Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-29
One pefalcatlon.

lie Stlu. Duihb eheSN s"~Ns
Ave years the Democratic party has
collected and distributed about ninety
million dollars OF public money. and
this is the only defalcation that the
severest enemy OF the party can poin'
TO. The government of no city oil
state in this Union can point to q
record superior to this one, SO free
from graft and corruption. No bust
ness enterprise. however vigorously OF
honestly administered. can present
record superior to this. When one
considers the length Of time and the
vast sums OF money collected 1t Is
amazing. With clean hands the Dem
ocratic party faces its enemies and
with confidence appeals to the PEG,
pie" :.
He said: What contrast do these
long years of purity in administration
present TO the few years OF Republi-
can rule in this state. During these
few years we saw the Republican Of
fieials shamelessly abusing their
power and using their Offices for self
enrichment. We saw contracts. le-
gally entered into, cancelled and
awarded to others at greater expenses
to the state, in order to pay for po-
litical campaign funds. We saw the
state lose great sums Of money by de-
posts made in insolyent banks. which
were extending pecuniary benefits to
those in power We saw all the pub
lie Institutions of the state run for
political advancement of those in con-
troll. We witnessed the attempt at in
famous legislation which was only de-
deated by the rebellion of four state
senators, which if enacted, would have
created in this state innumerable Of
ices. not to be elected by the peo-
pie but controlled by those in power.
and which would have practically put
the entire transportation and bust
ness interests under the will and ca
prices of political partisians and plum
derers. We saw an effort made, which
was only defeated in a similar man
ner. to vacate the Circuit. judges OF
this state and put the entire judiciary
under partisan control We witness
ed Offices held and administered by
inefficient and impertinent negroes.
We were even cursed by negro school
officials. We saw the finances OF the
state demoralized and disorganized for
political purposes"
Carnival Of Corruption.
"Sirs." he said. These three years
OF Republican control present a car
nival of corruption and graft which
has made the party so Objectionable
as to prevent its return to power in
this state until the recollections Of
this frighful nightmare are forgotten
Governor Swanson then said that
the conditions occasioned by Republi-
can rule in this state we're but SINH
lar to those created in every South
ern state where Republicanism had
reigned either In the past or in re-
cent years. He Illustrated this idea
by the conditions created by the Re-
publican party IN North Carolina. in
recent years. in Maryland, Kentucky.
West Virginia and other Southern
states.
MY fellow citizens" be said, "the
rule of the Republican party in every
Southern state. from the Potomac rtp
the Rio Grande, from 1865 to the
present day. has been fraught with
disturbances. disgrace, disaster and
ruin. The Republican party cannot
point to single Southern state where
lis rule has been benefcent or. has
brought a single blessing or benefit
Good. honest. capable government Is
neither a Renaissance or an sspira-
tion OF Southern Repuolicanism- Tneir
control in the South has taught the
melancholy but sure lesson that Re-
publican rule invariably ends in dis
aster and disgrace. The truth OF this
fact has been so universally recog-
nized. so exempliied BY sad expe-
rience. that many persons ~ho sym
pathize and vote for the Republican
party in national elections. invar:a-
bly, sustain the Democratic party in
the control o. local affairs There
are many patriotic Republicans in
this state who would view with alarm
any possibility Of Republican success
locally