Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-09-16
tom MARTIN In NORFOLK.
Senior Senator Faces MaSs-Meet.
Ing and Brings down an Ap.
plauding House.

exploit "a Kissing episode at Norfolk,
when the body of the dispatches prove
that Senator Martin captured the mass
meeting that was assembled to pro-
test against action of the Democratic
primaries. Here are extracts from the
bodies of these articles. which tell the
whole story:
Norfolk, Va, September 12.-Calling
on the State Central Committee to or
der "A full, fair and thorough investiga-
tion OF the congressional primary. and
upon the Corporation Court to present
to the grand jury the allegations of
fraudulent practices in Norfolk voting
precincts, the greatest political mass
meeting ever held in Norfolk stamped
with emphatic disapproval, tonight,
in the Academy of Music. the action of
the Second District Committee in re-
fusing to go into the Maynard charges.
Senator Martin has long been re-
garied as the big Boss" in Virginia
Democracy the man higher up'-the
final arbiter of the political fate OF all
candidates and the directing power in
party policies and preferment. He
stood on the stage before the 1000 peo-
pie tonight and heard himself laughed
at, jeered and Missed, and he heard
himself cheered enthusiastically. too, by
the very men who hooted him.
When he said that he never inter
fered with Second District politics. he
was laughed at. When he said he did
not know there was going to be such a
meeting as to-night's until he arrived
in Norfolk, he was jeered. When he
disclaimed any part whatever in the
local affairs of this section he was
booted. And when he told that crowd
that the State Central Committee is a
body of patriotic, high-minded men who
would do what they thought was right
no matter what he might say, thou
sand men rose up in their seats and
Kissed him.
The white-faced. white haired. eagle
eyed man who had drawn the piercing
cutlery upon himself by the defense of
his friends, never flinched. He looked
the crowd over from pit to dome. He
was apparently the coolest man in the
crowded theatre. and when the storm
had passed he brought the men who
had decried him to their feet cheering
by declaring that he stood not only for
full investigation of tie primary by
the State committee, but that he
thought the charges of fraud that had
been made were of sufficient gravity TO
warrant the attention of the grand jury.
Senator Martins presence at the
Academy tonight was not feature of
the set program mapped out by the men
who engineered the gathering by any
means. In fact, before the Sage of
Scottsville was allowed TO come upon the
stage there was drama enacted behind
the scenes that came very near ending
in big splitup among the leading
spirits among the professionals.
Senator Martin came to Norfolk to-
day on matter concerning the recent
mass-meeting in Portsmouth, and was
at the Monticello Hotel when the meet
ing began at the Academy. o. l..
Shackleford. who made the opening ad-
dress, following Mayor Riddick. who
presided, brought the Senator's name
into his talk by quoting the speech made
by MIR. Martin at the Ocean View con-
vention of Virginia court clerks, in
which Senator Martin expressed graft
fication at being allied with the BOSS, A"
of Norfolk, and the Norfolk "ring."
Then Mr.. Shackleford said he wished
Mr.. Martin were in the house to speak
for himself.
Senator Martin was not there, but
Captain James w. McCarrick, his close
friend, was, and the captain lost no
time in getting to the Monticello. He
acquainted Senator Martin with the
situation, and the two came to the
Academy, entering by the stage door.
Things became squaly, and hot
language was used. Senator Martin
remained clam, and said he had no idea
of intruding, but. that his name had
been brought into the affair, and he
wanted to have an opportunity to set
himself right. Mayor Riddick vacated
the chair. came back of the scenes and
was introduced to the Senator. He
agreed to present him to the audience.
AS Mr.. Martin made his way to the
footlights a roar of applause swept
over the entire house. 1t was a spon-
taneOuS and cordial ualcona