Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-11-13
SENATOR MARTIN,
FLOOR LEADER OF
DEMOCRATS, DIES
Administration Spokesman Of
Senate, Elected In 1894, :
Succumbs at Charlottes-
vile (Va.) Home.

Charlottesville, Va, Nov. IL
Senator Thomas S. Martin, the dem
ocratic leader in the senate, died
here today after an illness of several
months. He was II years old.
Thomas Staples Martin, United
States senator from Virginia, until
his election in 1894 had been rail-
road attorney from small town,
who had never before sought pub
lie Office. When it was found that
the state legislature had chosen him
in preference to one of Vlrginla's
most popular and able citizens, the
Major General Fitzhugh Lee, there
was a storm of protest among the
democrats of the "Old DominionG
Took Seat In 1895.
Martin braved the opposition,
however, and on March 4. 1895 took
his seat. His ability was soon dis
covered and from the date of his ad-
vent into national politics he served
continuously in the senate, rising to
the floor leadership of his party and
craftsmanship of the important ap--
preparations committee. He served
in that capacity during the war con-
gress, where he was regarded as
one of the leading figures in the
senate.
Senator Martins father, John
Samuel Martin, and his mother,
Martha Ann Staples, were descend
ants of the early settlers of the col
ony of Virginia. His father was a
merchant and manufacturer OF
Scottsville, Albemarle county, Vir-
ginia, where on July %, lS47, young
Martin was born. When he was
six years old his parents removed
to the country and thereafter he
| made his home in Albemarle county.
Served in Civil War.
After a primary education in the
Scottsville school, Martin entered
the Virginia military institute in
March, 1864. When the cadet bat
talon of the institute was mustered
into the Confederate army for the
battle of New Market, Cadet Mar
tin was i'll in hospital and missed
the encounter, but upon his recovery
he rejoined his battalion and served
until the end of the war.
In October, 1865, he entered the
academic school of the university
of Virginia, but after two years he
was forced to leave college by the
death of his father and assume the
responsibilities of large family.
He entered the mercantile business
at Scottsville and began the study
of law, reading at home. In 1869
he was admitted to the bar.
His interest in politics was arous-
ed by his association with John S.
Barbour, chairman of the state gen
eral committee of the democratic
party, who made him a member of
the committee. At that time the
democratic party was threatened
with disruption over the question
of the state debt to the federal gov
eminent, and "readjuster faction"
, headed by General Malone and in
Guiding negroes, sprang up. Sen
ator Martin came into the polit-
ical limelight of the state by meet
ing the challenge of the new organ
ization, and under his leadership it
was overthrown and the democratic
party predominated.
Entered Politics in 1898.
In 1898 he was persuaded by his
associates to enter the senatorial race
and, after a bitter fight, was elected
by the assembly over General Lee
For reelection in 1901 Senator Mar
tin defeated Gov. T. Hoge Tyler
.. another strong opponent. In 1914
the democratic organization adopted
the primary plan" for election Of
governor and senators. This de-
yeloped an eloquent and popular op-
ponent in Governor A. ]. Montague
and even Senator Martins friends
were doubtful of the outcome as his
| ability as a debater and public
speaker were unknown. Senator
, Martin "stumped" the state ane
: achieved his third victory.
On October 10, 1894, he married
Lucy Chambliss Day, daughter o
E Col. c. Fenton Day of Smthfeld
!, Va. Two children were born te
them.