The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-15
TIE DEMOCRA77C CANDIDATES or VIRGIA1A

dlesex and there take care of his mother
In her declining days. but she died soon
after he began his studies at the Univer-
sity. ana for time his plans were up
SCI. to say nothing OF his great grief.
returning to his books under the tute-
age OF that gifted law instructor, John
Botts Miner, young Montague in June,
$50, won his degree of bachelor of laws,
ed two years course.
Then came brief period of uncertain
ty; He had exhausted his resources and
did not know which way to turn TO he
gin the actual battle of life. The Skin
mishing had finished and the fight was to
begin. Had his mother lived the die
would have been cast, for he would have
gone back to Middlesex; but she was
dead.
Il had two friends in Danville." said
Mr.. Montague few days ago while talk
ing with some friends about this point In
his career, and / concluded to go there
and look at the town. / had often thought
that l might like to settle in the West.
but | finally decided in favor of Danville.
and events have demonstrated the wis
dom of my selection of a place of resi-
derce 1t seems to me that my people
there have not been able to do enough
for me. 1 applied myself TO the general
practice of law and did well
Mr.. Montague has always been DEM
ocrat His ancestors We're Democrats to
the manner born, and he Inherited the love
of politics and the qualities of oratory
he arrived at his majority he was maxi
ing stump speeches and taking part in
primaries and political meetings and was
recognized as a '-youngster' of consid-
cradle influence in such matters. Conse-
quently when Mr. Cleveland entered upon
his second term as President Mr.. Mon
tague's close personal and political friends
suggested to him the idea of becoming a
candidate for the office of United States
Attorney for the Western district OF Vlr-
ginia. MIR. Montague yielded to the
wishes of his friends and in that contest
ne presented the endorsement OF almost
the solid Democracy of his State The
members of the bar and judges OF the CIR
cult endorsed him: the Governor OF the
State endorsed him: the two United states
Senators and the Representatives IN Con-
gress endorsed him; the Judges OF the
Court of Appeals of Virginia endorsed
him. and DIR. ]. l.. NJ. Curry, ex-United
States Minister to Spain, made personal
appeal to the President in his behalf. An
interesting fact in connection with that
contest is Mr. Montague's grateful rec
ognition at this time of the service rem
tive Claude A Swanson, who was his
chief opponent for the Democratic nom
nation for Governor.
Mr.. Montague was appointed United
States Attorney for the Western district
of Virginia without delay and served with
marked ability He attended the United
States courts throughout the Western
district where there was a vast deal or
ance In that section. He proved himself
good lawyer and won some very impor-
tant litigation. This Office proved a step
ping stone to the attorney generalship
of Virginia for which he was nominated
at Roanoke four years ago after close
contest. He resigned his office as United
States Attorney In June. 1877, nut fresi-
dent Mckinley did not accept 1t, ana
month later he was appointed United
States Attorney ad interim by CHIEF JUS
tice Fuller. retaining the office till jan
uary /, 1895, when he assumed once as
Attorney General
Jealous for the interests OF the Common
wealth. He has participated on oenaiI
of Virginia in some important cases: Olle
of these, the Wadleigh case, was taken
before the Supreme Court. where MT
Montague gained no minor distinction IN
a decision establishing the lack of power
a criminal prosecution IN the bank cases
before the United States courts he also
won for the State. by which eventually
something like 100000 in back taxes VIII
revert to the Virginia Treasury.
Mr.. Montague denies that he ever had
any intense ambition to become Governor
of Virginia He has ever been aggressive
in politics, and he asserts tnat ms ,. can
prevailing in his party, which he realized
should undergo the effects of the prun-
ing knife The anti-eonvention campaign
was one of the longest ana mo5I vIsor
and the standard-bearer has come
through the conflict without scar HIS
victory has been a victory of the people
He will be one of the youngest men ever
to have filled the office of Governor OF
Virginia.
Mrs Montague was Miss Elizabeth Lyme
Hoskirs. of King and Queen County, Va,
until December H. 1889. when she became
the bride of Jack" Montague-that was
the name everyone knew him by In those
days Mr. and Mrs. Montague have three
bright children The eldest is Miss Ma
tilda Gay Monta que. now nearly eleven
years of age.
Mr.. Montague is a distinguished look
ing man. Slightly less than forty years
of age. his presence is commanding His
face denotes intellect and good breeding.
OF medium build. full cheeks. with rud-
DIV complexion. a strong and impressive.
though not what one would designate as
a keen grey eye. a mouth denotlng re-
fnement and at the same time hxedness
of purpose, a forehead sufficiently broad,
nose with Just a suggestion of the irish
about it, and short. stubby. red hair that
waves from near the crown of the head
to the edges