The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-08

Popular love OF combat between strong
men, whether 1t be In tho prize ring or
OH tho hastings. is Just as strong to-.
dry rs 1t was when John Randolph rode
eighty miles to Charlotte Courthouse and
q his constituents cnme farther to hear
hin speak. The good old days nro not
dead yet If thetrivrtue5 Is to be measured
by tho capacity of the men to hazard
moving accidents by flood and field just
to hear a Joint debate between popular
lenders a number of visitors from n dis
lance set out from Fredericksb,lrg Thurs
day morning over rnin washed gullies that
had been roads and under lowering skies
to drive to unknown and hitherto: un-
visited King George Courthouse. Tho
livery stable mon gave fearful warning
against attempting to ford certain I'M
ostcntatious rivulet known as Mud Greek,
which the terrific storm Of tho night
before had swelled to tho proportion Of
a torrent. Indeed, this little stream was
so unruly that ,as lato as o'clock on
Thursday afternoon II washed away q
wagon loaded with meal ana nearly
drowned tho men who were driving the
vehicle. So the travellers. strung out like
long caravan, voyaged up and down
the rain washed side Of the innumcrable
ridges lying between the Rappahannock
River and King, George Courthouse. -Four
hours ind n half 1t took to cover this
distance. but the game was worth the
candle. said every one Of the tired, muddy
and hungry travellers when the shelter
of Fredericksburg was gained late Thurs
day night on returning from the joint
debate. y
The courthouse green was thronged with
visitors. many of whom had come from
a great distance. n notable instance being
that of an aged and distinguished divine,
who. Notwithstanding his more than four
score years, had driven eight miles to
hear the. senator and tho Governor fight
1t out. All along the road stood vehicles
of all sorts and descriptions. with the
horses tethered nearby, while the owners
stood in eager expectancy from II o'clock
until han past one, waiting for the speak
ing to begin. A casual observation was
enough to show that the sentiment was
largely in favor of Senator Martin. AS
to the gubernatoria candidates, 1t was
more divided, Willard and Swanson be-
ing the most prominently mentioned.
A number OF Swanson buttons were In
evidence. but It would be difficult to
imagine more Vigorous and spontaneous
dppltuSe- ltluI tIldI WHICH EiScleu tI/lCu-
tenant-Governor Willard wien, at tho
end of the debate Of the senatorial can
didates, he rose to make short address.
On all sides Hon. ]. Taylor, Ellyson was
shaking hands, and in great number
( of Instances greeting his old friend, by
names. Senator Martin and Governor
Montague also mixed freely with the
crowd. as did, Lleutenant-Gov VIII
lard Governor. Montague, however. who
yl,pS iph 20 fpno Iya n
shortly after. his arrival. and waited there
until just bafore coming to the court
house. Seemingly an unnecessary amount
of time was consumed In getting ready
for the debate, and a number OF sur
misses We're made as 20 the terms upon
which 1t would be held. 1t Is stated that
Governor Montague suggested that the
opening speech he one hour; that the
reply should ..last one hour and twenty
minutes. and that the speaker who OPEN
ed should then reply in thirty minutes
and Offered Senator Martin the privilege
OF taking either alternative. The ochalr.
man of thexcounty committee however,
in arrangingsthe details decided that. Gov
ernor {Montague; as challenger should
openi the speech to last one hour; that
the. senator should reply In one hour, the
Governor should rejoin in half San hour,
and the senator. should rejoin in half an
hour. These terms the Governor charac.
terized as manifestly unfair. but stated
that he took what he could get.
1t is said that these terms are the
same that Governor Montague made with
]. Hampton Hose, when the latter chal-
lenged the Governor to a joint debate,
and that Senator, Martin will be willing
to accept the same terms and open the
debate should he meet Governor Monta-
que again during this campaign. 1t is
not believed, however that such q meet
Ing Will take place, as Governor Mcnta-
que and Senator Martin are not under
stood to haves any further conflict Of
dates, and Senator Martin is known to
believe that joint debates are not for
the best interests Of the candidates or
the party. and do not serve to bring
out any important facts or elucdate any
fundamental principles. In commenting
on the great popularity Of Senator Mar
tin In King George, twas said by Com
monwealths Attorney Rose that. G overnor
Montague shouldsbe very popular in that
| county. because, his uncle had been a
leading and beloved Baptist preacher, and
the Baptist Church is exceedingly. strong
| IN King George. BE this Ras 1t may,
Senator Martin undoubtedly had the good
VIII OF the majority Of his audience even
before he spoke as was shown by the
uproarious applause that greeted his
name and when 1t was first mentioned
BY the chairman in his Introductory re-
| marks.
4 In his opening address. Governor Monta
que laid great. stress on the present
| method Of electIng Senators. and declared
that a s Senators wero elected by means
which were beyond control of tn PEG.
pic they felt themselves in no way be.
holden to the people and represented the
bosses the machine, the special inter
csts or the sordld aggrcgntions OF wealth
to whom they owed their elections The
Governor elaborated this theory at greal
length, citing the cases Of Burton, Of
Kansas; Deitrick. of Nebraska; Mitchell
Of Oregon; Smoot, of Utah; and espec
tally the past record OF Matthew s. Quay
OF PENNSYLVANIA, Tho obvious trend o.
Governor Montague s. argument was tina
the public had no safeguard unless tho.
could by popular vote elect or nominate
their Senators, ms the present method 0
election set such IA premium on the serrlc
~ n Z 10. q