The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-01
IMARTIN-SWANSON
DAY In LEGISLATURE
General Assembly Takes tho First
Step Towards Carrying Out the
Will OF the People as Ex-
pressed In Last Sum-
mer's Primary.
RI CHINO IND, va Special

II
time the honor has gone to him.
Senator Claude A. Swanson was
, nominated to succeed himself for the
short term, having been named by
Governor Mann during the vacation
of the General Assembly to succeed the
late Senator Daniel.
Senator ~. Il. Early, Jr., of Green,
presented the name of Senator Mar
tin, making n speech of some ten min
utes, in which he referred to the ser
vices of the distinguished statesman
from his district (Which includes Al
bemarle) and to his record for close
attention to duty, his readiness to rep
resent his people at any and all times.
| lie pointed out that the voters of the
State had twice in their sovereign ca
pacity directed the dominant Legisla-
ture to retain him in the Senate.
Senator Edmonson, of Halifax. one
of the two Confederate Senators in the
Senate, made a brief speech seconding
the nomination of Senator Martin.
Senator Rinehart, of Allegheny,
spoke for a moment in seconding the
nomination of Senator Martin.
Senator John M. Hart, of Roanoke,
made a pointed and brief scconding
speech, in which he paid a tribute to
the senior Senator.
Seconding speeches were also made
| by Senators EchOis. MoucTre Cum
IN ms, Wendenburg am Gayle.
MIR. President. senator Martin
mary" said senator c. Harding
Walker, 'but he was the choice
of the people of Virginia. and,
Obeying the will of the people,
checrfully second his nominal
ton" (Applause.)
The roll was called and every Scna-
tor voted for the senior Senator. "a
Democrats Call in the Iity) voted for
him. The Republicans contented
themselves with negative silence.
Swanson l. Laudcd.
Senator George T. Rison, OF Pitt
sylvania. placed the name of Senator
| Claude a. Swanson before the Senate.
| In performing this duty Senator Rison
declared that il was not only in ac-
cord with his own sentiments but
that ii was in obedience TO the will
of the people of the State as express
ed at the polls. Senator Swanson.
said the speaker, is a type of the best
that there is in Virginia. AS the son
of a farmer, he had titled the soil and
had later engaged in pursuits which
allowed him to educate himself Such
was the affection of his people that
they had repeatedly-as often as he
aspired-sent him to the lower branch
of Congress. Then the people had
called him to the position of chief
magistrate of the old Dominion. and
now they had said to him TO repre-
sent her in the greatest forum in the
world.
Senator Fletcher, of Fauquier. sec
onded the nomination Of Senator
Swanson in a graceful and eloquent
speech of ten minutes, and congratu-
lated the people that Virginia had
two Senators who had proved worthy
of every confidence i'm them reposed.
Senator Drewry. of Petersburg.
made his maiden speech in SeCOnding
the nomination Of the junior Senator.
saying that he had always followed
the plume OF the idol of the Demo-
Gratis of his native county Of Pittsyl-
vania, and he desired TO voice the
sentiments Of his constituents in the
city Of Petersburg.
Senator Folkes seconded the nom
ination. as did also Senator Feather
ston, Senator West, Senator Mapp
and Senator Garrett.
Senator Swanson received every
vote cast. the Republicans pursuing
their usual negative policy of silence.
VIII Elect Senator's.
No vote was taken in either branch
today. the speech making being the
only feature. Tomorrow the two
houses will hold joint session in the
hall of the House. when the roll will
be called and the record completed
and sent to Washington in triplicate.
The Senate and House today eX-
changed the usual messages, saying
that the only names before their re-
spective bodies were those OF Thomas
Staples Martin. OF Albemarle. for the
term beginning March I. 1918. and
Claude a. Swanson, of Pittsylvania,
for the term beginning March 4, 1912
the short term due to the death Of
Senator Daniel.
Speaker Byrd's Spec, n.
The nominating proceedings were
similar in the House except, as there
are over twice as many members in
the lower body, there were many
more who rose with pleasure" to
second the nomination.
Speaker Byrd placed the name Of
Senator Martin before the House.
Judge Martin Williams. of Giles
county. nominated Senator Swanson.
Mr.. Byrd's speech was as follows:
ION a similar occasion six years
nation the name of the distinguished
gentleman who is now the Senator
from Virginia.
I'm speaking of the qualities of
Senator Martin, I then said
There is a form of intellect which
consists of a clearness Of mental
vision, a just sense Of perspective and
an accurate perception of the rela-
tive Importance and the true rela-
tion Of facts. These qualities we
summarize in the word judgment.
This high mental attribute Senator
Martin possesses in a greater degree
than any man I k2Ow.'
The six years of service, which
Senator Martin has given his State
and his country since those words
were spoken, demonstrates the cor
rectness of that estimate.
''He has slowly climbed, basing
each step upon accomplished results
into one of the highest seats of power
and responsibility. In the fulness of
his faculties, with an achieved repu-
tation. with the great authority given
him by his fellow Democrats, he
stands one of the foremost figures in
the nation.
| HE stands today the reincarnation
| Of the type of Southern statesman
who tuled the conscience and intelli-
gence Of this nation when political
thought was in its formative stage.
| HE comes at the call of the nation
! to serve upon a great stage. at a
time most eager and eXpectant, at an
| epochal and what may prove a tran
sitional period of national life. There
was never more needed than at this
time the study, courageous, common
| sense of the senior Senator from Vir-
| GINA.
Into the melting pot of this nation
| has been cast all creeds. all races, all
| political formulas.
| Out Of this melting pot comes po-
litical heresies. insistent demands for
fundamental changes in the fabric OF
| esoyarpuopnt