Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-08-02
AIMED AT TON MARTIN"
The Petersburg Index-Appeal of
August Ia, 1897. said:

August Ia, 1897, said:
In the discussion of the PROPOSE
ton Ia nominate United States
senators by a primary. which took
place in the democratic convention
at Roanoke last Thursday, Senator
Tom Martin had good reason to
wish that he might be delivered
from his friends. In opposing this
entirely proper and democratic
measure these over-zealouS friends
of Mr.. Martin, among whom was
Senator Daniel himself. persistent
ly represented the interests of
Senator Martin. rs his own success
Sor, as being in some way leopard
lied by the adoption of this meas
ure. And vet it is hard To under
stand why Senator Martins inter
eStS as candidate are more inn
perilled than General Lees, Major
Tyler's, Mr.. Jones', or those of
any other probable candidate for
Mr.. Martins seat. Such an as
sumption seems to us not only vio-
lent but exceedingly unjust to Mr..
Martin. 1t not only cast suspicion
upon the methods he may adopt to
secure the nomination hereafter,
but 1t gives color to the uncharita-
bic intlmatiOns against the means
employed in his first election. 1t
seems to us that Mr.. Martin should
have lost no time and he certainly
should not have missed the great
opportunity afforded him at Roam
oke-in repudiating the miSdirect-
ed zeal of his friends. and in de-
claring to the people of Virginia
that he was no more affected by
the methods adopted for the selec-
ton of United States senator's than
was any other aSpirant to that high
honor.
We do not believe that the pro-
posed change was directed against
MIR. Martin exclusively. 1t was
intended to be a permanent and
enduring rule, and it involved a
principle of genuine democracy
which should not have been dis
credited in 4 democratic cOnven-
ton. Its defeat was due to the
great personal influence and mag
netiSm of Senator Daniel, and not
to the power of his reasoning, for
in point of argument Mr.. Jones
had decidedly the better of the
senator. Mr.. Daniel not only dis
regarded the strong points made
on the other side. but he derided
the example and views of the most
eminent leaders in his party, de-
claring that all wisdom was not
with Mr.. jefferson and MIR. Viii
liam Jennings Bryan-the latter
being on record as voting and
speaking for such a measure.
There are internal and inherent
reasons why the people NAV be
more safely trusted than a iegisla-
ture TO elect a United States sena-
tor. In the first place they are
the source of power and right in
the matter, and in the second place
they are not SO easily accessible 10
the means of bargain and corrup-
tlon as are legislatures. Certainly.
IN the plan proposed by Mr.. Jones.
the State incurs no risk from the
ignorant and vicious element. be-
cause the matter is entirely i'm the
hands of the democrats.
The IndeX-Appeal is now one of
the most virulent supporters of
Mr.. Martin.
Mr.. Martin said only a few
weeks ago, at King George Court
House, that he opposed the pri-
mary at Roanoke because it was
aimed at Tom Martin"
William Jennings Bryan, men
toned in the Index-Appeal's arti-
clee Is the same man whom Mr.
Martin and his friends were going
to bury" at St. Louis last sum-
mer. Wonder if the fact that he
believed in popular election of
Senators had anything to do with
their desire to bury himl