The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-06-25
THE TWO MEN.

spirit bI ItNtNlnH Ahf 'hhiphih h'"' wv
inside ~ it were some contrasting OF the
two men il interesting.
There is but little difference in the ages
| Of Messrs. Montague and Swanson, both
are young. vigorous and active. and in
point of ability they are about evenly
matched.
In manner Mr. Swanson is the more
agreeable of the two. lie is better
mixer with the crowd. and has n more
genial and magnetic presence than his
opponent Mr. Montague il more re-
served and nothing apparently serves
to break his digniled composure. lie is
easy and graceful in gesture. but lacks
the sang iroid of Mr.. swanson. The
point that Mr. Montague makes that he
will not look out for his friends, as Mr.
Swanson promised il well taken. and is
true.
As a public speaker. Mr.. Montague
lights up better and il the more eloquent
Of the two In joint debate Mr. Swan
son has the distinct advantage ofspright- |
ler thought and fancy, and is far less apt |
TO lose his temper fatalending to such |
occasions.
With no issues before them the two |
men entered hecanvass with apparently |
equal chances. Yet tn close student OF
the situation it has all along been appar- |
ent that there were many things Of nd
vantage To Mr. Montague that from the |
start made the race unequal.
WAS HETTER KNOWN.
Mr.. Montague had the advantage of |
being better known. AZ United States |
District Attorney he had appeared in |
many Of the counties in the Western Dis
trict Of Virginia foriour years, and in the |
canvass last year had spoken in number
less Others. He was born in Campbell |
county. had lived in Tidewater, Danyille
and Richmond His father had left him |
a place in the affections of the large cir
cult over which he presided AZ judge and
the Red Fox" title descending from
iather to son has been heard frequently |
in the campaign.
Both in Caroline and Elizabeth City |
counties this feeling was very pro-
nounced. We loved his father de-
cared the orator in Caroline, and he
voiced the sentiment Of the crowd.
Mr.. Montague also had a strength
which was not reckOned at first in the
contest and that came from the Organi-
zatiOn effected here two years ago and
known as the May convention. 1t was
composed of good men from all over the
State. They did not succeed in putting
up candidate at that convention, but
later began through the medium OF Fin
dependent" candidates an effort to de-
feat Senator Martin with Governor Tyler.
They wanted Mr.. Montague to become
Senatorial candidate then but he declined.
All Of the May convention people were
lined up for Mr. Montague on the ground
that Mr.. Martin favored Mr.. Swanson.
These people all over the State were ac-
tive and apparently furnished the skele-
ton for the organization that was effec-
lively built up around it. Then came the
army of disappointed people, and those
once in official life, but now described
under the general head OF outs, and
added to theJe were the great many peo-
pie who know Mr. Montague and have n
high appreciation of him.
FROM THE PEOPLE.
From nearer the masses of the people |
than Mr.. Montague comes Mr.. Swanson.
Unheralded, he entered the Randolph
Macon College through the help Of some
rich men who were attracted by the
ability and efforts of the lad who was
clerking in grocery store.
Through the college and he went to the
University of Virginia by the continued
help, and as a lawyer at Chatham, Pitt
sylvania county, he began life and re-
paid the benefactors of his boyhood.
Five times has his Congressional dis
trict returned him to n seat in the House
of Representatives. and diligently and
conspicuously has he served them and
the State a; large Never has any meas
ure portending good to Virginia been up
that Mr. Swanson was not an able and
aggressive champion of it.
On the Ways and Means Committee he
has done more for the tobacco interests
of this State than the forgetful people of
Danville seemed to realize, and his entire
career has been one worthy to be com
mended. Mr.. Swanson's conduct in the
campaign has won him many friends,
and in his own game-cOck fashion he will
go down with colOrs flying.
THE PERSONALITIES.
There has been too much of personality
in the campaign to suit the average per
son. and cessation of it will bepleasant
all around.
There is no doubt of the fact that OF
the two offices held by Mr.. Montague Mr..
Swanson was directly responsible for the
first and largely instrumental in the sec
ond, but just how far this gave him
claim upon the gratitude of Mr.. Monta-
que is subject upon which many people
differ as widely as Mr.. Montague and
Mr.. Swanson do, and surely that is diff
ference enough.
As to the letters about promising posi-
tions in advance there can be no purpose
subserved by following that subject.
The jobs were unquestionably promised
by somebody and the appointments were
certainly made, and denial Of knowl-