Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-07-12
Martin. Montague Joint Debate
in King George


The first joint discussion be-
tween Senator Thomas S. Martin
and Governor A. j. Montague
took place last Thursday at King
George Courthouse. The people
of Virginia had been hoping for a
Joint meeting between these dis
tinguiahed candidates for Sena-
torial hOnors.
In every respect it was most
unusual meeting. That place is
TWENTY-FIVE miles from the nearest
railroad, at fredericksburg. The
country roads between the two
points were long stretches of mud
that morning, and the drive each
way consumed fully four hours.
Most of the time there was a
steady downpour of rain, which
added to the discomforts of the
travel. Probably nowhere in the
State are the roads in worse re-
pair 1t was little short of re-
markable that no one was injured.
Governor Montague's carriage did
come near capsizing once in a bad
gully. Senator Martins vehicle
was nearly overturned in swift
ford.
The courthouse sits in the midst
of a cluster of trees that seem as
rickety from age as the green
shutters on the OLD brick court
house. There were scores of horses
hitched about when the candidates
arrived at noon. There was the
usual shaking of hands and all
gravitated toward the little brick
building, which is the clerks
office.
The great interest In the meet
ing attracted a 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
Joint debate. His proposition
was: Montague to open in one
hour, Martin to follow in one hour
and a half, Montague to close IN
one.half hour. This was rejected
by Senator Martin. Governor
Montague then reversed the pro-
position-Martin to open Iii one
hour, Montague to follow in one
hour and a half and Martin to
close il. one-half hour. This the
Senator also refused. Senator
Martin proposed the following
Montague to open in enc hour,
Martin to follow in one hour, Mon
tague to have one-half hour for re-
joinder, Martin One-half hour tc
close. Notes were exchanged be-
tween the two candidates, but
Senator Martin held to his pro-
position, which was finally accept
ed 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 they were
unfair to him and gave his oppo.
nent an advantage. He discussed
Senator Martins official record
and charged the Senator, with OPP
| posing the primary which the peo
pie had adopted. The Governor
discussed good roads, education
and other questions of the day anc
spoke of his own record as Cover
nor and in other positions he has
filed.
When Senator Martin arose tt
speak he was given an ovation
He defended his own official recorc
and in discussing the record OF
the Governor referred to Irregular
| tiles in connection with the schoo
register matter in the Department
of Public Instruction in Richmond
"within a stones throw of thu
Governors Office in the mattel
of the school register and Nc
| GilyraY's connection with it, Th'
Senator made a fine impression
and surprised those who had neye
heard him, as lie had been charged
that he was not a speaker. IL
demonstrated his ability to hol'
his own in any company.
Each speaker was deeply stirre'
and was in deadly earnest, bu
neither lost his temper, and ther
YVES nothing apparent whlcI
savored of discourtesy. Their
wes but little of the strictly per
lsonal in the nature of attack AM
counter thrust. The discussion
the most striking portions, wa
devoted to attacks upon the recor'
each has made in public life, De
cidedly the features OF the da
was the reference made by Sens
tor Martin to the recent tro9bl
In which Judge Crump, presiden
of the Corporation Commission, bt
came involved, and the sehot
register scandal, in which Ass's'
ant Secretary McGilvray, OF tn
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