Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-06-23
MARTIN REPLIES
TO BUCK ROYAL.
The Arch Enemy of Virginia and
the Democratic Party.

Perhaps no campaign event could
have been more fortunate for Senator
Martin than the recent attack made
upon him by MIR. William l.. Royali,
of Richmond. in speech recently
delivered in the interest of Governor
Montague's candidacy for the Senate.
1t gave Senator Martin an opportu-
nifty to come back at his old traducer,
which he did in dignified aud
clear-cut style, and at the same time
to answer effectually some foul in
situations rejecting on his first cleo
ton to the United States Senate.
1t is believed that nothing could
at this time contribute more to Sem
ator Martins overwhelming nomina.
tion than the fact that Mr.. Royall
has so yehemently espoused the cause
of Governor Montague.
Mr.. Royal, who is commonly known
as "Buck" Royal, first came into
notoriety as the attorney for the
English bondholders. For more
than dozen years, during the darkest
days of Virginia's history, as the
legal representative of the British
syndicate owning Virginia bonds, he
dragged his State continually before
the Federal courts, defied her Legis-
lature and had her attorney general,
Rufus A. Ayres, placed in Jail by
order of Federal judge. He offered
to defend all, free of charge, who
would pay their taxes and licenses in
coupons, thus crippling the finances
of the State to such an extent that
her public schools were threatened.
her old soldiers deprived of their
pensions, school teachers and other
employees of the State had 20 dis
count their warrants, and brought
upon his State worse times than had
been experienced since the war. His
next treacherous appearance was
when he declared for and stumped
the State for Palmer and Buckner
against Bryan, and later voted for
Mckinley. When the Hon. joseph
Bailey, of Texas, was invited to Rich
mond to speak in behalf of William
Jennings Bryan for President, the
same "Buck" Royal and Charles V.
Meredith, another of Governor Mon
tague's champions, challenged Mr..
Bailey for a joint debate. 1t is recent
history "the plenty" Mr.. Bailey did
to both of his presumptnous oppo-
nents; and now, after doing all possi-
BILE to destroy the credit and humi-
Late his state and to overthrow the
Democratic party in two Presidential
campaigns, he again appears, the
same vicious petrol to malign and
besmirch the good name of Vir-
ginian who has always upheld the
principles of his party and the honor
of his state which this man has
labored year after year by every
means in his power to drag down.
1t is hard to realize how Senator
Martin could restrain his contempt
for such creature to make the fol-
lowing dignifed reply to the wanton
attack:
Encouragement, misrepresentation
malice and vindictiveness have been the
characteristic features of this campaign
against me since its commencement. A
few men can always be found adapted
to work of that sort and willing 10 do IL.
Mr.. Royal has made his contribution
and 1t is worthy of him. 1t is but a re-
hash OF charges which as / have always
understood were inspired by him and
were presented in the Legislature in De-
cember, 1898. Immediately after nv NOM
ination by the Democratic caucus and
before my fret election. The charges
were immediately investigated by Joint
committee In the two houses of the
Legislature appointed for the purpose
and majority of whom were nv oppo-
nents and had voted against me In the
caucus.
After thorough investigation this
committee made a report generating
me and my nomination from any taint of
wrong OF any sort and completely vindi-
Gated every member OF the legislative
caucus who had voted for me-. After
this report had been made, the Legis!a-
ture proceeded TO elect senator when
the report of the committee was an.
proved by my receiving every Demo-
cratic vote cast In the body. Six years
later the report of this committee and
The action of the previous Legislature
were approved again bymy reelection
by an overwhelming majority.
Nov after the lapse of twelve years. !