Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-08-11
MORE ARnuI THAT FLOP.


Here is an editorial from the Index
Appeal of Dec. 23d, 1898. bristling with
denunciation of 1.-THE means by which
the election machinery was set in mo-
tom:
1.-The Investigating committees con-
clusively proved that probably the
greater proportion of the money used
in the State campaign WAS supplied by
the railroads The fact WAS admitted
by the railroad people themselves. who
made no effort whatever to conceal
their part in providing the means by
which the election machinery was set
in motion. 1t is denied, however, that
any any portion of this money was
used by the railroads in the interest OF
any candidate for the senate MS against
another. 1t was unquestiOnahly given
for some specific purpose. The question
now is, what was that purpose :"
After Mr.. Martin had been elected
by the doubtful methods mentioned
previously, the Index-Appeal of Dec.
26, 1898, said:
'Mr. Martin got his Christmas pres
ent little ahead of the season, but
Santa Claus did not add to his reputa-
tiOn as discreet dispenser OF political
plums when he bestowed the gift.
However, much will be forgiven If the
old saint promises to do so no more. y
The "old saint" did not promise to
do so no more, and the new saint, "
the Petersburg Index-Appeal, is now
arranging new Christmas gift for
him.
AS late as August, 1897, the Index
Appeal was criticising Senator Martin
for his opposition to the primary plan,
on August IA, 1897, it said:
I'm the discussion of the proposition
to nominate United States senators by
a primary, which took place III the
Democratic convention at Roanoke
last Thursday, Senator Tom Martin
had good reason to wish that be might
be delivered from his friends. In OPP
posing this entirely proper and Demo
cratic measure these over Jealous
friends of Mr.. Martin, among whom
was Senator Daniel himself, persist
atOr Martin, as his own successor, MS
being in some way jeopardlzed by the
adoption OF this measure, and yet 1t Is
hard to understand why Senator Mar
tin 3 interests as a candidate are more
imperilled than Gen. Lees, Maj. Ty-
ler's, MI. Jones', or those of any other
probable candidate for Mr.. Martins
seat. Such an assumption seems to
us not only violent but exceedingly
unjust to Mr.. Martin. 1t not only cast
suspicion upon the methods he may
adopt to secure the nomination here
after, but it gives color TO the unchari-
table intimatiOns against the means
emplyed in his first election. 1t seems
to us that Mr.. Martin should have lost
no Lime-and be certainly should not
have missed the great opportunity al
ford ed him at RoanOke-ln repudiating
the mls0iI ected zeal of his friends, land
in declaring to the people of Virginia
that he was no more affected by the
methods adopted for the selection OF
United States senators than WAS any
other aspirant to that high honor.
I'VE do not believe that the prOpOs.
ed change was directed against Mr..
Mr.. Martin exclusively. 1t was in
tended to be permanent and enduring
rule, and it involved principle OF
genuine Democracy which should not
have been discredited in a Democratic
convention. Its defeat was due to the
great observation-disclosures and magnetism
of Senator Daniel, and not to the pow
er of his reasoning, for in point of ar
gument Mr.. Jones had decidedly the
hat # q n
only disregarded the strong points
made on the other side, but he derided
| the example and views of the most
eminent leaders in his party, declaring
that all wisdom was not with Mr.. jeff.
erson and Mr.. Williams Jennings
Bryan-the latter being on record as
voting and speaking for such meas
| ure.
| There are internal and inherent rea
sons why the people may be more safe
| ly trusted than legislature to elect q
| United States senator. In the first
place they are the source of power and
right in the m8 tier, and in the second
place, they are not so easily accessible
| to the means OF bargain and corrup
tion as are legislatures. Certainly, in
| the plan proposed by Mr.. Jones, the
State incurs no risk from the ignorant
and vicious element, because the mat
ter is entirely in the hands of the Dem.
Ocrats."
Yet in the face of all these phillipics
against the methods which placed Mr..
Martin in the senate, and it's dislike OF
the conduct of Mr.. Martin at the
Roanoke convention in 1897, We find the
Index Appeal now falling over itself in
| it's effort to elect Mr.. Martin. 1t is
therefore in no position to critlcise
Major Stubbs or Mr.. Pitcher, or those
who changed their minds with refer
ence to Mr.. Martin, and of course be
ing newspaper which always does
the high and honorable thing, will
make due amends to them for what it
has previously said about them.