The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-29

domination of one man. The Judges
have the power of naming tho electoral
boards in the cities and counties. These
boards name all the judges Of election
and thus under his scheme the entire
election machinery of this state would
have been subject to the power and con-
troll Of the governor. Thesc judges were
also given the power TO appoint q MEN,
Der Of tn local school boards. the land
assessors and possibly tho commits
sioners Of the revenue also TO IN all
vacancies In county offices. II these
purposes of MIR. Glass had been written
In the orgenic law, that act alone would
have created an impregnable machine
In this state. To make his machine
still more complete. it was necessary
TO have tho governor control the vast
educational system. He did not hesitate
to try to accomplish this. He voted
that the superintendent OF public in
struction of h state should be elected
by the board of education. He desired
to deprive tho people OF Virginia OF the
light to choose who should lead and
direct their educational system. Under
his views the state board Of education
was TO consist Of tho governor. the
encouragement and two members elect
ed by the boards of visitors Of certain
named state institutions. The board
Of visitors OF these institutions were to
he appointed by the governor.
Thus tho governor would have the
power OF ultimately naming two members
OF the board Of education. The governor
and tho two sppointccs derived from
sources Of power emanaring from him
would constitute three members OF tho
board. These three members would
dominate the board and name the super
Int n ~ ~ a-1A-@t - - -
cities OF the state. thus with the governor
and three members of tho board. whose
election could be secured through his
power. the board could be absolutely
dominated by him and the supcrintend-
ent of schools of each county and city
could be named by the governor and
those appointed from sources OF power
derived through him. Tho school board
In each county as constituted consists Of
the superintendent OF schools,
wealth's attorney and a person named by
the circuit Judge. tho judge under Mr..
Glass scheme being appointed by tho
governor. Thus the governor through
his nppoiDtees would control the school
board in each county and city In vir-
ginia. These school boards appoint the
trustees and the trustees name the teach
ers. The entire school system of the
state under Mr.. Glass scheme would
have been ultimately under tine control
Of the governor Of Virginia.
Ono Man Domination
But my fellow citizens:
Mr.. GLASS; scheme OF one-m6n DON'T
nation did not stop here. He desired 20
mako the agricultural! system subject
70 the same power. He favored that the
commissioner Of agriculture should be
nln1,al 49,. I~..l - - -. -.
the people. He favorcd depriying the farm
ers of the state Of the right Of selecting
their own commissioner Of agriculture.
The members OF the board Of agriculture
were TO be appointed by the governor.
This board was 10 select the commission
er and through the commissioners and
the board the entire agricultural sys-
TEN OF the state would have been subject
TO the control OF the governor. Thus the
governor possessing the power to name
the boards, with these additional powers
sought 70 have been given by Mr.. Glass,
would have been the all-controlling and all
dominating power. The peoples control
of their state government would hoye been
practically destroyed. No wonder the
dreams and ambitions to be governor OF
Virginia have from time TO time thrilled
the imagination of Mr.. GAS. No wonder
Vlt"tH w oHuhiIS PiOSlCtkS " I!lIIi.
My fellow citizens II should be remem-
bered that 1t was the desire OF Mr.. Glass
that this should become a part 4 ,he
organic Law OF the state which could
not be changed by the legislature
but only b the slow process of
constitutional amendm , (. No one
can pose as a frienr OF popuiai govern
ment or the control of government by
the people who favors the creation OF
such & system and such q vast machine
TO be absolutely dominated by one man.
This is against the tendency OF the age.
As the people increase in intelligence the
rights and powers of the people should
continue ~ increase. favor giving
the people full power to control and direct
their own affairs. l am satisfied that
when the people have this power govern
ment is more justly and more efficiently
administered have voted for the cleo
tion of United States senators from the
beginning of my congressional service
more than fifteen years ago. | believe
this will bring about the best govern
ment. favor a legalized primary honest
~ conducted because it gives the people
control of their political affairs.
Calls 1t an Untruth.
There Is another statement of Mr..
Glass to which l desire to make direct
md positive reply. In an account of his
speech at Mathews Courthouse. publish
ed in his " paper. the L%ynchburg
News. Of date May 2. 1911, | read that
aftor criticising me for not leaving Wash
ington. my post of duty. to go upon the
stump to advocate my claims for r~e-eleo-
ton. he is quoted as saying:
Mr.. Swanson has heretofore been
absent fifty out of eighty-two ~roll-oalls
ut one short session.
This statement has never been cor
rccted by Mr.. Glass. hence I presume
lie was correctly reported in his W
paper. have had my record examined,
and find this statement to be an untruth.
] have also had a careful examination
made of the record of Mr.. Glass since
he hns been a member or the house Of
representatives. find that the per
centage of MIR. Glass absences far ex-
cccds mine. During the last two sessions