Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-06-19

by the press all over the State and
nnfsvorsbly commented upon in
many quarters. Then came Senator
Martins now famous letter, confiden-
tally telling his friends that Mr..
Swsnson's defeat would be personal
reflection upon himself and appealing
to them to stand by the Congressman
from the Fifth district. These two
letters, written by the most expert
enced politicians in Virginia, haye
been regarded as the most serious
blunders ever committed In q cam
paign in this State.
Senator Daniel has had little to say
since the results in Lynchburg and
Campbell county, but his friends
have not been hopeful of beating
Montague, either with Swanson,
Echols or the dark horse, which this
combination has for weeks had groom
ed ready to be sprung upon the Nor
folk convention. The senior Senator,
as well as most of the other conspic-
uous leaders in the party, have for
some time seen that these grooms
were wasting their time in preparing
new favorite. The issues were too
rlgidly drawn and crvstallized before
the Virginia Democrats to hope to
foist upon them 3 candidate who had
committed himself to neither side
and whose position in favor of or
against the machine had not been
made known.
The indications are that Swanson
and the other opponents of Monta-
que will abandon all real work in
the other contests for the delegates
to the Norfolk convention. About
two thirds of the delegates to that
body have already been selected, and
by Tuesday night Mr.. Montague will
be comparatively few short of the
734 necessary to give him the nomi-
nation. Mr.. Martin and all those
acting with him, it is quite certain
utterly failed to make any combins-
ton which promised to accomplish
Montague's defeat. 1t was the fact
that so many people believed that
Mr.. Echols and Mr.. Marshall were
In such combination that these two
gentlemen developed so little strength.
The nomination Of Mr.. Montague
means complete revolution Virgin
Ia politics, and it is likely to be far
reaching enough to effect Mr.. Mar
TINS tenure upon the Senatorship.
The Montague element in possession
Of the Norfolk convention means.
besides the nomination of their can
didates on the State ticket, a COM
plete upheaval of the State Commit
tee and all of the party machinery.
Montague claims that be will have
at least majority of nine Or the ten
Congressional districts, which would
give his friends nine tenths of the
members of the State Committee,
which, with Mr.. Martins influence.
has for so many years dominated par
ty affairs In the State. The Monta-
que people are looking for this phase
IN the fight and promise to put upon
the committee only men of the
highest character and none who have
been suspected of improper methods
in politics.
The nomination of Mr.. Joseph Z.
Willard, of Fairfax, for Lieutenant
Governor is regarded almost as certain
as that of Montague for Governor.
1t is pointed out that MIR. Montague
will have the naming of nearly all of
his delegates to the Norfolk Conven-
ton. 1t is true, as so often declared
that Willard and Montague have an
understanding then it would benatur
al to assume that the Attorney GEN
eral will do all he can to forward his
friends aspirations.
Tuesday morning the standing of
the candidates for the gubernatorial
nomination was: Montague, $50;
Swanson, 237; Echols, 81, and Mar
shall, 20; and contested, 40. Monta-
que only lacks 145 of nomination,
which is now conceded TO him by the
warmest friends of the other candi
dates.