The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-04-24
CHANG orssVENuE,

1.-THE council for Sam NIontg onersI
arc talking 81 asking for a change OF
venue for the trial o. his libel suit
against the West virglnian. They
are not only talking, but threatening
10 do so, the Information having
come to US in the latter form. The
reason they give for desiring the case
to, be tried in another county is that
they think the West virglnian has
prejudlced the people of this county
against Montgomery to such an ex.
tent that a Jury could not be gotten
that would do him justice. This is
anything else but compliment to
their own organ-the Times. of this
city--as it is equivalent TO saying
that It's labors In behalf Of Montgom.
cry day after day we're frutlcss. His
counsel say we have been arguing
the case. We deny II. We have
been simply publishing some facts
connected with 1t as they came to our
knowledge. For Montgomery the
Times did more than argue the case.
1t went to the trouble to prepare
briefs for him, this requiring much
laborious work aud research. II was
the work OF not hours, but days. II
not only quoted all the law II could
find on the subject OF libel, but gave
decisions of courts In such cases from
4 Maine, TO Texas. All this was done
in favor of Montgomery, and yet his
counsel seem TO think ii did not preju-
dice the people OF the county against
the West Virginian-that the preju.
dice Is all on the other slde-against
their much injured client.
We think the people of Marion
county understand the case pretty
well, and SO do the people of all the
counties throughout the State. They
understand that II Is Democratic
effort, with the aid of few Republi
can kickers or traitors, and especial
~ the "insurgent" State Senators, all
the allies and followers OF Ran Stal
maker and John Cornwell, to embar
rass and harass this paper.
The West Virginian has been more
outspoken than any other paper. W,
believe, In regard to the treacherS
which manifested Itself at Charleston
during the past winter against the
! Republican administration, and thi!
accounts In part for the libel suit
Besides, the West Virginian for
generation has been much in the wa,
B IOf Democratic ambitions and aspira
tons, and now that Il has become
: daily and thereby widened It's inRl
!. ence, there is more general desir
" TO see it embarrassed or crippled
. All the "insurgent" State Senator
share this feeling toward II alon
;, with the dlstrustcd and dilapidate
Democratic politicians.
As to change Of venuc-the r,
moval of the libel suit to neighbo
It ing conn,y-we have no very grea
If objections. a little Inconvenience
1t the time and money spent In goin
=. from home TO attend the trials a
that it would amount 10. We woul
be willing 10 suffer such an inconv,
o nience, however, If the suit could b
4. taken TO Montgomery's own county c
II Preston. They know him over ther,
N and they know the West Virginia
" also. They know, too, that In folloy
ing Ran Stalnaker and John Cor
well at Charleston. Montgomery mi
represented every loyal Republicu
ID in grand old Preston. They kno
IN Furthermore that they did not wal
n Montgomery for State Senator, b,
h. wanted instead that gallant Repub
can wheelhorSe and veteran leade
t. Squire James W. Flynn, the latte
being practically the unanimor
choice OF the Prestonians.
at While the West Virginian is know
to in Preston, 1t also has fair a
lie qualntance throughout the First al
o. Second Congressional district. 1t
6. on good terms with all our neighbc
lg ing counties. and has no fears but
N. would get justice at the hands of the
courts.
The talk that Montgomery Won
m not get justice in Marion is simp
by bosh. Our courts are conducted q
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