Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-04-21
SENATOR MARTIN
TAKES THE STUMP.
Makes His First Address Of the
Campaign in Lunenbure'
MADE NO REFERENCE TO
HIS OPPONENT.
From Richmond Timcs-DIspatch.,

Senator Martin made his firoS ap-
pearance upon the stump in his own
behalf in this campaign at Lunen-
burg Courthouse Monday, when he
addressed one of the largest crowds
ever seen there. He spent the MORN
ing in the court green, mixing with
the crowd and appeared much to the
surprise of many as good mixer. He
was appealed to by many to make a
speech but stated that he was not
present for that purpose but only to
meet and greet his friends. lie
finally, however, consented and im-
mediately after dinner, was intro
duced by County Chairman George
K. Smith, Judge Barksdale granting
the courtroom for that purpose.
After expressing his pleasure at
being present and the embarrassment
he felt at appearing on the stump in
his own behalf, he took up the ques-
ton of his record in the Senate, say
ing he had kept no books on this,
but had called upon an information
bureau in Washington to furnish
this for him. The amount furnished
him was surprise but the only
egotism he felt was in the thought
that he had been able to repay in a
slight way the high honor conferred
upon him by the people of Virginia.
He declared that he did not desire
to laud himself and would not decry
his adversarles, that he had striyen
to merit the honor conferred and had
labored for the approval of his own
conscience and the appreciation of
his constituents, that he had been
charged with being true to his
friends which charge he did not
deny, and that he did not care to live
long enough to be false to them,
that when he had favors to bestow,
he bestowed them upon his friends
but that as representative he defied
any man to say he had ever shown
any difference in his service but had
treated all alike and never stopped to
question whether the service was for
friend or enemy.
He spoke Of his connections with
railroads, saying he was, previous to
his election to the Senate, employed
as attorney before the court, but had
never appeared as a lobbyist before
any legislative body and would no,
do so. The Senator grew warm at
times but did not in any manner
refer to his opponent, Governor Mon.
tague, the only inference to his op-
position was in connection with his
service in the different committees 9
and as a department runner, saying
that five thousand dollars was a>big
price to pay for department run ner,
but not for ole to serve on the For
eign Relations Committee. He said
he did not initiate this method of
campaign, but did not shrink from
it, and if the people of Virginia were
not satisfied with his stewardship, he
did not want their support.
He mentioned in the course of dis
cussion the fact that Virgi. "a,
through his efforts, had saved one
million seven hundred thousand bv
a bill passed for the settlement of
Virginia claims against the United
States government on account of the
war of 1912. Senator Daniel had
introduced the measure, but on ac-
count of his sickness and attendance
on the Constitutional Convention, he,
during Daniels absence, had pressed
the bill and secured its passage. He
mentioned appropriations for Norfolk,
Petersburg, Newport News and Rich.
mond that he had secured, and said
that he simply called attention to
these matters to justify the salary of
So 900 a year to department runner.
He strongly advocated the railroad
rate bill, having the object of con-
trolling rates, now before the United
States Senate. He denounced the
policy of bination of railroads to
exact unfair and unjust rates, and
said the heavy hand Of the law was
needed to restrain corporations from
avarice and greed. He stated that
he had endeayored to be placed on
such committees and TO occupy such
positions as to best serve the material
interests of his State, and from his
position as senior Democratic member
of the Committee on Claims, he had
been in a position to secure apprc-
priations of material benefit to the
people of Virginia.
Senator Martin said the tongue of
the slanderer had connected him with
the railroads. He had at one time
been connected with a railroad, as
attorney for it in several
counties at one thousands year as re-
tanning fee. He said he had resigned
L.