Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-08-19
Entered at the Postoffce at 4 ""omao T. H.
w., as second-class matter.

For the first time in the history OF
Virginia the people of the State Will
vote for United States Senator next
Tuesday and it will be up to them to
say on that day, whether or not they
appreciate this privilege or prefer a
senator selected by machine methods,
without regard to their wishes in the
matter. In casting their votes a Sc
lection must be made as iswell known
by them between Senator Martin ana
Governor Montague and as they
would vote intelligently a brief COM
parison of the records of the two men
may help them to see where duty
leads them.
No one need, be told in making that
comparison that Senator Martin al
the time of his first election was so
unknown to the people of Virginia
that the query went up throughout
the State-"Who is Tom Martin?
That the query was also made at the
time.-how could a man so unknown
beat a man like General Fitz Lee?-
will not be denied. 1t will also be re-
membered that the charge was then
made and not since disproved that
his election was due in some way 10
machine methods, or in other words
that he was backed by the railroads
of the State. That machine methods
controlled and gave him secono
term as United States Senator too Il
charged and many voters III the
State, majority of them, perhaps
believe Justly. The public life o
Governor Montague on the othe
hand, briefly summed up, is that hi
has filed three offices with distin
guished ability and was elected t
two of them-Attorney-General an'
Govemor-by popular vote.
Another chapter in Senator Martin
life too. that in regard to primar,
election, we believe, cannot comment
him to the voters of the State. h
processes now to approve them, but
is well known that he did not up to
late a date as the Roanoke Conven
ton, giving as a reason at that time
primary meant his defeat. When tn
demand for primary elections becam
so universal that he was compelled
Weld, of course, he did so. GovernC
Montague, on the other hand, havin
always been willing to trust thepeopl'
has during his entire public life vote
and worked for the nomination OF a
officers by the people at a primar
election.
Senator Martin, it is true, durin
the time he has been i'll office has S,
cured some appropriations and
some respect has looked after the Il
terests of his constituents, but he h;
done nottingham any man OF ordinal
ability could not have done. UpC
all great public questions consider'
in that body, as shown in anoth
column, he has been as silent as Il
grave itself, and therefore not up
the requirements of a representati'
of the great State of Virginia. Go
ernor Montague on the other hand n
only has looked after and attended
minor affairs in the offices whit
he has filled but has made a record
efficiency and distinguished abili
which leaves no one in doubt in or
of the State, as to the service viii
may be expected of him in t
United States Senate.
The comparison between the t7
candidates could be made still furth
and we believe to the advantage
Mr.. Montague but the facts present
being true, and we believe they a
can there be any doubt how the Peol
of the Eastern Shore, who act up
their own judgment and not upon
solicitations of their friends, will G.
their votes?