Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-04-28

oulAeO " NSollSui as 10 Oe unworthy
OF public confidence. No man had
ever secured this Office 10y appearing
on the stump to proclaim his own
merits, or TO detract from those of
bis opponent. This sally was warmly
by the audience.
Senator Martin then explained
that, dlsta2 ,eful as the task was, it
bad become necessary for him to APP
pear to defend his public record,
which had been assailed by his OPP
poHeut. lie announced that in doing
SO be would confne himself to his
own public record and would indulge
10 20 harsh criticisms or disparage-
ment OF his opponent or any one else,
nor would he indulge 10 any Boosting
or self-laudation. lie declared that
ne would not discuss his friend,
Peter Barksdale, and his red cravat,
nor his distinguished FREUD, Hal
Flood, whose ability and service he
commended and who, he said, was
amply able to defend himself. Nor
did his friend, Joe Button, need any
defense when he had already so ably
defended himself against criticisms
and detractions. These references
to his opponents criticisms of the
gentlemen named provoked great
laughter and applause.
II feel very much complimented
by the criticisms made of NY public
career" said the speaker, "and l as
sumo that the severest criticism that
could be made has been made by my
opponents" This statement was
made as prelude to an enumeration
and refutation of some of the criti.
cisms. First be had been criticised
as being mere letter writer. He
pleaded guilty to having tried to
answer PROMPTLY and as satisfactorily
as ne could all letters addressed to
him on public business, and if he
had failed to answer any man in
Virginia who had written to him
and had not received an answer, he
owed him an apology and was ready
to offer it. He pleaded guilty to the
charge of standing by his friends,
and declared that when the time
came that he would prove disloyal
to any of them he would lay down his
senatorial office willingly. He had
never let any personal considerations
or friendships stand between him
and his public duty, and be chal-
lenged any man to say that be had
not as cheerfully and as promptly
dispatched any business Entrusted to
him by his foes as by his friends.
cit has been said that | am a de-
partmeut runner" said the speaker,
and be bad to pause until the laugh
ter that followed had subsidized. 81 am
afraid ! have not done much run
ming" said the stoutand rather short
statued senator, "but confess have
done lots of walking to and from
the departments on business for my
constituents. If you want a man in
the Senate who will fold his toga
about him and wrap himself in the
dignity Of his position as senator
and say to his constituents, Il am a
statesman, not department runner
you had better vote for my opponent.
Great applause and laughter.)
in the discharge of my public
duty have never asked whether
man was friend or on opponent,
but have striven TO be . senator for
Virginia, for Republicans as we'll as
Democrats, for black as we'll white,
for the whole people Of my State.
(Applause.) 1t is only by these
means that l have been able TO win
the support, the confidence and re-
spect of the gentleman who intro.
duced me tonight.
Referring to the over. Jealous de.
fense Of Senator Daniel by Mr..
Montague be said, people who
volunteer their services without
waiting TO be asked had better
be watched. There's selfish
motive behind their solicitude."
This shot evoked considerable
laughter and applause. Speaking
Of his colleague, Senator Martin
said that be and Major Daniel had
been friends since boyhood to the
present day, and were &c warm
friends now as ever, and that they
had both devoted themselves to the
public service without any question
of who got the credit, but only that
Virginia and her people got the fruits.
"PUERILE cHARaRs."
''ln view of these frivolous, these
puerile charges that / have done
nothing in the Senate, l am forced
to the embarrassment of discussing
myself and my work. If Virginia
has made any mistake in the past it
has been to devote too much time to
doctrinaire politics, to theories and
to sentiment instead of the practical
questions OF material nature that
baye confronted them. While we
have been discussing great questions
and theories the States of the North
have been deriving the benefits. We
hear a great deal about high ideals.
{ Laughter.) / am not criticising
ideals, 6ut there are high ideals in
business and In practical affairs as
we'll as in poetry and sentiment.
commend high ideals to the youth of
the land, but we must have some
utilitarian ideals and not merely SEN
timental ones in this practical day.
Taxing mp the claim of the State
against the United States Govern
ment for money advanced TO it, the
speaker went into some detail, show
ing how the claim arose, which his
distinguished competitor sought to,
minimize, " respectfully submit"
said the spesEes. "thst this legisla-
ton was the most important ia prsc-
tical results TO this State Of any
achieved in forty years" He stated !
that a settlement had been made |
with the government in 1925, but
for wears since that time Senator'S