The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-08-24


II they want reprcs nta.iyo govern
ment by the people re-establshed
they should vote for Mr.. Jones a,
the first step thereto and Ions
step.
Should Mr.. Jones. II nominated
attempt to continue Ring Rule
which he now denounccs. he should
be hurled from power. and repre-
sentative government administered
by able and patriotic men secured Ia
to the people.
Mr.. Jones has given the people
his word that he will attempt the
restoration OF representative govern
ment and in his life Of twenty
years as Congressman and public
man | have never heard one sus-
tanned charge against his private
or political integrity.
During the progress Of this Sena-
torial campaign certain letters have
been read by Mr.. Jones and other
speakers. advocating political re-
generation and reform. connecting,
or which are claimed to connect
Senator Martin with the charge Of
representing railroad interests be-
fore the Legislature at the session
just prior to his first election as
Senator over Gen. Fitzhugh Lee
Gen lIunton and other prominen
men. when Senator Martin was not
widely known TO the people OF Vir-
ginia
Senator Martin in replying did not
claim that he had the right as a
citizen so to do and that he believ-
ed his action was for the interest Of
the State; but he emphatically de-
MED that he had ever for or without
out pay attempted to influence leg
islation in favor OF railroads.
SO important seemed conditions
resulting from the impressions made
on comon sense people and laymen
not learned in the nice distinctions
OF the law, a profession which many
OF these unskilled laymen have the
temerity sometimes profanely to
imagine has tendency to narrow
the scope OF rather than enlarge
mental conception; 50 important. /
repeat, were the conditions brought
about by the reading Of these let
ters that two able lawyers. gentle
men Of character. and one a fellow
tOwnsman. and leading members of
the bar In the state either have been
brought in or thought it necessary
to come 10 the rescue Of Senator
Martin. and If they have not
been able to make out defense for
him, then q defense fer him Is hope
less, for no ADLER lawyers could
have undertaken his case. or
course they acted as citizens and
not professionally. but may not
their long association and admira-
ton for Senator Martin have some
what blinded their vision as to his
political methods, and may not mu-
tual regard unconsciously and gen.
erously magnified political manage
ment into constructive statesman
sihp?"
One of these gentlemen has taken
up a whole column of The Free
Lance OF August 9Th with very
retrospection of the great
men by whom Virginia has been rep
resented in the olden days Wash !
ington, Madison, Jefferson and
by an inferential re-
Election a comparison Is made Of Sen
ator Thomas S. Martin with
these great men. God, save
the mark. How are the mighty
fallen! Tell It not in CATH
This comparison seems to be cpl
tomized in these words: LAS a
party leader it is quite probable he
has never been eXcelled in history
Of this State but the only incident
Of party, not factional leadership prs
sentod by his advocate is his cleo
ton as minority leader of the DEM
ocratic party I'm Senate. and with
out doubt Mr.. Martin Is a mounmen-l
tai manipulation of men.
But where are the instances, / pray
TO know, of any OF the great men
having ever been elected
as political managers in the Sen
ate OF the United States by either
party? The arts Of political manage
ment are inconsistent with greatness
Quay. Penrose and that class OF
men in the Republican party, and
German, Martin and the like in the
Democratic party, these are now the
kind OF men according 10 the gentle
man. who wear and have worn with
luster the mantle of Washington.
Marshall and Madison.
Shrine Of the mighty can it be
that this is all remains Of thee"
Mr.. Taft and his Attorney General
as the gentleman quotes in his inter-
view which | copy from, uttered al
genuine lament that the old time
leadership OF Virginia was no longer
felt in the counsels OF the nation /
where it was so much needed" This
vas a singularly infelicitous refer
ence by the advocate az Senator Mar
lin represented the nominal leader
ship TO which Mr. Taft and his At
-orney General must have referred,
he being our senior Senator at the
lime.
But the letters referred to would
not have been admissible in court
Of law, says the advocate, as Mr..
tones claims. The gentleman for
gets that Mr.. Martin is being tried
N the court of the People which
IS not tied down by the technical
rules of evidence in a court of law.
The people are entitled to have
all the light possible from which
% form their opinion of what Is best
Tor their government.
II Senator Martins denial is all /
right, why exclude anything? An
innocent man need not except to evil
ience. He demands thorough inves-
legation, not an acquital on a Scotch |
verdict OF Not proved" in court
Of Law, but vindication of his char
lcter in the eyes of his fell
bowman.
This, with the discussion of the
letters of which the public are now
'ully informed, is the substance OF
he defense OF Senator Martin by
he distinguished advocate togeth
sr with some personal and invidious
on Mr.. Jones not calcula-
ed to ripen lifelong friendship in
10 affection between these two mid
lie aged gentlemen, but with
which, as seriously discussing only