Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-01-27
SAM MONTGOMERY THE
ORIGINAL ROOSEVELT MAN
Allegiance of Long Ago-Goyernor Re
ceived Senator's Wire But
Said Nothing.

Washington, Jan. 25.-The original
Roosevelt man In connection with the
nomination for 1912 was not Governor
| Glasscock, whose announcement that
he would support Roosevelt and that
the sentiment of the state was back
OF him. startled republican politicians
n West Virginia few days ago, but
Sam b. Montgomery, of TunneltoJ,
Preston county, who is now spoken Of
as a candidate for the nomination on
, the republican ticket for Congressman
at Large. Back in the fall Of 1910,
Mr.. Montgomery gave the writer an
interview, in which he announced
/ himself for the nomination of Theo-
The interview was widely published
| IN West Virginia, and caused consid-
cradle comment at that time. Mr..
Montgomery has reminded Governor
Glarscock OF the fact that Montgom-
cry was the original Roosevelt booster
in the state, but 80 far as has been
seen here, the Governor has not made
public Mr.. Montgomery reminder.
On the day when Governor Glass
cocks statement in behalf of Mr..
Roosevelt was published, Mr. Mont
gomery sent to the Governor a tele-
gram, OF which the following is a
, copy:
Montgomery's Telegram.
"The morning press announces you
IS favoring the nomination of Col.
Roosevelt for President. | congratu-
late you upon this decision and as
sure you of my support toward elect
ing a progressive delegation from
West Virginia to the Chicago co1ven-
ton. Upon leaving the position in
the Department of Commerce and
Labor, to which had been appointed
by President Roosevelt, in September
1910, | gave out a Washington inter
view to Mr.. George w Summers ia
voring the nomination of Col. Roose-
| Welt in 1912"
| Not only is Mr.. Montgomery the or
iginal Roosevelt man in West Vir-
1
| life has stamped him the progressive
| he processes to be. His progressive
| ism is not the result of sudden con-
version, but it is part of him. deep
| ly imbedded in his character and pat
e1t in his every action. AS men,
Der of the state senate he voted for
n direct primary election law; he was
| the only one of 26 state senators who
voted for the resolution introduced
| by Senator Campbell providing for
the initiative, referendum and recall
years before that movement had any
great following anywhere in the Unit
ed States; he voted against the crea-
/ ton of large number of new offices
| for the purpose of rewarding bench
men of the state machine, although
the Offices and many republicans were
rewarded for their loyalty to the state
machine by salaries from the state;
lie supported the two cent rate bill
! and the eight hour law in regard to
photographers; he supported legisla-
| ton looking to the improvement OF
conditions for coal miners and rail
read men: he was the author of the
corrupt practices act and is said to
,e cordially hated by those whom this
act has curhed, and 1t is said Of him
by his friends that he is the only real
/ progressive who has ever been men
toned for office in West Virginia,
Terer No Progressive.
It is pointed out by friends of Mont
| gomery that his opponent for the
domination for Congressman at Large
Charles f. Teter never pretended to
he a progressive. but is a stand-patter
If the old school He was at war with
the state machine and for years de
fed it, but he has ceased to "insurge'
and is considered the candidate of the
machine for Congressman at Large
| Montgomery is opposed by the ma
chine, because the machine is not in
sympathy with his ideas of progress
siveism and his record in the state
| enate.
The original booster of the nomi'
ration of Col Roosevelt and practi
cally the original progressive republi
an in West Virginia, Mr.. Montgomery
can not count upon the support OF
the state machine in his candidacy
but it would be expected that Gov
eInor Glasscock would acknowledge
his services and give public recogni
tion to his early support of Col. Roose-
welt, instead of suppressing the fact
The telegram of Mr. Montgomery to
! Governor Glasscock deserved to be
published, and the Governors failure
to do so can only be considered as
evidence of his unwillingness to d.
vide honors with Mr.. Montgomery as
a promoter OF Col. Roosevelt, and an
intention to press his own claims as
'the discoverer of the Roosevelt sentf
, ment, which he says exists in West
Virginia.
| Want Water System.