Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-01

Governor Swanson.
nor-elect delivered his inaugural address.
Following the address, the oath of Office
was administered by Judge Stafford CT.
Whittle of Henry county, a member of the
supreme court of appeals, who, for many
years presided over the circuit in which
the new governor practiced law.
The speech of Governor Swanson occu-
pied an hour and a quarter in delivery.
Among other things he said:
II am aware of the many difficulties con-
fronting me and the patience and persist
ence required to overcome them. l realize
the many disappointments which must
arise from my exercise of the appointing
power and the soreness which must follow.
L perceive differences on public questions
and policies will engender harsh and. fire.
quently, false and unfair criticism. 1 am
fully conscious that few are fortunate
enough to meet expectations of high eXecu-
tive office, or leave with either the popu-
larity or reputation with which they
tered"
Against Partisan Politics.
The governor takes up the subject of par
tisan politics and earnestly invites the Off
Gals of the state to cease whatever there
may be of such nature, if any, and to
unite with him in making the admnistra-
ton honest, intelligent, progressive, bust
ness-like and economical. He says that the
achievements of the state in the past are
but the prelude to still greater things if the
people will bend their energies to educa-
tional industrial and moral upbulding.
On the subject of railroads and transport
tation, the governor said:
Another question inseparably interviewer
with our development and prosperity is a
just and proper regulation of the rail-
roads and transportation companies. >
Whether the products of our farms fac
tories can find profitable sale in the mar
kets of the world largely depends on the
freight charges made by the railroads
Formerly we could depend upon the law
of competition to regulate and control the
re- ties. But consolidation and extension or
the community of interest principle
among the railroads have destroyed all
competition. Railroads may still compete
for business, but ii is done by other means
than cutting reducing rates. Competi-
ton being eliminated as factor in liking
rates. government must exercise its au-
thority and that the rates fixed are
reasonable and just. The exercise
of this power in a just, conservative and
firm way can be a great factor in upbuild-
for Virginia"
immigration and Labor.
Discussing the subject of immigration and
labor, the governor says: The department
of agriculture has been instrumental in
bringing to this state several thousand of
immigrants from the northwest, who have
purcha sed homes and now constitute
part of our best citizens and most prosper
Gus farmers There Is a great scarcity of
farm labor In this state, which must be
supplied. Not much more than half of
our land is under cultivation. Progress and
prosperity demand that this uncultivated
half should be converted into fertile and
yielding farms. The cheapness and fertility
of our lands, the superbness of our climate,
the nearness and accessibility of our mar
kets, the great demand for labor must nee
esSarily soon bring a large immigration to
Virginia. Wisdom requires that should
"a c ri 70 cont pt
and guide the character of this immigration
so that 1t may bring an elevation, not
deterioration of citizenship. Better have
no immigration, better let much of our land
remain waste and unoccupied, than have
injected in our populations persons whose
principles are menace to civilization and
presence curse TO society
On the subject of the state banking laws
the governor in his speech favored a care
full supervision of the financial institutions
of the state, but not such to prevent a
safe, honest and legitimate conduct of bus
mess He went into the subject of insur-
ance fully and freely.
Mud Taxes Extorted.
''The highest taxes paid by us, exceeding
those imposed by either the federal or state
government are the mud taxes extorted
when we travel on wretched country roads
In the winter months" the governor said
on the question of improving the highways.
work at once. He opposed experimental
road building, saying 1t would be a waste
of time and money. He favored state con-
troll OF the matter, with the cooperation of
the counties. and came out squarely for
employing convicts ON the roads, for the
owning OF quarries and for having the con-
victs, the long-term men, employed there,
where they can be easily guarded and sue
cessfully worked, preparing crushed stone
and furnishing at actual cost the material
for the construction of permanent road
ways. The speaker said he wanted to see
the state take a hand in the work and to
benefit the people at large, Increase prop
erty values and make rural life happy, COM
Portable and prosperous.
The governor said he favors liberal APP
preparations for the confederate veterans
and their dependents, reniarking that they
are growing fewer each year and that their
needs are more pressing. He also asked
that the work of saving the records OF the
war be prosecuted to the end that the pso-.