Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-02-09
HAIL TO THE CHIEF (!
It's Governor" Swanson Now.

It's Governor" Swanson Now.
Probably with as much enthusiasm
and as little pomp and show as ever at
tended the Inauguration of Virginia
executive, Hon. Claude A. Swanson, at
the age of "A, Congressman for thirteen
years from the Fifth District, was in
Quoted into Office at noon on Thurs
day, February LIST.
The beauty and the cnivalry of the
Old Dominion were there-matrons
with silver streaking the gold, comely
ladies' of middle age and galoxy of
youthful beauty, escorted by SCARED
veterans, men of the day and of public
affairs and those in the hey-day of
yorth-all enthusiastically combining
to make the day notable in the annals
of Virginia history. The central figure
OF it all, dressed in black with a violet
ooutonniere from pretty Mrs. Swanson's
bouquet, stood modestly but with the
dashing bearing Of the game-cock he is.
never looking hadsomer and with never
a finch amid the loud acclaims or
hesitant culver during the hour and ten
minutes that ne eloquently delivered
without manuscript his well prepared
address. Well might he have exclaimed
Eureka" to the Excelsior ambition of
ooyhood, but not for once did Claude
Swanson forget that he was one of the
people, and as q servant Of the people
he greeted one and all, merchant prince
and pauper, with the same glad hand
that he gave in his canvass, and has
ever extended from the plow-handle
up to this moment when he is honored
with the highest gift Of his people.
His inaugural address is now a matter
OF state and public record. No words
from US can eulogize it SO highly as
people and press have already done.
Almost with one accord it is accounted
a state paper of no secondary impor
lance, with few equals and none super
Tor. Such is its strength, pregnant
with hope and promise, that we have
given it our first page this week and pub
ilsh almost in its entirety. Every man
and woman in the Commonwealth should
read it through.
FIRST OFFICIAL ACT.
The first of all Governor Swanson,s
official acts was to respite murderer
Goodwin Owen, Of Brunswick (who
was to be hanged the next day. until
March End. The petition for clemency
was signed by the trial judge, jury and
and many prominent citizens Of Bruins
wick.
HIS CHURCH CONNECTION.
Mrs. Swanson will attend services at
St Pauls Episcopal Church, where her
family have worshipped for several
generations, and where she will share a
pew with her sister, Mrs. Cunningham
Hall. Governor Swanson is a devoted
member of the Methodist Church and
viii begin his Richmond church asso-
citation at Trinity Church, where his in
innate friend, the Rev. DIR. ]. Sidney
Peters, is pastor.
In this connection these words from
the closing paragraph of his inaugural
address are worth recording again:
As we ponder the perils over which
we nave passed and perceive in all we
nave mad the sustaining hand of Dr.
age Of skepticism and doubt still CLING
TO that simple, trusting Christian belief
and faith of our fathers, which formed |
!neir guidance in power and their solace
IN sorrow."
PEOPLE PLEASED.
"A Richmond paper says:
Wide and favorable were the COM
ments heard upon the inaugural address
OF Governor Swanson. Former Cover
j. Hoge Tyler, Of Pulaski, discussed
the paper as follows, when seen at |
Murphy's:
Excellent, rich in practical thoughts
and eloeuently delivered: it
evidenced well-grounded view in regard
to State matters"
FEW OF MANY COMMENTS.
Senator Tllman says that Swanson
is a hustler If there ever was one, and
as Tillman is himself very consider
able hustler, he knows what he is talk
ing about.
Governor Claude A. Swanson is one
OF the most active executive officers
the State has had in many years. He
has an admirable secretary in Mr.. Ben
r. Owen, a man amply able to ''take
care OF the crowd on the outside and
to tell the Governor who are actually
lin need of seeing him." and yet one
Is impressed in second with the fact
that the new executive, like time and
tide, waits for no man." When some
gentleman finishes a conversation with
His Excellency in the inner Office. the
latter bursts out into his secretaries
room In most Democratic manner.
and shakes hands with all about, asking
of each. ''Do you wish to see me? ri
you do, just come into my office" He
takes them in, and disposing of them.
calls for others. -Times-Dispatch.
A strong, virile, ife-loving man, ap-
at their full the honors which
come with the peoples confidence, and
recalling the manly struggles he has
made and the difficulties he has over
come to reach the goal, no man in
Richmond vasfardou ,,orNo0o fu1x