The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-11
THE MONTAGUE-MARTIN
 CONTEST IN VIRGINIA
The Defeat Of the Junior Senator's Candidate For Nomination for Governor Has Opened
 - the Eyes of the State. l

went into the fight with the hearty support of Senators Daniel and Martin and seven out of the ten of the repre- sentatives in Congress from this State. Besides this influence. he had the whole machinery of the Democratic party with him. The issue was made against Martin and his political meth ods. and Montague won with hands down. Swanson and the junior Senator saw they were overwhelmed before the cavass was half over. and they collaps- ed like a barrel after all the hoops nave dropped off.
 Neither Daniel nor Martin favored the course pursued by the Kansas City Convention. either in the platform or the nominations. They, however, gave both their hearty support as Demo- crats. Now, each has enough on his hands in affairs of the Old Dominion, without caring to add others which may easily be deferfed to National campaign. Montague. who will be the nomInee at Norfolk on the 14th, is less than 40. vigorous. both physically and mentally. and is the leader of the young element in Virginia. He has as- pirations for the Senatorship to suc- ceed Martin. and the latter knows his strength, and his own weakness
 Unless Martin can prevent the Con- stitutional Convention from adopting measures. which will be antagonistic to the interests of the great corpora tions in Virginia. his chances for re- election are not mighty good. Should he and his friends in the Convention accomplish this. then they can count upon the aid of these potential factors aid of them. Martin may find it very dfficult to secure a return to the Sem kn H0VH ta hAa |. to Aaf "a easily for the Governorship, and the Senator has lost the charm of a suc- cessful political manager. The people had begun to believe that Martin and the element behind him could not be beaten. The result proved the utter fallacy of the assumption. and now the Junior Senator Is not longer much of prophet in his own or any other country. So Montague looks with strong hopes to succeeding Senator Daniels colleague at the expiration of the latter's term. Half of the State Senate chosen this year will partici- pate in the election of Martins success sor. hence that gentleman is paying particular attention to the selection of the members to the upper branch of the Virginia Assembly. Montague. 1t is we'll understood. has given a written pledge to a personal friend of Daniels not to become the opponent of that gentleman for the Senate. He has, however, given no such covenant with regard to MT. Martin.
 Both Senators Daniel and Martin will be delegates to the State Convention. but it Is rather a significant fact that the home counties of these gentlemen instructed against their choice for Governor. and they will be on the floor of that body to carry out the behests of their opponents. Not only that, but the two Virginia Senators. who have long opposed the election or nomina- tion of members of the upper branch of the National Congress by popular vote. will this week witness the Con- Vention of which they are members, committing them to such a policy. For four years the people of the State have agttated the question of nominating the Senators by a primary. It was first brought at the State Convention at Roanoke four years ago, and would have been carried but for the powerful appeal made by Daniel in the last hours of the body. Senator Martin whose friends insisted that the move ment was aimed at him. was present in the Convention. but did not open his mouth to oppose it. trusting Daniel to do that for him. In his gubernatorial campaign this subject has been an is sue and both the Martin and anti Martin elements have committed them selves to it. The only difference is at the Norfolk Convention will proba ply be as to the manner in which these Senatorial and State primaries are to be held.
 All. or nearly all, of the Virginia Democrats are opposed to the Norfolk Convention committing itself on any National question. It is quite likely that no declaration will be made along these lines. If any are made they will mean nothing. E. B. Chesterman.