Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-04-22
GOV. MoNTAGUE's SPEECH.

UON Montague mdue u speccn ~
Danville last night. This being the
governors home city, a large number
of the citizens, regardless Of their per
sonal choice for United States Senator,
availed themselves of the opportunity to
hear his FIRST address during the cam
paign in Danville. The keynote of the
address Of the governor was his criticisms
aud comments upon the record Of Senator
Martin.
Gov. Montague opened his speech by
saving that this WAS the first time the
people of Danville ever had a man to
appeal to them for their votes for the
United States Senate. He strongly
urged the necessity of electing Senators
by the people, and dwelti at some length
O n the commercial sentiment and the
grating process in that body of legis-
lators. Producing d copy Of a Richmond
newspaper of 1899, he quoted Senator
Martin as being opposed to the election
of Senators by the people, and further
stated that the junior Senator's motion
for a PRIMARY election 10 the Richmond
convention had been carried before 1t was
ever presented.
The governor urged the regulation OF
railroads by the government, and charg-
ed that when a motion was made in the
United States Senate TO investigate the
alleged efforts Of corporations to iniu-
ence legisl ltion, Mr.. Martin was one OF
those voting against it. "The rail-
roads" said the governor, care public
servants, aud should obey the wishes of
the people, and we want them to keep
their hands out of politics. The records
of the Senate do not show that he has
ever been in favor of the regulation OF
the railroads by the government
Gov. Montague spoke at length of
Mr.. Martins inexperience in public life
prior to his election TO the United States
Senate, and said he had never held an
office, never made a public address, or
written a public article when he de-
feated a man who was great and had
wide experience as a statesman and a
soldier, referring to Gen. Eppa Hutton.
The governor spoke in the highest terms
of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, and TO the disap-
pointment of the people when he was
defeated by AIR. Martin.
In his address Coy. Montague stated
that if Mr. Martin had got every appro-
prialion he said he had, there was no use
for any more Senators and Congressman.
He said that out of 81, zoe, 900 that he
claimed to have secured for Virginia the
State was in fact paid only the sum OF
So so, while Senator Tillman, of South
Carolina, secured for his State about
$50, 900. Senator Tillman, he added,
was not regarded asa business Senator,
either.
Mr.. Montague replied to the attack OF
Congressman Flood as to being absent
from the capitol so many days out of the
year, and intimated that Mr.. Flood had
better clear his own skirts before making
any criticism of his neglect.
He charged Mr.. Flood with being a
member of Congress aud the constitu-
tiOnal convention at the same time, and
with leaving his congressional duties in
Washington to attend to some private
law business. The Governor was very
severe in his criticism of Col. Joseph
Button, and objected, he said, to Mr..
Button being the secretary of the State
democratic committee and a clerk in the
employ of a candidate before the demo-
cratic primary. The governor was fire
q%uently interrupted during his address
by applause from the audience.