Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-06-07
1.-THE UNCO, GUID..
Communication on the Politics or
Northumberland
go ye who are so guild yoursel

have known anything about Virginia
politicians Of the present day, but if
he had he probably would have ded-
Gated the above TO some of the shin
ing lights whose whole stock in trade
appears to consist in rehash of the
alleged faults and misdoings of
Senator Martin.
| Our brilliant Attorney-Ge GER
tainly ought to be able to fiud some
other way of satisfying his ambition
than by attempting to destroy a
United State Senator merely because
the Senators prefer another man for
Governor. OF course it is well
known that Mr.. Montague is the
embodiment of the graces and the
virtues, and by right is entitled to
act as censor and growler- in-chief in
the matter of publicans and sinners
like Senator Martin. And right
royalty is he using his prerogative.
1t is appalling to even think what
would have been the result if Senator
Martin had refused to declare for
any candidate. Mr.. Montague prob
ably would have been dumb as an
oyster, as there appears to be nothing
else to talk about.
Congressman Jones used his "gift
of gab," trying to defeat Martin for
Senator, and he learned his lesson
He is not talking any just now. The
Attorney-General is doing it for him.
Mr.. Montague began his campaign
last year when he was stumping for
Bryan. Like Absalom he went about
stealing the hearts of the people.
But,vituperation of Republicanism
tickled him so that he had to find
somebody else to practice Oh, and
when Senator Martin declared for
Swanson for Governor, that some-
body else was found. 1t was God
send to Montague for it appears that
he has nothing else to talk about,
and his brilliant oratorical fireworks
would otherwise be useless,
One would suppose that the issue
of Martinism was settled when the
Senator was reelected, but such il
appears is not to be the case. The
cote'ie that got licked so soundly
then will not be satisfied until Mr..
Martin is driven out of public life
and some one of their own number
is installed il his place.
The constant dropping of water
will wear away stone. Many years
ago some of "the unco' guild" waged
a like warfare upon A. p. German,
of Maryland, long before he was a
United States Senator. He was de-
nounced as boss, and triCkster,
and everything except an honest
man and a gentleman. After many
years they prevailed and German
was no longer a senator and party
boss, while the state of Maryland
was purified by turning it over to
the Republicans. Many of the noble
gents who fought German are now
bright and shining lights in the Re-
publican party. The party Of Cor
man actually became SO corrupt that
these noble gents had to leave it in
order to preserve their purity of
character. And they do say that
history repeats itself.
Mr.. Montague and the rest of
"the unco' gnid" say that it is an
awful thing for any people to be
boss ridden and that it is not Demo. |
cratic to allow one man to control
everything. Also that it will be the
correct thing to vote for Moi tague
delegates and thus sock Boss Martin
in the neck. Also, Furthermore, that
the people owe it to themselves to
promptly abolish all forms of boss
ism and one-man power. Much of
which is highly interesting and edify-
ing and is very good advice. Now
if Martin is such an Objectionable
boss, kick him out, but we folks
over this way don't know anything
about the boss.ship of the Senator,
and we have not yet found out that
he is candidate for governor. AMI
the bossism the people of Northum-
berland know much about is lined
up for Montague and against Swan
son, or rather against Martin. ]
Yet the advice to crush the bosses
is good, and ought to be followed.
The old saying is that scharity
begins at home" and that IS where
reform also ought to begin. The
greatest preacher the world ever saw
said "And why beholdest thou the
mote that is in thy brothers eve.
but considerest not the beam that is
in their own eyer"
Before starting out to reform
evils afar off it would be better to
reform those we have at home. !
During the late presidential cam
paign enc of Virginia's congressman
became almost lachrymose over the
evils Of the army canteen in far off
but nobody ever heard him
say word in condemnation of the
xhiskey hells in his own village.
If there is anything like one-man-
power, or ring rule, or bossism in
his county of Northumberland then
t is the plain duty of the people to
,rnsh it out. If there is any man
Who believes that the county politics
ire dictated or controlled by any set
# men for their own benefit, then
hat man fails in his duty if he neg
ects to attend the mass- meeting on
lext Monday and to vote down any
uch set of men, irrespective of any
PARTICULAR candidate for governor.
When the people of Northumberland
AVE crushed ont their own bosses
hen they will be in position to 1
lelp crush ont other hosses and not I