The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-05-04

He voted for the Hepburn bill
to regulate and control railroads
in their freight and passenger
rates, and for the Democratic sub
stitute for the same.
AS a member of the Postoffice
and Postroads Committee he was
one If the earliest advocates of
rural delivery, aided in its estab-
lishment. and was one of its most
active and loyal friends during his
entire service in Congress. Upon
his return to Congress during the
last session of the Senate he
Showed his deep interest in rural
delivery by opposing and speak
ing against a measure which, If it
had not been defeated, would
have PERMITTED the Postmaster
General to abolish rual delivery
routes wherever he desired.
AS Governor of Virginia, he
continued his earnest and active
work in behalf Of the masses. In
his inaugural address he demand
ed that the railroads of the State
should be property regulated and
Gontrolled in freight AID pass
ehger rates by the State Corpor-
alton Commission.
When the PENNSYLVANIA Rail
road sought to make as president
of the r. F. & P. r. r. one of
its subordinates, and thus have
absolute control of this road and
OF the large interests which the
State Of Virginia had in the road,
he boldly dehed the Pennsylvania
Railroad. and insisted 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 Pennsylvania Rail
road to acquiesce in the State au-
thOrities selecting a suitable
president This action saved the
interests of the state, taught the
Pennsylvania Railroad that it
could not dominate the affairs of
the state of Virginia, and no
doubt was largely instrumental
in inducing il e Pennsylvania
4 Railroad to dispose OF its interests
in the G. & O.. and thus prevent
railroad monopoly in the State.
When the railroads OF the State
dehed h e State Corpor alton
Commission. Senator Swanson,
as Governor of Virginia. bravelv
took up the gauntlet. and by his
courageous action aided i'll indu-
cling the railroads to accept the
decision. Of the State Corporation
Commission and put i'll the rates
fixed pending the suits i'm court.
By this and other action he aided
the Commission in obtaining for
Virginia two and one half cent
rates and two-cent mileage books,
Governor Swanson recommend
pd and aided in the public road
improvement IN the State by
working the conviets on the roads
and furnishing State aid.
He aided in increasing the mum
Der Of high schools in she State
from seventy-four to four hun
dred aud FIVE. thus giving rapidly
to the country districts the ad-
vantages of a higher education.
He aided in advancing the pri
mary schools Of the State. both in
length of term and efficiency.
OF h er progressive policies
which he aided as Governor were
che Improvement of the health Of
people, the betterment of agri-
culture. the benefit of labor. en-
enlargement of the dairy, and
other varied interests.
This is record. as Congress
man and as Governor, ftrongly
marking Senator Swanson as a
champion of the people; as one
looking after the great interests
of the masses. striving, working
and voting for their Improvement
and betterment.