Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-08-30

ple. In this campaign MI. 1iaSs mas
bnt reitterated these Republican charges
aga;nst the Democratic party which has
rsnsatedly honored him. His voice IS
bnt the continuance OF the cry and COM
nlaint uttered by Mr.. Kent, the Repub-
iican candidate, during the last GuDer-
Material campaign. | doubt not tnat
his speeches during this canvass will De
the chief material for the Republican
campaign book. When Mr.. Kent made
practically the same speech IN the las.
Gubernatorial campaign Mr.: GLASS IS
now making against the Democfatic
party, at the request OF the Democratic
State Committee, made speech at
Surry Court House, replying fully TO
Mr.. Kent, and refuting every charge
that he made. That speech received
universal approving comment. Even
the Lynchburg News, of which Mr..
Glass is owner, highly commended that
speech. II was considered by the Dem
ocratic press OF the State as complete
refutation OF the charges made BY MI
Kent. and if so it must now be CON
elusive against the charges OF Mr.
Glass, which are practically the same.
ments in that speech were not accur-
ate. | wish to say in this connection
that his charge is wickedly and mex
cusably false. The facts and figures
upon which this speech was based were
furnished by COL Morton Marye, then
the State Auditor, a man OF unusual
accuracy and OF such character and
standing that no Virginian would be-
leve that he would make false state
mcnt to any one or for any purpose.
| DEFY any one TO show anything lii
that speech which is not true state
ment of State affairs. That speech was
not in any respect eulogy OF myself
or nv administration 1t was a calm
and dispassionate defense Of the record
of the Democratic party. But why de-
fend myself against Mr.. Glass, charges
in this respect, He has furnished me
in the Lynchburg News Of the day after
the conclusion OF my term as Governor,
defense more complete and more con-
elusive than l could make myself. In
this paper at the head of the editorial
column he advertises himself in bold
type, Garter Glass, Owner" This IS
not usual in papers and could only have
been done for the purpose of assuming
responsibility for the views therein ex-
pressed. I present this editorial for
the consideration of the people of Vlr-
ginia.
"GOVERNOR SWANSON"
February 2, 1910.
Governor Swanson leaves the Office
of Governor with the consciousness
that in the discharge Of an exalted trust
he has earned the well done" Of his
people, and that they give to him with
out stint, and give III measure and III
spirit earnest and sincere. No prouder
reward than this can q public servant
we'll covet-certainly no need OF honor
greater than this can a people bestow.
In few-a very circumstances it may
have so happened that THE News did
not agree with the views and acts OF
the retiring executive. But, bearing
these rare occasions Of difference IN
view, we have observed much to ap-
plaud in the energy, the untirins in
dustry and the fidelity and ability with
which Governor Swanson has so fully
measured up to the requirements OF his
Office. The best wishes of this news
paper follow the now ex-governor as he
lays down the burden of high civic OBJ
legation with which the Virginia cleo
torate honored him four years since,
and seeks season of well-deseTved
rest and relaxation"
Again Mr.. Glass himself furnishes
conclusive refutation of his selfshly
preferred charges.
The only other charge that | recall
from any source that has been made
against my administration as Governor
is the one recently made in connection
with the signing of a bill passed by
the General Assembly of Virginia in
the session of 1908, permitting any rail-
road of the State to construct, purchase
or lease twenty-five miles of road iii
length for the purpose Of furnishing a
cutoff or connecting line between two
points on its own line. This bill was
passed to enable the Norfolk and West
ern Railroad to obtain cutoff between
two points on its own road and to enable
it to carry its through traffic around the
city of Lynchburg. The Constitution
not permitting special bills to be passed,
it became necessary to have a general
statute which could be utilized by all
railroads. 1t has become absolutely
necessary, on account of the greatly
increased through traffic for railroads
to carry this traffic around cities rather
than through them, avoiding congestion
OF traffic and thus giving more eff
cient and prompt handling of all traf
tic, to the great benefit of business. 1t
prevents danger and accident also in
the cities, saves the citizens from the
noise and smoke incident to the opera
ton OF freight trains. 1t is decidedly
better, both tor the cities and the rail-
roads that such traffic should go around
and not through Everybody Of ordin
AIRY bus mess experience and observation
can understand this. A bill had been
passed before l was Governor which 1t
was thought would permit this. In
this bill there had been used the term
branch line" but the term cutoff"
had not been used, and the Supreme
Court had decided that the words
branch line" did not include the pro-
posed cutoff, and hence the railroads
did not have the right of condemnation
for this purpose. The bill that is now
being criticised was introduced and
passed to give this privilege to the rail
roads. There was no objection, every
body conceded the necessity for such
right for the railroads, not only for
their own benefit but for the benefit OF
cities and the general public. The only
objection that has been heard against
this bill is that if it had not become q
law it would have compelled the Nor
folk and Western Railroad Company
TO obtain All amendment of its charter
which would have made the road sur