Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-09-19
MR.. swANsoNs. SPEECH,

NH. SWANSON s. Sfh6Cd'
Congressman Claude A. Swanson,
democratic nominee for Governor of Vir-
ginia, opened his campaign at Hanover
yesterday. There was large audience
present.
Mr. Swanson was introduced by Con-
gresham John Lamb. The guberns-
torial candidate spoke for two hours. re-
viewing the record of the democracy and
contrasting it with that of the republic
cans.
He then proceeded to impress upon his
audience the vast importance OF the en-
suing election. He said that practically
the entire State government of Virginia
legislative, executive and judicial-was
involved in this campaign; that the
Legislature to be elected would control
for the next two years the legisla-
ton of Virginia, and, in addition, would
elect a U. S. Senator and five justices of
the Court of Appeals. He said;
"The first claim OF the republican
party is that it is now new party IN
Virginia; that it is not what it formerly
was; that new blood has been infused
into it; that il has attained recently
new standing and respectability. 1t
points with pride to the personnel OF the
Roanoke convention as an evidence OF
its splendid improvement. In Plaintive
and soothing voice it confesses its great
misconduct and shortcomings OF the past
and promises to reform and do better in
the future.
"The only improvement that has ac-
crued to the republican party in Vir-
ginia is the elimination of the negro as
voter by the new constitution. 1t is re-
markable that these republicans, who
now most loudly proclaim their improve
ment from this cause, were those who
most vehemenly protested against the
administration of the medicine that
brought their betterment
"The elimination of the negro as a
voter has been blessing to him and a
benefit to the entire politics ofthis State.
The return of the republican party to
power again in this State would be fol-
lowed PROFESSIONALLY by repeal of
those constitutional and other provisions
which have destroyed the negro as a
voter IN Virginia, and would witness his
return as dangerous factor in our
politics. Those who have the material
and political interest of this State at
heart cannot afford to take such risks by
the return of the. republican party to
power" He said that southern republ-
canism was nrofuse in its admiration and
laudation of northern republicaDism, but
that he had failed to discover where
these feelings and sentiments were ever
reciprocated. Said he:
"The republican party has been in
control of the federal government for
the last nine years, yet during this time
it has not appointed as Cabinet Minis
ter or given an important or responsible
position to a single republican from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande. The north
ern republicans do not wish to have the
advice or counsel of tLeir southern as
sociates, nor do they deem them worthy
to be intrusted with power or response
bility."-
Mr.. Swanson then detailed what he
called the failures of the republican
party in its four years of control in the
State (1SS1-1SS5) and compared with
it the record OF the democratic party in
management of State affairs during its
90 years of control.
"a more splendid record of improve
ment, of betterment, of progress cannot,
| dare say, be presented by the State adj
ministration of a single State in the
Union" he continued. "To have OBJ
tanned all these increased benefits, to
have procured all these new and great
blessings, the people would have will
ingly consented to increased taxation,
but listenl listen All this has been
accomplished, all these increased appro-
priations made for good and noble pur.
poses, and democracy has actually re-
duced State taxation from 80 to IS cents
on the 500.
Messrs. George A. Hanson and j. l..
Gleaves were given possession OF the
room at the conclusion of Mr.. Swanson's
address and spoke in the interests of the
republican party.