Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-09-20
MIR. SWANSON OPENS HIS
CAMPAIGN

son. Democratic nOAnin0S
srnor Of Virginia, opened his cam
paign Monday in historic old Han
over Courthouse. He desired 70
make his initial address for the
Governorship at that place from
ths fact that in 1884, when
.tnaant at Randolph-MacOn Col
,soa he made his first political
speech in Hanover. Mr.. Swanson
was accorded a hearty greeting |
and for two hours he reviewed the
spleudid record of Virginia pemoc-
rsov in contrast with that OF the
Republicans.
Mr.. Swanson enters the cam
paign with the prestige 'ot
tremendous majority in the late
urinary for the nomination 1or
Governor of Virginia, an honor
uh;ch IL has been the ambition OF
his life to possess. He brings 70
the service of his State and party
,pleudid talents, great intellectual
power, and varied experience and
ability as a public speaker. he
will uphold the traditions oil VIZ
oinia and will make business OK
ecutive,
Mr. Swanson opened his address
bv expressing the pleasure he ex-
uerienced at the cordial support ne
would receive from his two worthy
and distinguished competitors fof
gubernatorial -honors, namely
acknowledgements Willard and
Judge Mann. He was glad to be
the candidate of no faction OF the
Democratic party, but the nOmi'
nee of a harmonious, solid and uni
ted Democracy. He asserted with
emphasis that he wanted it dis"
tinctly understood when ne be-
came Governor of Virginia ne
would be Governor Of the entire
ueople of the State and would
WELD the powers conferred upon
him to the best interests OF the
whole people.
The speaker emphasized the
great Importance of the approach
ing election. Practically the entire
State government of Virginia was
involved in the campaign; that the
Legislature to be elected would
control for the next two years the
legislation of Virginia, and in adj
dition would elect a United States
Senator and five justices of the
Supreme Court. HIS pointed Out
how the election would determine
whether the Democratic or Re
publican party would control th'
vast educational system of Vir
ginia, the Corporation Commits
sion, the labor and agriculture
departments and all the public
institutions of the State, carrying
with them vast expenditure o
public money.
In discussing the claims present
cd by his competitor, Judge Lewis
the Republican nominee fer Gov
ernor, that the Republican part.
existing in Virginia today is neV
party, with new blood and com
posed of new material, Mr.. Swan
son said he had examined tn
nance of the delegates who CON
posed the Roanoke Convention an
they were the same Repubiica
politicians who in past years haV
advocated the principles and puI
sued. the policies that have mad
Republication so Odious in tn
State. He said it was not necei
sary to go to reconstruction time
to prove that the Republican part
in the administration of Sta
affairs South brings blight an
disaster.
A considerable portion of b
address was devoted to answerir
J.. the statements made by Judl
Lewis claiming for the Repub
cans economical government +
Virginia when in control of Sta
affairs during Readjuster tim
and he showed the deplorahle CO
dition when the Democrats aga
secured control. For instanC
in 1885, the last year Of Repub
can rule. the total expenditure +
public schools was 81, 42S, 531.C
while in 1904, under Democrat
rule, it was $2y511, OoS.2O, neal
double. In the matter of male
ADMINISTRATION charged by t
Republicans, there has been or
q defalcaticn of less than fol
thouSaod dottara alkhOu0h