The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-08-22
GLASS PRESSES CHARGE
Says Swanson Specialized in American
Tobacco Stock.

luUdNeO otV~Ns
CONGRESSMAN Carter Glass, in an adj
dress at Ashland Saturday night,
pressed his charge that Senator swan,
son. while a member of Congress, had
been a holder of stock in the American
Tobacco Company. IT BENG direct re-
nly to Senator Swanson's denial OF the
accusation. The address vas Delivered
in the Town Auditorium before an au-
dience of $50 people, among whom were
several women. Prof. Amber, OF Kan
ldolph-Macon College, in a half hour $
speech introduced the speaker. froi.
Amber. who came from West Virginia
two wears ago. referred to the political
conditions in that State. He paid his re-
snects to Senator Martin and declared
that be obtained appropriations for Nir-
yinia and new pOst-Otlices by trading
with Senator N. b. Scott, OF West Nir-
ginia.
Congressman Glass was frequently
interrupted with applause. lie SAID he
had carefully read Mr.. Swanson estate,
ment as printed in the newspapers ana
il puts him in deplorable plight. II
frequently happens that pubic man
detected in Stock gambling. leads 10
defense that he was bona hde lnNes-
tor. But Mr.. swanson. charged with
being bona fie investor IA the stocks
of the American Tobacco Company,
pleads that he was merely stock-gam-
bling.
"His talk about my mani 'estauons
of malice and enmIty toward him Is
idle. | have nowhere and at no time de-
parted from the tenor of my opening
speech at Richmond on March 81, which
was pronounced. even by newspapers
hostile TO me, a reasonably dignlted and
legitimate presentation Of public issues.
f'Mr. Swanson 5 heated assertion mat
nv charge that he was a st0ckhOluer
of the American Tobacco Company
while a member of the Ways and Means
Committee OF Congress IS false ana
slanderouS. and that knew Il c charge
10 be 'fal-e and slanderOuS when 1
made il. Is mere incorporate vitupera-
ton. which may interest people who
relish seeing chaif blown about by the
wind but Is insuiferable when 1t has no
substance. In the same breath IN which
he denounces my charge as false ana
slanderOus. he makes "A confession
which shows the charge to be over
whelming true.
"Mr. Swanson confesses that he
bOupht 200 shares of American Tobacco
Company stock In 1900. and some year
or two later bought $50 shares more OF
the same stock; but he pleads IN extern
uation that which could not possibly
have known, and something which II
would have been dangerous for me to
have assumed. lie says the stock never
came into his possession; was never
transferred 10 him. and was never IN
tended TO be actually owned by him.
He thus atlirms that the transaction
constituted pure stock gambling opera
ton in intent and in fact. In other
words. while u member of the Ways
and Means Committee of Congress, rep
resenting a great tobacco state and To-
bacco district. Mr. Swanson was pur-
chasing on margin the stocks OF the
American Tobacco Company. an indus
trial brigand, whose profits were being
wrung out of the miseries of The to-
bacco growers and the disasters Of the
independent tobacco manufacturers OF
Virginia.
He claims that the two transactions
which he cites cover the whole of his
dealings in the stock; but am sure he
will, upon reflection. desire to amend
that statement. lie will, perhaps, recall
that at another time he purchased near
w $50. 900 of the stock of the American
Tobacco Company, and, maybe, he Will
remember other transactions III the
same stock.
Moreover, Mr. Swanson will doubtless
recollect that he operated in other trust
stocks, notably the stocks Of that wire
trust which only recently attempted TO
intimidate the present Democratic chair
man of the House Ways and Means
Committee, by shutting down its works
at Birmingham, because Mr.. Under
wood favored a reduction in the tanii
on the wire fencing anc wire nails that
the American farmers are compelled t.
buy. These stock transactions that | am
discussing were IN period Immediately
subsequent to the Spanish War revenue
acts and prior to their repeal, when the
WAYS and Means Committee might at
any time be expected to consider reve-
nue. bills.