Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-08-18
MONTAGUE
VIGOROUSLY FLAYS
virginia MACHINE
Large Crowd Hears Former
Chief Executive in Strong
Address in Auditorium
SAYS WOODROW WILSON
IS HOPE OF THE NATION

Analyses Machine" Methods
While Throwing Hot Shots at
Thompson and Senator Martin
One of the most vigorous attacks
on ring" politics ever heard in Vir-
ginia was madein the course of an ad-
dress delivered here last night by
Ex-Governor Andrew J. Montague be-
fore several hundred people as
sembled in the Bodley Auditorium.
This was the first speech heard in
Staunton incident to the present
Senatorial campaign.
The meeting was opened by Her.
bert j. Taylor. Judge, J. M. Quar-
les then introduced the speaker.
These two gentlemen remained on
the platform during the address.
Governor Montague's audience was
made up of the leading Democrats of
Staunton, and for night meeting
there was quite good number of
county men present. The audience
also included many women.
Without resorting to the spectac-
ular Mr.. Montague made a speech
that thoroughly aroused his hearers.
It was characteristic address, de-
livered clearly and in language that
was compelling. Touching first on
national conditions the speaker ex-
planned the evils of machine govern
ment, and then he proceeded to talk
of things here at home in Virginia,
His reference to Woodrow Wilson
brought forth bursts of applauses,
while his denunciation of Senator
Martin and Barbour Thompson was
followed with the keenest attention,
and evident approval.
Governor Montague opened by ex-
pressing his deep gratitude for the
appSoval and confidence shown him
in the past by the people of Staun-
ton and Augusta.
He next regretted that he had to
take public part in this inter-party
contest, involving personal and pro-
fessional sacrifices which he could
i'll afford, but that an impelling sense
OF duty left him no other course,
and for the performance of which he
possessed at least two qualifications,
personal disinterestedness and love
OF his State. He is lawyer and a
private citizen, with no such personal
relations with Mr.. Jones or Mr.. Glass
as to call for his appearance upon
the public platform, but with an in
terest in the welfare of his party
and his State that would not now
permit his silence.
National Conditions
He then adverted to national poll
tics. Not for years had this field
held such hope for Democracy. Many
causes were contributing to this con-
dition. Some old issues were dead,
and some were being made alive
again, the most notable of which are
the struggle for the recovery of ..ov-
ernment by the people, and the re-
form in our system of indirect or
customs taxation, the latter having
long been prolific source of special
privileges, thereby seducing men to
mlsconceive and misemploy the Of
hces and instrumentalities of govern
merit for private gain, thus y. .ldine
tile standards of political honesty
and Iubl:c economy.
Denounces Machine Methods
This is day of organization in
business and in politics. But organ
lzations must be fair and Just. The
monopoly in politics is more harmful
than the monopoly in business. The
contest in America is not against
party organization but against I'M
falr and corrupt organization, which
is known throughout the republic
as ring or machine. By nature
and necessity it is a trust or mono
poly in politics. 1t wants all; it de-
YOURS all; its appetite is Unsuitable
and morbid. 1t is consciously or un-
consciously, the inevitable foe cf the
people. 1t moves noiselessly, and it's
agents are mostly of the "gum shoe"
type. 1t lives upon and not for the
people. Its instruments are money
and the ballot box, and it's ends are
the Offices of the people. The agents
OF the machine are often unknown.
and oftener deny their tribal afilia-
tion. They are the might riders"
of modern politics; spotting their
victims, and then seeking their des-
truction or their ignoble surrender.
The Machine generates a fool MAS
ma, mill-dewing here and there the
white sheet of the press, and COR
roding and blighting democratic
faith. 1t tempts the creditor to in
timidate his debtor into the machine
foId. 1t seduces the friend to be-
tray his friend that additions may
be made to the tribe. 1t sets brother
against brother, and son against
father, while loudly proclaiming the
sh1bboleth of Standing by your
friends. This condition of Ameri-
can political life is openly confessed
IN most of the states of the Union.
Woodrow Wilson Our Hope
But the machine is not yet vic
torious; the people still aspire, and
leaders from time to time come forth
to lead. In this city was born a
man, row looming large, in whom