The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-24
The Issue Between Martin and
Montague.

The Issue Between Martlll div
Montague.
Governor Montague may taltc comfort
In his defeat that no was running against
rrcat odds. Had no and Mr.. Martin been
running FOR tho nomination for senator
as IN original proposition. his chances
OF success had been far more favora be-
Or had Senator Martin determined 20
retro mid leave the field open to all
contestants, Governor Montague would,
iii ali probability, havo won over any
other opponent
But Mr.. Martin was already IN the
office; no had filled the position or
senator. with satisfaction to q majority
Of the voters, ana 1t was Mr.. Mtonll1t tag
difficult task to convince tho voters
That Martin should be put out and that
Montague should'bo put in. l was much
tho samo thing as though man on foot
should chase after a man on horsepacK.
In such u race, the man on tfoot must
not only overtako his opponent, but must
null him from tho saddle after ne has
overtuken him.
In vain did the Governor plead with
people that ho was not trying 10 get
Senator Martins place; that tho place
belonged to tho people and not to- Sena-
tor Martin; that in due time Senator
Martins term would expire and the office
become vacant, and that no was 3askinG
Tho people to elect him to fill the va.
cancy, Tho simple fact is that Mr.. Mar
tin had filled this position with credit
FOR two terms, and he was not willing
to retire under fire. he appealed to his
record and to, tho service which he had
rendered no resented tho charges brought
by Governor Montague that he was not
tho right sort OF man to represent the
state of Virginia in the United States
Senate, and he appealed to the people
not to put him out, and by that act sus-
tain tho Governors charge. 1t was an
appcal to the fairness Of the Virginia
public and it was not in vain.
or course, there were many who took
the Governors view that Senator Martin
had no further claim on the place; that
he had beon sufficiently honored In hav-
ing held 1t for two terms, and That Mon-
taEue had the Same right to aspire 70
this honor as Martin had. Governor
Montague had a host OF friends VINO
wanted to see him In the Senate. because
they esteemed him to be eminently titted
for that distinguished position On me
othcr hand. Senator Martin had q host
Of friends who preferred him on his own
merits over Montague. Also. there were
questions OF political principles ana m t'H
DDS upon which the two DISTINGUISHED
candidates were radically opposed OF
NJ lsnst supposed to be, and 'heso pinEed
prominent part In thu contest bul
| the paramount question, after all was as
wo have stated It. Was there sultlc'eht
reason for turning one prominent man
| out of office in order that another proml-
nent man might be put In? obviously, q
majority of the Virginia Democrats vot-
Ing In tuesdays primary election thousht
not. And 1t seems TO vs. that the popular
| verdict is d tribute to the sense OF fair
,iess OF the Virginia Democracy
/ i I + ! q 6
Mr.. Montague has made good Cover
nor, lust as MI Martin has made good
senator, and had the Constitution per-
mt,sd Mr.. Montaspe 10 offer for sec
ond term in the Governors chair VIC
have no doubt that the Democrats would
have put him up again ns;linGt any cpFo-
nent who might lave offered, Tncre Is
an old saying That possession IS nine
| tenths Of tho law. The saying Is equally
| as true OF politics, There arc so many
good people who consider that an Office
belongs to the incumbent ms long as ne
fills II acceptably bafrng constitutional
limitations. and they think It ungenerous,
If not presumptuops. for another man
TO try to snpplant him.
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