Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-08-08
MARTIN AND MONTAGUE.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch gives
The following account of the political
meeting at Rocky Mount yesterday
Contrary to general expectation, Sen
ator Martin and Governor Montague did
not meet in joint debate. While the un-
numbered clans were still gathering, an
ticipating an oratorical revel, to be fol-
lowed, mayhap, by feast Of more sub
stantial sort, the unlooked-for had occur
red. The governor of Virginia has been
Enthusiastically rebutfed, and all hope of a
division of time between the two seua-
torial candidates had vanished.
The announcement, foreseen or not by
the local tribes, was profound surprise
to many, who had travelled altar to be in
at what all believe would be a death
erapple between the rival factions. Ii
was not to be. The contretemps was
short and sharp.
The governor challenged, inviting
oint discussion, with a reversal of the
terms obtaining at the historic King
George meeting. The Senator, anxious
to accept both challenge and terms, pro-
posed, was overbarred by his friends.
The Rocky Mount barbecue and recep-
ton, arranged in his honor, they declared
appertained to a social function, and
they would consent TO no intrusion, even
though it be the governor of Virginia
who came.
The question was thoroughly threshed
out, aud the long and short of it was
that, automatically as could be, but
nevertheless, Enthusiastically, the Cover
nor was informed that he would rot be
received that he was, in fact, that thing
most aptly described in the street corner
phrase, "butter in" 1t was a re-
crudescence OF the already severly ham
mered subject of who was first in Rocky
Mount, and who was invading the others
stamping ground, each side charging the
other with the offense.
Here is the essence OF the dispute,
contained in the following official COM
munication between the warning camps
Rocky Mount, Va, Aug. 7, 1905.
Hon. Thomas S. Martin, Rocky Mount,
Va.
Dear SRI propose joint discussion,
upon reversal of terms obtaining at the
recent debate between us at King
George. | will be pleased to have you
reply. Very truly,
A. J. MONTAGUE.
Messrs. H. n. billiard and John p. Lee:
Gentlemen-YOurn note, including copy
of telegram from Governor Montague,
proposing debate here today, with the
terms of King George reversed, has just
been handed to me-. | am here to adj
dress the people at a barbecue gotten up
by my friends as a compliment to me,
and they propose TO carry out the ar
engagements made by them for the occa
sion, weeks ago.
Yours truly,
THOMAS s. MARTIN.
Separated by a half mile of awful,
blistering dirt road, the two speakers at
noon assembled the platform, and for two
hours pummelled each other with this
intervening space. Over the hills that
hid them from each other came now
and then into the camp of the one the
faint echo of cheer from the other.
Between the two trudged unwearyinglv
half thousand sweltering men, women
and boys, enduring much that they
might miss nothing.
In ali its history Rocky Mount has
recorded no scene a duplicate Of this.
Perhaps three or four thousand people
were there in all. People from the hills
and valleys, from the coves and the
mountain side, from villages and
cities-RUcky Mount, Roanoke, Mart
insvile, Danville and the counties
round about. The great bulk of them
came in train that groaned beneath
an overloaded weight and that at times
crept at snaiPs pace along the dusty
road.
Two bands, one for each candidate,
led the crowd from the station to the
separate meeting places-the governor
and his party in the courthouse. the
Martin enthusiasts to the Hotel Robert
son. The heat was intense, but other
wise the day at noon was ideally fair.
The writer visited both meeting places.
Senator Martin appeared to have the
larger crowd. The utmost enthusiasm
prevailed at both meetings. Both men
wsrein deadly earnest and both hurled
their bitterest darts.
The Red Fox was never more ready
and apt, the junior Senator never more
clear and positive in his denunciatiOn.
The clansmen of each howled nightly,
and between them and the bands stirred
the dust off Rocky Mounts buzzard
roosts. After two hours it was done.
While the last words were being said the
lightning flashed out of the west, great
black clouds covered up the glorious sun,
and torrent of rain came down, Each
camp had its feast Of good things, and
then each party made its way through
the mud, once dust, to the railroad
station. In the course of time the train
came.
Hearings on the freight rate tariffs
now in force in Virginia, which are not
satisfactory to shippers, will be held by
the Corporation Commission on Septem-
Der IL. The IL principal railroad con-
panies in the State have been served