The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-04-25
SENATOR SWANSON'S PUBLIC
RECORD

suffrages 10 a candidate for office
should examine the record OF the
candidate 10 ascertain whether II Is
such as TO entitle him to their con
fidence and support II this candl-
date has been long in public serV-
ice he should be measured by per-
formances-not by promises. His
record should disclose whether he
Is for the special interests,or wheth-
or he is for the great masses of
the people This test applied TO
Senator Claude A. Swanson. dis
closes the following record as Con-
gresham. as Governor and as Sena-
tor. as concisely stated as space will
permit.
He served in Congress from March
4th, 1899. to January 30th. 1906.
In these almost thirteen years OF
service he was called upon TO CON
slider. speak and vote upon many
kinds of questions. For about
eight years he served upon the Ways
and Means Committee, the leading
committee OF the House. and which
had control of all questions OF IL
nance. taxation and custom duties
During his service. both on this i'm
Dortant committee and in the House
he was a consistent Democrat. Not-
ing for Democratic measures.spea
ing and voting for democratic
Tariff for Revenue" Tie voted
TO place upon the free list all arti-
etes manufactured. produced or con
trolled by trusts; thus seeking 10
relieve the people from the eXactions'
OF monopolies On all tariff meas
ures he voted for reducing or re-
moving the duties on all trust
controlled articles, and also upon
the necessities OF life. He voted for
the passage of the bill giving TO
the States the right to tax National
Banks and United States Treasury
Notes, thus producing for the States
large revenues from sources Of
wealth heretofore unjustly exempted
On July 80. 1894. he voted for
Joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution providing
for the election OF Senators by the
people. He voted Tor this repeat
eddy while he was a member of the
House. and also recently in the
Senate at the last session of Con
gress He has consistently favored
this measure.
Early while in Congress he spoke
and voted against the various bills
for the settlement of the indebted
ness OF the Pacific Railroads to the
United States. which bills. If passed.
would have resulted in IA loss TO
the United States OF many millions
OF dollars loaned these railroads. BY
the defeat OF these proposed bills
the United States Government al
forwards received everything due
from these roads
He voted for the Littlefield Anti
trust Bill. and the amendments
thereto providing for the punishment
Of officers and agents of mOnopOlies
for the violation OF Federal laws.
and for more stringent measures
looking to the prevention of monop-
olies and Illegal combinations
He made strong speech in Con-
gress in opposition TO trusts and
monopolies.
He voted for compelling the rail
roads to use automatic coupIers so
as to protect their employees
He voted to aid Independent to-
bacco manufacturers by voting to
prohibit the use of coupons. cards
or other printed matter in packages
VI lODdCcO.
He voted for the Hepburn bill to
regulate and control railroads in
their freight anc passenger rates,
and for the Democratic substitute
for the same.
AS a member of the Postoffice and
Postroads Committee he was one OF
the earliest advocates of rural deliv-
cry, aided in its establishment, and
was one OF its most active and loyal
friends during his entire service in
Congress. Upon his return to Con-
gress during the last session of the
Senate he showed his deep interest
in rural delivery by opposing and
speaking against a measure which.
II 1t had not been defeated. would
have permitted the Postmaster Cen
eral to abolish rural delivery routes
wherever he desired.
AS Governor of Virginia, he con-
tinued his earnest and active work
In behalf of the masses. In his in
augural address he demanded that
the railroads Of the State should
be properly regulated and controlled
In freight and passenger rates by
the State Corporation Commission.
When the Pennsylvania Railroad
sought to make as president OF the
r. F. & p. r. r. one of its subordi-
mates, and thus have absolute con-
troll of this road, and of the large
interests which the State of Virginia
had in the road, he boldly defied
the Pennsylvania Railroad, and in
sisted that the State authorities
should elect a president of the road
to look after the interests of the
State. By his courageous action and
efforts he compelled the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad to acquiesce in the
State authorities selecting a suita-
BILE president. This action saved
the large interests of the State,
taught the Pennsylvania Railroad
that il could not dominate the af-
n I