Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-09
VIRGINIA POLITICS
A Meeting in the Opera
House Last Night.
CANDIDATE SWANSON
ATTACKS COMMONWEALTH At
TORNEY CRANDAL MACKAY.
Says He Has No Apology to Make
for Interference in Post
Office Matters.
CANDIDATE SWANSON

ALEXANDRIA, Va, August 8. 1905.
Representative Claude A. Swanson. cam
didate for the governorship of Virginia, adj
dressed a large audience in Lannon's Opera
House last evening in the interest of his
candidacy. and devoted a considerable part
of his speech to a bitter attack upon Mr.
CrandaI Mackey, commonwealth attorney
for Alexandria county. for his authorship
of an article which was published in viz
ginia paper last Thursday. attacking Mr..
Swanson for his record in connection with
certain post office appropriations which
were recently Investigated by the govern
Inent. Passing to discussion of the sew
eral points of the publication, the speaker
admitted the truth and accuracy of the
statement: which represented him as hav-
ing obtained additional appropriations for
nine post offices in the fifth Virginia dis
trict. In particular, far as the salient
facts and figures alleged are concerned he
attacked the correctness of but one of the
items charging him specifically with fault
in connection with a post office transaction
Mr.. Ellyson's Remarks.
The meeting was called to order at 8
O'Clock by Dr. William NJ Smith, who APP
peared on the platform in a group of four.
the others being the guests. Representative
Swanson. MI ]. Taylor Ellyson candidate
for the lieutenant governorship. and Judge
Samuel Williams candidate for the attor-
ney generalship There was noticeable
absence the rostrum of the usual gath
ering of local party leaders. For some time
before the hour set for the speechmaking
brass band, operating in front of the build
ing. had called the loyal partisans to-
gether
In addition, there also came many citi-
zens who are not known to be numbered
among the supporters of Mr.. Swanson. but
who desired to hear his speech, being ia
miliar with his abilities as an orator The
body of the auditorium was we'll filled and
a large number of ladies occupied seats in
the galleries. Much enthusiasm was mani
Tested, at times the noisy demonstration
being unusually loud and long. The greet
ing which MIR. Swanson received when he
arose to speak could properly be described
as an ovation. 1t forcefully testified to his
political strength in Alexandria, and offer
ed what he and his friends accepted as a
pleasing promise of success, so far as Alex
andia is concerned, in the primary the ODD
instant.
DR.. Smith first presented Mr.. Ellyson who
made a brief address, in which he paid a
graceful tribute to Mr.. James r. Cation of
this city, his former opponent for the lieu
tenant governorship. Entering discussion
of some of the issues of the campaign, Mr..
Ellyson declared in favor of better teach
ers, better salaries and better public
schools. He stated his Endorsement of the
employers liability bill and his advocacy of
other measures in the interest of labor. Mr..
EllySOn closed by calling attention to the
effort of the republicans to place the strong
est possible ticket in the field for the No
vember contest, but he declared that he had
the utmost confidence in the success of the
democratic nominees.
Mr.. Swanson's Speech.
In presenting Mr.. Swanson "as the next
governor Of Virginia. Dr. Smith made a
brief but vigorous speech which immediate
ly aroused the admiration OF his hearers
Beginning his address with a warm tribute
to the friendship and support of DR.. Smith,
Representative Swanson went on to speak
feelingly of his love and gratitude for the
people of Virginia. Referring to his unsuc-
cessful fight four years ago for the COVER
norship. he said that 1t was In Alexandria
that he won his first success, but elsewhere
that he suffered his defeat
Proceeding TO discussion of the issues of
the contest, the speaker dwelt upon the i'm
portance to the people Of the state in exer-
cising wisdom and care in selecting the
chief executive. The governor of Virginia,
he said, had much more to do than to figure
in social functions in Richmond, attend
county meetings and entertain visitors to
the state. The speaker devoted some time
in outlining the important and manifold
duties of the governor. He asked his hear
ers to vote for either of his competitors IL
they should be deemed more worthy than
he.
At some length Mr.. Swanson reviewed
the record of his services for the democratic
party in Virginia. and dwelt upon his sup
port of Gov. Montague after the latter had
defeated him four years ago.
His Attack on Mackey.
Opening his attack upon Mr.. Mackey the
speaker declared that the only charge ever
made against him in fourteen years of
public service was made last Thursday by
an obscure person whom he could not at
Al.
he said he had found that it was zone
Mackey of Alexandria county. who had paid
for the article at twenty cents a line" He
complained that IN fairness the attack
should have been delivered two months ago,
so that he might have replied to 1t every
where in his speeches He repeatedly as
serted that Mr.. Mackey was not a Vir-
ginian, from which statement he seemed to
draw much consolation. What Is the
charger he cried. with uplifted hand
anu threatening gesture. II will meet L."
He then touched upon the history of the
report OF General Bristow In the post office
Investigation two years ago. saying that
there were 800 post offices In which the sal
airy had been reduced since the removal
of Beavers. and that OF this number nine
were in the fifth Virginia district. which he
represents He declared that 100 senators
and representatives made up the list of
those who had recommended increased post
office appropriations. Mr.. Mackey had
charged. he said. that the allowances in
the nine cases cited were irregular.
Referring to the office at Chatham, Va,
the speaker said he was glad he had Sc
cured an appropriation of $500 for that
place. He wished the sum had been $500
The published charge that he took up on
that point was that Mr.. Swanson induced
Beavers to increase the allowance OF the
postmaster for alleged clerk hire to 5000
from January l, 1901, though under the
law and regulations of the department said
office was entitled to $2eo and on July IL
1903 upon discovery, through the postmas-
ters own admission in his report the al
lowance was reduced to the amount stat
ed In respect to Martinsville where the
salary of the Office for clerk hire was raised
from $3.50 to $500, Mr.. Swanson said he
wished he could have obtained an appro-
priation OF 5000 Mr.. Swanson discussed
the conditions at the offices of Rocky
Mount. Hillsville. Fries. Independence and
the other offices mentioned In the list of
nine. He said he gloried in his success In
securing additional appropriations for the
offices expressing regret only that the
sums obtained were no larger. Excepting
the postmaster at Chatham. he said, all
those involved were republicans, from
whom he had nothing politically to gain.
The item In the publication respecting
the lease OF the post Office building at
H., af.f