Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-04-14
GOV. MONTAGUE
OPENS CAMPAIGN.
Large Crowd Hear Him at Spot
syIvania---Give an Enthusiastic
Reception.


duced as "a candidate for the Unite
States Senate" which con strained hir
to comment upon the fact that be wa
the first candidate for the office befor
the people, because the people no,
mad a chance to elect a senator from
Virginia.
1.-The great REFORM" said the Gov
ernor, lis progressing Throughout
America and affords the only relle
now in sight for a decaying branch o
the legislative department of the Fed
eral government
Here the speaker sketched cOndi-
tions as he'saw them in the Senate
calling attention to one member in
dicted for bigamy, and others for va.
rious crimes and misdemeanors; also
to the absence of representation where
| wealth and special interests seem un-
able to control legislatures, as is the
case in Delaware at present.
PEOPLE MUST RULE.
The Governor said all civilizations
were in a measure determined by the
desire of each citizen for a participa-
tlon in the affairs of government, and
that in Democratic America, we are
astoundod at the fact that her citizen
ship participates in national govern.
ment no more than in Great Britain.
He said that out of the immense
body of officeholders in the national
government. only one class was cleo.
tive by the people, and that was the
lower House of Congress; that the
election of the upper House was a
movement to give the people share in
the government, and to correct the
abuses which came about by the intri-
CUES of special interests to over-reach
the people, and TO obstruct their par
ticipation in government.
NOMINATION BY PRIMARY.
With this general statement he lal d
the foundation for his argument in
favor of the election of United States
Senators by the people, and primary
as its best equivalent.in the absence of
constitutional amendment on the sub
jecG He mex cOntended for radical
prohibition with accompanying pen
alties for the contribution of money
by great com mbinations of capital for
the election or selection of Federal
officials. He declared the great issue
before the American people was plu-
tocracy VS.. democracy, or the power
of special interests to suppress equal
lty of interest and of right.
REGULATE COMMERCE..
To this end be stated be would favor |
the reasonable regulation of interstate
commerce and it's agents, the public |
service corporations, by Federal COM
properly. organized, to do jus.
tice between the corporations and the
citizens of the republic.
Il also favor" he declared amid |
chees, "a modification of the tariff,
which will insure equal rights and |
suppress special privileges.
II favor national aid for the con.
struction on common highways, and
a foreign policy wholly free from par
tisan confederation
The Governor having thus briefly
outlined his political views. declared
that the standard of the United States
Senate should be broadened and re.
turned to the earlier and better days,
aud said that while he did not claim
to do this, he claimed to be
able to help in such restoration.
THE RED NECKTIE INCIDENT.
The speaker made most numerous
reference to State Senator whom be
said was reported to have torn off red
necktIe from his own neck because
the Governors head was red, but that
while his favorite for the U. ). Senate
occupied a room just above in the
hotel, and that he had replaced 1t with
a black one which might prove
emblem as the result OF a
battle yet to be determed. He said
this same gentleman was quoted as
having said he would rather be in hi
without claws than in Virginia poll
tics should he (Montague) win for the
Senate. The Governor could not un.
derstand this animosity. He had
never voted anything buta Democrat
Democratic office, and while he had no
desire to see the gentleman leave the
State, he yet thought he might be
spared without any great public
calamity following.
MIR. MARTIN.
The Governor made no personal citi-
icisms of Mr. Martin. He maintained
that his record was insufficient o1us-
tify eighteen years in the United
States Senate, and that be had done
nothing any ordinary man could not
have done, holding the position of
United States Senator.
He has never originated or mani
lCblcOs dO Snlos O vi ACuCl ~
public Importance.
Il admit that he is active around
the departments, and that he does the
work rather of an executive clerk
| than of a Senator"
| The Governor commented upon the
fact that Mr.. Martins reliance upon
his experience, exclaiming with much
earnestness: If Mr.. Martin can in
woke bis experience to keep him in the
senate, why did he not invoke his in
experience to keep him out of the Sen
ate, for surely no man was ever elected
to that position who had less expert
ence with public affairs, and less ac-
auaintance with the business of the
people.
so far as is known he had never
written political article. made pub
lie speech, or held public office until
elected. He was absolutely unknown