Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-06-05
Gov. MOntague's Speech,

Governor Montague spoke at the Opera
House Saturday night. The house was
by no means packed, as had been antici-
pated, although representative audience
was present, among which was a number
of ladies. A band of music discoursed
from the orchestra.
A number of Aexandrians, as well as
residents OF Alexandria and Fairfax
counties, had taken seats on the stage
previous to the entry of the governor,
and at about $40 o. clock the curtain rose,
which act was followed by applause and
music.
Subsequently Councilman Albert
Bryan walked to the footlights, and in a
few appropriate remarks announced the
governor, who advanced amid applause.
The speaker, after some Introductory
remarks, discanted upon the rights of
the people to elect representatives, al
leging that the present method of select
ing United States Senators was uusatis-
factory, and that this was the first time
in Virginia when the people were given
an opportunity to say who should repre-
sent them in the highest legislative body
in the land. The speaker said Pennsyl-
vania, New York and other States were
under boss rule, and he arraigned the
Senators from several States 10 which
his language exceeded the critical. The
governor said there were too many of
certain class in the Senate, and init
mated that if the junior Senator from
Virginia had any influence it was neces-
sarily with the class of men the speaker
excoriated. Should the speaker be chosen
Senator his influence should not be
with such men. This last observation
was intended as a rejoiner 10 Senator
Martins alleged assertion to the effect
that were the governor elected he would
have no influence in the Senate. The
governor dwelt long and earnestly over
what no one was disposed to contradict
that the people were equally as cOmpe-
tent to select Senators as they are to
chose members of the lower house of
Congress, and was equally as positive in
asserting that there were general as we'll
as special interests that demanded atten
ton. The American Senate, he said,
should be responsible to the people,
and he claimed that the latter were
better qualified for their selection
than legislatures. He charged Senator
Martin with opposing the election OF
Senators by the people, and said while
he did not intend to attack the junior
Senator be purposed to criticise him and
hi' first shalt was the charge that he
had dominated conventions. Further
on he said Senator Martin by his course
implied that the people were not qualifi-
ed to select Senators, and made thrusts
at the present financial interests of the
country represented by stocks, bonds
and the corporations of the monetary
world. The speaker referred to Senator
Martins labors in connection with the
appropriation for Norfolk harbor, his
departmental work, &C., but with the
purpose of minimizing it, although he
at other times acknowledged the junior
Senator had been diligent and said ne
had no disposition to disparage his
labOrs. The Governor, however, said it
was here that he parted company with
Senator Martin, charging that in the
la;ter's exertions for his own Stale he
had performed but part of his duty and
had not gone far enough. He said the
Senator had never originated anything
affecting the great interests of the
American people, and that the country
would soon be face TO face with momen-
tous issues, the speaker intimating that
the time was drawing near when the
junior Senator's position should be filled
with a man Of more gigantic powers.
The Governor switched off on labor and
capital, carefully threading his way in
the labyrinth of issues which the two
have brought to the birth, and emerged
nOn-committal by asserting that what
soever is just will take care of ITSELF
Further on ne talked of industrial COM
binations and compared them to political
combinations, denied that he had said
Mr.. Martin was supported by railroads,
but said that all such companies were
fighting him Governor Montague). The
speaker did not want any vote not hon
estly cast and counted. His next rally
was aimed at lobbyists and another at
the tariff and reference made to the pro-
posed purchases for the Panama canal,
during which he said Senator Martin
wanted supplies for the canal purchased
in the United States. He then went in
to history of Virginia's claim against
the government for money loaned the
United States during the war of 1912,
its payment, the part he took in the set
Element as well as that played by Sena-
tor Martin, at first minimizing the lat
ter's services in the matter and later ac-
kn1wleding them, and attempted to |
make capital by charging the Senator
with voting for duty OF 50 per
thousand upon white pine lumber and |
to the poor whose habita-
tons are mostly made of wood; expatiat-
ed on the ship subsidy, criticized Sena-
tor Martin for being one of junket-
ing party and for not committing him
self on certain measures. Further on he
struggled earnestly to despoil the junior
Senator of any credit in obtaining fifteen
days vacation for navy yard employees,
and charged the Senator with obstructing
he measure. The speaker reiterated a
claim he had made when ne began his
'peech-that he had right to run for