Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1909-10-08
SWANSON TAKES BARK OFF

all kepuDllcan hopes In speech he
made at Surry courthouse last week,
in which the records OF the Demo
cratic and Republican party were
compared.
Governor Swanson laid among
other things THE Republican ar
CUES as the main ground for change
OF state affairs the fact that the
Democratic party has been in control
OF this State for p years and insists
on account of the records made in
that time, especially in recent years,
that control of this State should he
given to the Republican party.
Let us measure the record of the
Democratic party in this State by
this final test and see whether il is
worthy of the commentator OF the
people. During all these years of
power there has been but one small
defalcation, and that was occasioncd
10y the forgerieS of n clerk in the
Auditors office by the name OF Shep
herd, who, when detected, was i'm
mediately arrested and sent to the
penitentiary. No effort was made
TO shield him or TO cover up the
fraud.
During these - years the Demo
cratic party has collected and dis
tributed about 500, 600, 600 of public
money, and this is the only defalca-
tion that the severest enemy Of the
party can point 10. The govern.
ment OF no city or State in this I'm
ion can point To a record superior TO
this one, SO free from graft and cor
ruption. No business enterprise.
however, vigorously or honestly adj
ministeIed, can present u record SUI
perior TO this. When one considers
the length of time and the vast
sums of money collected it is amaz-
ing. With clean hands the Demo-
cratic party faces its enemies and
with confidence appeals 10 the peo-
pie.
WHAT a contrast of 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 Republi-
can officials shameleSsly abusing
their power and using their offices
for self.enrIchment. We saw con-
tracts, le ally entered into, cancelled
and awarded TO Others mt greater ex-
pense TO the State in ORDER to pay for
political campaign funds. We saw
the State lose great sums of money
by deposits made in insolvent
banks, which were extending pecu-
mary benefits TO those in power.
We saw all the public institutions of
the State run for political advance
ment of those in control. We wit
messed the attempt mt Infamous leg
islation, which was only defeated bV
the rebellion of four State Senators.
which, if enacted. would have Gre
ated in this State innumerable offices
not To be filled by the people, 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 partisans and
plunderers. We saw an effort made
which was defeated in similar
manner, to put the entire judiciary
under partisan coptIol. We wit
messed offices held and administered
by inefficient and impairment ne
groes. We were even cursed by ne
gro school officials. We saw the f.
nances of the State demoralized and
disorganized for political purposes.
These three years o: Republican
control present carnival of corrun-
lion and graft, which has made the
party so Objectionable as to pre-
vent its return TO power in this Stale
uatil the recollections of thoughtful
nightmares are forgotten.
Over quarter OF million dollars
Will be brought TO Tazewell county,