The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-24
SWANSON'S SCHEME,
TO IMPRESS TAFT
Junior Senator, in Arranging Presidents Auto.
mobile Trip to Manassas, Accused of Having
His Good Roads Bill in Mind
Especial to The Times Dispatch. ]

Especial to The Times Dispatchj
| washington, July 23.-Declaring
president Taft's trip to Manassas On
Friday. when he stuck in the mud at
various points along the road and had
to be pulled out, to be the result OF
the genius of Senator Claude A Swan
son. to get good roads bill passed
I by Congress. the Washington Times
says to-day:
Not since Parrhasius crucified a
slave to paint his dying agonies has
there been anything so inhuman as
the touch of realism brought to bear
TO impress the President and others
In exalted station with the necessity
OF good roads along the quilted,
stream-netted country roads Of Vir-
ginia.
l. For the first few hours of that har-
rowing ride, walk, wade and swim ~
get to Manassas, everybody was too
tired to speculate very much as TO
now 1t all came about, and 1t is only
recently that the true inwardness of
The situation has begun to dawn upon
mem Looking back over the events
of the day. however, it has begun TO
look suspicious that there should have
been u suggestion to make an auto
mobile trip over the toughest highway
In the Old Dominion. and 1t would
seem that somebody. If he did not Ill
rectly inspire the junket for second
airy purposes, must have had a guilty
knowledge of what the result would
be.
No Names Mentioned.
OF course. it would be improper to
mention any names, in this connec-
tion, but 1t is generally believed to
be the same man who wears Senator
owanson's shoes and shirts, and they
DO say that the Senator looks powerful
| conscious whenever that trip is men,
I toned. 1t is a known fact he is deeply
! interested in the subject of good roads
his recent speech on the subject was
one OF the most powerful and con-
| Vincing to which the Senate has lis
tened in many long day
But the ablest discourse is dry In
comparison with the horrible example,
and The Virginia Senator knew the
route which would furnish the most
horrible of these examples. 1t is not
clear just how he can be made re-
sopsible for the weather. which added
a few frills to the horrors OF the day.
but those who feel very deeply on
the subject assert that he hung up a
snake last Thursday
| Looking as innocent as possible. the
| senator goes on his way with in
creased confidence that the good roads
movement will have a clearer passage
! 'HaH ever before. A new hope lights
| his heart as he figures out how much
can be saved per ton mile by sup
planting a network of quagmires with
macadam roads and perhaps after all.
when all the bitterness has died out.
1t will be found that the end justified
| the means"
Pl 81 for Auto Tour.
Complete plans were announced here
to-day for the trip through Virginia
on Tuesday of a number of autoists
under the auspices of the Touring Club
| OF America and the American Asso-
+, citation for Highway Improvement
Those who take the trip probably will
be willing to lend their efforts G
Senator Swanson before they get back
to Washington. The run tomorrow
Will lie to Culpeper. with stops al
Fairfax and Warrenton. On the fol
! lowing day the tour will continue tc
Richmond. with stops at Orange, Cor
louisville and Louisa.
The pilot car will he driven by
Charles Z. Miller. one of the pioneer
automobile drivers of this city. II
will carry Colonel Henry McNair, edi-
! tor of the Automobile Blue Book, and
the automobile editors of the Wash
ington newspapers. Among the pas
sengers in the other cars will be Lee
folger, of Richmond. who arrived IN
Washington yesterday, and who will
carry Frederick II. Elliott. secretary
of the Touring Club OF America: Paul
| d. Sargent. Acting Director of Public
Roads; p. St Julian Wilson. State
| Highway Commissioner of Virginia; ].
Z. Pennybacker. secretary of the