The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-08-19
SENATOR SWANSON
Says Charges of Glass are False and
SlanderOus.

| have Just read with surprise and
contempt the speech that Mr.. Glass
made at Bristol in which he refers 10
me as having improperly used my pc
sition as a member OF Congress and
as member of the Ways and Means
Committee OF the House OF Represen
tatives to promote my financial in
terests.
These statements, which Mr. Glass
Is reported as to have made. are
false and slanderous, and were
known by Mr.. Glass to be false and
slanderous when he made them. TIL
references which Mr.. Glass made to
my being a stakeholder in the Amer
can Tobacco Company must have
been the result of false and per-
verted account which at one time
was circulated as a rumor to the
effect that | was the owner of stock
In the American Tobacco Company.
While my business transactions
can hardly be a matter of interest
10 the public, have had none whic
] would be unwilling to throw open
10 the view of the Virginia people.
When a false and slanderOus state
ment is made in respect to them, /,
OF course, seek the first opportunity
to give to the public every fact.
out of which vicious and SANDER
Gus statements OF my opponent could
have grown.
Fought Stock on Margin.
In 1898, while | was at Chatham,
Va, when Congress was not in SEES
sion, purchased on margin 200
shares Of the stock of the American
Tobacco Company. | put up the
usual margin required by brokers
In speculative transactions. The
stock was never in my possession, and
l do not suppose 1t was ever trans
ferred to my name on the books of
the company. The broker held the
stock only a short time, and | new
er voted IL or gave any one a proxy
TO vote II.
Il was never In any essential sense
a stakeholder, but simply carried
the 200 shares OF stock as a specula-
ton, through the agency of brok-
er, with a view to making a specu-
iative profit. II was a stock traded
n-on the market and l thought il
was low and thought by buying some
OF 1t and holding It for a short time
that | could, make a profit. 1t was
perfectly legitimate transaction
made by me on strictly business prin
ciples. There was not the slightest
improperly in 1t. A year or two
later when Congress was not In ses-
sion and when no legislation was
pending or contemplated and when
L had no more knowledge or no more
opportunity of knowledge than any
other business man / purchased ESQ
shares OF this stock on margin for
similar speculative purposes and in
the usual way This stock was sold
shortly afterwards. Tho two trans
actions were similar and there was
not the slightest wrong or impro-
priety In either case.
Charge a Fabrication.
II notice in the same speech Mr..
Glass charges that Mr. ]. S. b.
Thompson came to Washington
and demanded my appointment
as Senator. In reply to this de-
sire to say that at no time did II
or any one for me in any way
communicate with Mr. Thompson nor
did he or any one for him commu-
nicate with me In regard to my
appointment as United States Sen
ator. | never had the slightest In
formation from any source as to
anything Mr.. Thompson did 'or what
MS preference was in reference 20
THIS senatorship. l am satisfied the
charge Is pure fabrication"