The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-06-27
Mr.. Montague and Mr.. willard.
Richmond News.l


Now, MIR. Montague and Mr.. Willard,
candidates for Governor and Lieutenant
Governor, the conditions appear to us to
demand your serious consideration.
Much has been printed in the newspa-
pers ofmoney contributions by MIR. Will
lard to Mr.. Montague's campaign fund
and the public has not been favored with
denial or explanation. The public has
the right to know all about this. Cam
paign expenses and contributions are not
private matters In some States candi-
dates are required to file az records sworn
statements Of the money they spend to
be elected. In all States secrecy in such
matters naturally begets uncomfortable
suspicious. Nothing more nearly touches
the public interest than the conduct OF
elections and the election methods OF can
didates who ask the people for their sui
frages.
Mr.. Montague has put himself on
very high plane in his candidacy for Gov
ernOr. He has virtually been elected as
the opponent of the machine and machine
methods in our politics, as the represen-
tative of purity and high purpose. He
cannot afford to go into office az a rep
resentative of the money power or az
part of a combination of popularity and
purity on one side and a pocketbook on
the other.
We do not like to taunt man with his
misfortunes. but il is a known TACT, we
believe, that Mr. Willard is the richest
citizen of Virginia. He is a candidatefo
Lieutenant-Governo and has-contrary
to the general custom of candidates-de-
clared himself openly in alliance with
candidatefor another office-Mr. Monta-
que for Governor. According to uncontra-
dicted rumor he has used his money freely
TO promote Mr.. Montague's interests.
Now Mr.. Montague has to name a
large number of delegates to the State
convention in Richmond, LOudoun,
Campbell, Lynchburg. Roanoke, Eliza
beth City, Danville and Charlottesville.
We insist that he has no right to bind
these men to vote for Mr.. Willard or to
select his delegates with view to their
choice for Leutenant-GovernOr. II allof
his delegates-or virtually all OF them
vote for Mr.. Willard for Lieutenant-GOv-
ernor the..transaction will have an ugly
flavor OF the combination above indi-
Gated. and the people of Virginia willnot
relish it. 1t would be absurd and dis
graceful for the people of Virginia who
were last year shrieking themselves
hoarse for William J. Bryan and against
the money power in politics to be under
well.fomded suspicion OF selling one OF
the highest and most important offices
in their gift for cash.
The Montague delegates should go to
the Norfolk convention free to obey their
own preferences and to represent the will
of their constituents in the. matter OF
Lieutenant Governor. II Mr.. Willard is
strong enough to command majority,
let him do it, but he ought to be required
TO do it on his own strength. Ii would
not be fair, for instance, to Senator Le-
Cato, who has kept clear of the Cover
norship fight, to seEd in mass OF dele
gates TO punish him because he has not
money enough to help a, candidate for
Governor.
Certainly the people Of the State who
defeated Mr.. Swanson because he was
supposed to have the machine behind
him would not be pleased to think they
had elected man who had exchanged
the delegates he was allowed to choose
for financial support and arranged to-
sell a certain number OF Virginians like
80 many sheep.