The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-29
ATTACKS LOYALTY
OF EX-GOVERNOR
Speaker Byrd 1ntinates Mon
tague Was Almost an
Apostate.
NO JOINT DEBATE is HELD
Conditions Binding Candidates
to Meet Not Accepted by
Speaker
NO JOINT DEBATE is HELD
Especial to The TImes-Dlspatch.J

Especial to The Times lspatch.J
orange. Va. August 2S.-ln speech
here this afternoon. following failure
to agree upon terms for u joint debate
between former Governor A. j. Mon
tague and Speaker r. l.. Byrd, the lat
ter asshiled the party loyalty Of MIR.
Montague. He referred to the occur
rences OF the last presidential cam
paign. when rumors were rife that
the former Governor was on the point
OF going over to the Republicans.
Il challenge MIR. Montague" said
the Speaker. Ito deny that he was
present at luncheon on the invita-
ton of President Roosevelt. at which
the lime. the method and the price of
his apostasy were discussed.
Mr. Montague says that he has held
his nose at times when voting the
Democratic ticket. 1 wonder IL at
times his nose-hold has not been on
the point of loosening."
Debate Not Agreed On.
There was much disappointment over
the failure to secure a debate here.
Governor Montague and Speaker Byrd
arrived on the same train this morn
ing. and the latter at once challenged
the former to discussion OF the is
suas involved in the present contests
ter the United States Senate. Mr.. Mon
Senator Martin would meet Mr.. Jones
and Senator swanson would meet Mr..
Glass. Mr.. Byrd replied that he had
no power 10 bind the two Senators
MIR. Montagu spoke from the hotel
porch. MIR. Byrd went to this meet
Ing. and Mr.. Montague made some
reference to the fact that the Speaker
would perhaps follow him. MIR. Byrd
said that he wished a joint discussion
n he IgSi1 ~
would not accord him save on terms that
the proposer knew he (Mr Byrd could
not accept. There were cries OF Throw
him OUT but the Speaker retired
within a short time.
The former Governor made his ad
dress along the same lines with his
recent speeches, attacking the ma
chine" and advocating the nomination
OF Mr.. Jones and Mr.. Glass. When he
had concluded, a portion of his crowd
went to the courthouse, where Mr.
Byrd spoke for about an hour. Mr..
Montague not being present. The lat
ter had much the larger audience. as
1t was his meeting. and ne had been
advertised for the occasion, the Jones
and Glass supporters coming 10 town
to hear him.
Mr. Byrd defended Senator Martin
from the attacks made upon him. and
to Mr. Montague's record.
Discussion over Terms.
The propositions for a Joint debate
were handled between II. .. Lyme.
representing Mr. Montague, and George
| l. Browning for Mr.. Byrd. Mr.. Brown
| ing proposed for his principal that ne
should open in one hour and Mr.. Mon
tague reply in one hour and half
Mr.. Byrd closing in a half hour, or
rf - O.
versed. Mr.. Montague made the fol-
| lowing reply:
Mr. Byrd TO open in one hour; MI
Montague to reply in one hour; MIR.
Byrd to reply in twenty minutes. and
Mr. Montague to close III twent! MN
utes But the above Is subject % the
| following conditions: That senator
Martin will meet Mr.. Jones and Sena-
| tor swanson will meet Mr.. Glass In
! Joint debate
This Mr. Byrd answered in writing
| as follows:
orange. August IS. 1911.
Governor a. J. Montague. Orange
Va:
My Dear sir.-My proposition TO
you was perfectly fair that you should
open in an hour. l follow in one hour
and a half. and you close in q hall
hour, or vice versa, You reply with
proposition which depends upon
conditions which I have no power
whatever to fulfill. l must conclude
that you are unwilling to divide time
with me or you would not have at
tached an impossible condition. l
cannot guarantee a joint discussion
between Senator Martin and Mr.
Jones, or Senator Swanson and Mr..
Glass
II have no possible power over the
agreements or schedules of any AZ
these four gentlemen and no authority
to speak for any of them. obviously.
1t is physically impossible for me to
communicate with them. Therefore.
unless you are willing to accept de-
bate without my guarantee OF further
joint debate by the senatorial candi-
dates, shall begin to speak in the
courthouse at 1880. This is written
at 1915; you will see the necessity Tor
prompt response.
II have every purpose to be court
eous and considerate and no thought
of interrupting your meeting; but You
have taken occasion to assail me. and
merely ask the right of Virginia
citizen to reply. ] am willing to leave
the decision between us to the good
people of Orange county.
sincerely,
'R. L. BYRD"