Progressive Governor of Virginia, 1902-1906, a 12 term U.S. Congressman (1912-1937).

Home-schooled; graduated Richmond College 1882; LL.B. law degree from University of Virginia,1885; a loyal Democrat and distinguished orator, he was appointed by President Cleveland as U.S. district attorney for western Virginia, 1893-1897; Attorney General of Virginia, 1898-1902; believed the Democratic political machine headed by railroad lobbyist Thomas Martin was corrupt; ran as Independent for Governor and won, Governor 1902-1906.

As Attorney General participated in writing a new Virginian constitution; proclaimed the new constitution the first year he was governor and called the general assembly to make the statute laws conform to the new constitution.

A progressive of the times, he pressed for regulation of companies and railroads, prison reform, highway improvements, and for direct primaries and direct election of Senators. Direct elections were seen as the means of eliminating the corrupting influence of lobbyists on political `machines' that then delivered the vote. He led a campaign in 1905 to institute public schools. He ran against Martin for the U.S. Senate in 1906 and was defeated by the Martin machine. Elected Congressman in 1912, representing the 63 district of Virginia, and served for 12 terms, until his death.

Served on the judiciary committee for much of his service in the House; played a large role in creating the Federal Trade Commission and the National Bankruptcy Act; conducted an impeachment against a U.S. district court judge; obtained a Federal Reserve Bank for Richmond, the Seven Days Battlefield park, and the National Monuments at Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Jamestown.

U.S. delegate to Pan-American Conference (Rio de Janeiro, 1906) and Third International Conference on Maritime Law (Brussels, 1909-1910);

Served for 3 years as Dean of University of Richmond law school; led the Virginia faction supporting Woodrow Wilson at the Democratic National Convention, 1912; elected as Congressman, 1912; strong opponent of Prohibition, but voted for the Amendment; strong Wilson supporter; president of American Society for Judicial Settlement of International Disputes, 1920-1924; executive in Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, president of the American Peace Society, 1920-1924; on executive committee of American Institute of Law.

He wrote The Life of John Marshall, Secretary of State.

Son of Robert Latane Montague and Gay Eubank.

A descendent of Peter Montague (of Jamestown, Virginia, 1621).

Sources:
[DAB].
[NC].