Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-09-28
TOday's Telegraphic News
The Virginia Campaign.

tnOoe WHO WOulQ Wresb ntalo BVFotu-
ment from the hands of the democratic
party.
Governor Swanson urged the vast i'm
portance of the pending election, involv'
ing SIS 1t does the control OF the state
affairs for the next four years. He said:
"Upon the results OF this election we
would determine whether the republicans
or democrats shall control the legislation,
schools, colleges, executive otlces,
asylums aud the various intrumentslities
OF state government. 1t is more import.
aut to the people of this state to control
their local affairs than the national
affairs. 10 presenting the cause OF democ-
rscy aud its candidates accept the is
sue as made by the republican party in
Its platform and by Its candidates The
republican party argues as the main
ground for a change of state affairs the
fact that the democratic party has been
10 control of this state for twenty-five
years, aud insists, on account OF the re-
cord made In that time, especially 10 re-
cent years, that control of this state
should be given to the republican party.
In reply to this contention OF the
republican party l will present the
record aud see whether 1t is worthy
of approval or condemnation. The
first test Of Worthiness, whether 10
! an individual or party, is honesty and
integrity. No individual, no party, no
government that is devoid OF these is
worthy OF trust or should ever be vested
with power aud responsibility. A great
orator has we'll said: Honesty 10 The
oak around which all other virtues
cling; without that they fall and grovel-
| liug die in weeds and dust Let us
measure the record Of the democratic
party in this state by this final test and
see whether it is worthy of The common
dston of the people. During all these
years of power there has been but one
small defalcaliop, and that was occs-
stoned by the fOrgeries of clerk in the
auditors Office by the name Of Shep'
herd, who, when de ected, was immed-
lately arrested and cent 10 the peniten.
tisry. No effort was made to shield him
or 10 cover up the fraud. During these
twenty. i've years the democratic party
has collected aud distributed about
ninety million dollars Of public money,
/ and this is the only deialcstion that the
severest enemy Of the party can point
10. The government OF no city or state
in this union can point to record su-
peror to this one, 80 free from graft and
, corruption. No business enterprise,
however vigorously or honestly admins.
tered, can present record superior to
this. When one considers the length of
time and the vast sums OF money col
lected it Is amazing. With clean hands
the democratic party faces its enemies
aud With confidence sppeals to the
people," He said: "What a contrast Go
these long years OF purity 10 administra-
lion present to the few years Of repub-
lican rule in this state. During these
few years we saw the republican officials
shsmeessly abusing their power and
using their offices for self-enrichmeut.
We saw contracts, legally entered into,
cancelled and awarded to others at
greater expense to the state, in order
to pay for political campaign funds. We
saw the state lose great sums Of money
by deposits made in insolveut banks,
which we're extending pecunisry benefits
to those 10 power.
owe saw all the public institutions o.:
the state run for political advancement Of
those 10 control. We witnessed the at
tempt at infamous legislation which was
only defeated by the rebellion of four
state senators, which, II enacted, would
have created 10 this state innumerable
offices, not to be elected by the people
bat controlled by those in power, and
which would have practically put the
entire transportation aud business in-
teresls under the will aud csprices of
political psriisans and plunderers. We
saw az effort made, which WAS only de-
fested in a similar manner, to vscate
the circuit judges of this state and put
the entire Judiciary under psrtison con-
troll. We witnessed Offices held and
administered by inefficient and i'm
pertinent negroes. We we're even cursed
by negro school officials. We saw the
finances of the state demoralizsd
and dsorgsniEed for political purposes.
These three years of republican control
present q carnival Of corruption and
graft which has made the party so OBJ.
jectionsl as to prevent lis return to power
in this slate until the recollections of
this frightiul nightmare are forgotten "
Governor SsansOn then said that the
conditions occasioned by republican rule
in this state we're but similar to those
created in every southern state where
republication had reigned either 10 the
past or in recent years. He illustrated
this idea by the conditions created by
the republican party 10 North Carolina,
in recent years, In Maryland, Kentucky,
West Virginia aud other southern
states,
Tho governor then presented concise
statement Of the condition Of the finances
Of the state, during which be set forth
the aid given education, roads, agricul-
ture, labor and Confederate soldiers, aud
the progress of democratic policies. he
then refuted republican charges seristim,
and In conclusion said:
my fellow country men, let every
citizen OF this commonwealth listen to
the call OF duty aud stste, and give bis
support on the 2ud Of November to the
great democratic party, which has been
the shield and protection to Virginia in |
the hours of her sorrow and distress, and |
which rehsbilitsted her from poverty |
and wretchedness 10 her present pros
raritv and -