The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-08-10
LETTER FROM Mr.. BEVERLEY
lie Criticises Mr.. Fitzhugh's Defense
Of Senator Martin.
The Plains. Va. Aug. I

Nt lldllhi ' a. nus .
To The free Lance:
| have read with much interest In
your issue Of 5th instant Mr.. FitZ-
hugh's long and learned defense OF
Senator Martin and censure OF MT.
Jones Surely the friends of Sem
atOr Martin must be alarmed TO nave
prevailed upon Mr. St. Geo. X. Fitz-
hugh 10 come to the rescue with
such political TRADE.
When boiled down and shorn OF
its eXuberanccs what We do . findE
Mostly much magnified importance
OF the position OF minority leader
i'm the T.. :. Senate and an exag-
gerated estimate OF the honor TO
Virginia from her Senator having
been chosen for this place. II press
dispatches from Washington can be
relied upon this position was OFFER
ed TO Senators Culberson. of Texas,
and Stone. OF Missouri; went beg
ging for some time and finally Sen
ator Martin was induced to stand
for IL. / venture to say there Is
not | In 100 OF the readers or the
Free Lance who can give the name
OF the Democrat who held this posi-
ton prior to Senator Martins get
ting il. and II Mr.. Martin were not
engaged in a hot fight for his togo
very little Importance would be at
tachod to his having been chosen
minority leader
Referring to the Thompson letters
Mr.. Fitzhugh severely arraigns MIR.
Jones for using them. He claims
the railroads put up their money 10
be used in buying negro votes 10
save American civilization. As a
matter OF fact the negro vote was
not an issue In the 1891 campaign.
The Democrats we're opposed In mat
campaign by the Peoples Party.
whose state ticket was headed by
Capt. Edmond r. Cooke, OF Cum
berland. a Virginia gentleman or
the old school, the peer Of any man
I'm the state. All OF their candi-
dates were white men OF high stand
ing. most OF whom had been life
long Democrats. Whether their po-
litical principles menaced American
civilization" or not they are almost
verbatim the principles espoused to
day By VIM. Jennings Bryan, Wood
row Wilson. Champ Clark and by
Mr. St George Fitzhugh. II he Is a
Democrat
The fact Is that in 1891 the rail-
roads had Just lost out in North
Carolina in a fight in which the is
sue was control OF corporations. They
feared the same result in virginia
and put up their money to secure
legislature friendly TO their inter
ests. II is probably natural that a
corporation lawyer should construe
this issue as a menace 10 American
civilization. but that Is no reason
for 80 representing 1t to the voters
of Virginia. MIR. Fitzhugh quotes
with much relish SenatorMartin' > re
ply to Senator Penrose that ninety
MILLION people who wear woolens
should be considered rather than .
few sheep-raisers. Senator Danie
used this language thirty years ago
Truly when man is dead his unse'
cured assets are much appropriated
Senator Martin Is unquestionably
an able and astute political leader
His political power and influence In
Virginia today is recognized by his
friends and opponents alike as domi
nant. SO was that OF quay In Penn
sylyania and Platt In New fork,bu'
I they we're not close 10 the people.
If instead OF placing Bancroft
/ Madame De Stael and unidentified
Englishmen on the witness stand
Mr.. Fitzhugh would have been bettel
understood by people OF virginia
had he told them why Senator Mar
tin had not used his great ability
and all-powerful influence in secur
ing a legaized primary election
law. in having the fee system aDol
ished. In securing uniform tax leg
islation and other reforms desired
by the people OF Virginia. No one
well informed on recent political coz
dltlons in Virginia can doubt thai
Senator Martins election to the L
s Senate and continuance In powe
means a further six years walt fol
these things. Our people are more
interested in these home matters
than they are In a sham battle II
the L. S. Senate over the tariff.
J. II. c. Beverley.