The age-herald., 1901-07-14

S. Martin, who is his personal friend and close political associate, was support ing him for the nomination. Both gentle men have been powerful factors in Vir- ginia politics for years. Senator Martin was quoted as saying that Mir swanson's de- feat for the nomination would be a per- sonal blow to him. Attorney General Montague took different tact He re- cognized that the time had come for great fight between the people and the office holders. He realized that public sentiment had strongly developed against the machine during the last few years and that with himself as a leader to arouse this sentiment sufficiently for de- cisive action, the machine would probably be overwhelmed by an avalanche of pop ular condemnation. With this in view ne conducted the canvas upon an entirely popular basis, appealing from the stump for the support of the people. and the peo- ple's rights against ring-rule and an office-holding trust. He took United States Senator Thomas s. Martin as his cue. and vividly recalled the old Lee Martin fight for that office. He aroused popular Genti- ment so strongly against the office-hold- CTS and the machine as to overwhelm it in a whirlpool of defeat to the extent of more than two to one.
 Retrospection.
 To go back several years the people of Virginia had it in" for Senator Martin. He was candidate for the United States Senate against General Fitzhugh Lee, who was then, and is now, a popular idol In the Old Dominion. MT. Martin was practically unknown to the people of Vir- ginia unail he was elected to the Senate. His election created a storm of indigna- tion throughout the Commonwealth. So great was this that the legislature could not resist the pressure brought upon it for an investigation and inquiry into the means by which Senator Martin was elected. It was shown in this investiga- tion, and published from the records. that certain amounts of money were used in a decidedly occasionally way to insure MT Martins election The evidence brought out the fact that good deal of money had been distributed to elect mem bers to the legislature upon the condition that they would vote for MT Martin for the Senate. A large part of the money used in the canvas was furnished by tho railroad corporations with which MT Martin was identified and amounted to about thirty thousand dollars. The defeat of General Lee was a keen disappointment to the people of Virginia, and ever since that time there has been a smouldering sentiment or opposition to SenSisor Mar tin. It took Attorney General Montague to kindle this sentiment into a fire of de- cisive action, and that is what he did. His victory is admitted in Virginia to be the ultimate defeat of Senator Martin and the machine. It will result in a general shaking up of the State Democratic Com mittee, and even at this time the office holding trust are trembling in their boots. There is reason to believe that this trust will be forced to a certain extent to get out of business and that the entire polt ical situation in Virginia will undergo radical changes There Is also reason Ito believe hat the number of salaried officials in the state will be largely reduced, the criminal expenses cut down, and that there will be a general reform in the judi clary, tax, and suffrage systems, with a possibility of change in the public school system.
 The wisest heads in this state predict general improvement in the political con ditions of the Old Dominion It is recog nized to be the peoples year, and each day the sentiment in favor of the peo- pie against the machine, the ring, and the ofnce-holding trust grows stronger among thost who have the, advancement and welfare of the Commonwealth at heart