Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-07-07
MONTAGUE AND MARTIN.

S"""N"eeo iOi tue " =. CeDdle, met al
King George Courthouse for the first
time in this campaign yesterday.
The great interest in the meeting at
tracted large crowd, not only from
King George, but from the adjoining
counties.
AS soon as Governor Montague arrived
on the grounds he issued challenge
to Senator Martin for a joint debate.
His proposition was Montague t. open
in one hour, Martin to follow in one
hour and half, Montague To close in
one half hour. This was rejected by
Senator Martin. Governor Montague
then reversed the Martin
to open in one hour, Montague to fol-
low in one hour and half and Martin
to close in one-half hour This the SeDa-
tor also refused Senator Martin pro-
posed the following: Montague to open
in one hour, Martin to follow in one
hour, Montague to have one-haIt hour
for rejOinder, Martin one-half hour to
close. Notes were exchanged between
the two candidates, but Senator Martin
held to his proposition, which was finally
accepted by Governor Montague under
protest.
The courthouse was crowded. Judge
Charles H. Ashton, county democratic
chairman, introduced Gov. Montague,
who was greeted with applause. He
stated that he accepted the terms of the
debate under protest, claiming that they
were unfair to him and gave his OPP
ponent an advantage. He discussed
Senator Martins official record and
charged the Senator with opposing the
primary which the people had adopted.
The Governor discussed good roads, edu-
cation and other questions of the day
and spoke OF his own record as Governor
and in other positions he has filled.
When Senator Martin arose to speak
he was given an ovation. He defended
his own official record, and in discussing
the record of the Governor referred to
irregularities in connection with the
school register matter in the Department
of Public instruction in Richmond
"within stones throw ofihe Governors
Office" in the matter of the school register
and McGilvray's connection with it. The
Senator made fine impression, and sur
prised those who had never heard him,
as it has been charged that he was not
a speaker. He demonstrated his ability
to hold his own in any company. Sena-
tor Martin made fne impression and
added to his strength.
Each speaker was deeply stirred and
was in deadly earnest, but neither lost
his temper, and there was nothing APP
parent which savOred of discourtesy
There was bu. little of the strictly per
sonal in the nature ofattack and counter
thrnsls. The discussion, the most strik
in portions, was devoted to attacks
upon the record each has made in public
life. Decidedly the feature OF the day
was the reference made by Senator Mar
tin to the recent trouble in which Judge
Crump, president of the Corporation
Commission, became involved, and the
school register scandal, in which Assist
ant Secretary Mcthlvray, Of the State
Board of Education, was involved. II
was not known that Senator Martin
would allude to these matters, and when
he did SO, he was listened to with closest
attention.
Senator Martin created applause by
asking why, if the primary was to be an
issue in the campaign, William A.
Jones, who had begun the fight for it,
was not now in the saddle for candidate
for the Senate, instead of Governor
Montague.
Incidentally, he mentioned that a
large majority of the delegates to the
Roanoke convention from the Governors
county of Pittsylvania were opposed to
the primary plan. He concluded by
saying he had done his best to serve the
people of King George and hoped he
would receive their support.
The sentiment in King George is
largely in favor of Senator Martin.
Lieut.. Gov. Joseph f. Willard, candi-
date for the democratic nomination for
governor, was introduced after the de-
bate closed. He was warmly received
and his strong, practical speech was lis
tened to with close attention.
Hon. J. Taylor EllysOn, Of Richmond,
the State democratic chairman and can
didate for lieutenant governor, made a
brief address.