Evening star., 1920-12-05
SENATOR SWANSON
FACES LIVELY RACE
Price Readiustment Causes
New Problems to Arise in
Virginia Affairs. .

RICHMOND, Va, December 4-The
declaration by the Governor of vir-
ginia that he will make formal an
nouncement of his candidacy for the
United States Senate in opposition to
Senator Claude A. Swanson caused no
surprise. His intention to make the
race has long been known by the
friends of Senator Swanson, and when
the statement of Gov. Davis appeared,
it had been discounted for several
weeks.
Senator Swanson. as related in these
dispatches, has already formally en-
tered the race. and he has been at
work along the lines that have served
a long time. He says he is in the
hghting, that he will make the cam
paign of his life. and has been ad
vised by his physician that-he will
be in excellent shape for the contest
when the time arrives for him to take
the stump.
He is known far and wide as an
aggressive speaker, and in this he
VIII be met by man who is strong
with the people in many RESPECTS.
Road Work In Ialted.
The state highway commission has
halted the awarding of contracts for
highway improvements until after the
HTSt OI the year, DIS a result OIL unset
tied labor and business conditions.
Projects are under way and ready for
The contractors aggregating more
than S1.000.000, hut are being held in
allegiance because of the fear of the
contractors to make bids until things
have become more stabilized.
For one thing. the labor situation
is becoming more and more perplex-
ing. as many hundreds of men are
out of employment here, with reduc-
Il. - L.
establishments. Manufacturing con-
Germs in many parts OF the state have
begun to reduce wages. to shorten
the working time, and in various
ways to meet the changing conditions
and a return to the pre-war basis.
reductions have been accepted by
many workers rather than be out of
employment at time of the year
when there appears to be general
tendency to get back to normal in all
lines of business.
Food Prices Are Dropping.
Prices for all manner of home
grown products are lowering in all
supplied with more produce Of all
kinds than at any time for i've years.
The farmers appear to have become
panic-stricken. and are rushing their
They are being urged by the COM
mission men to hold up their ship
ments for a few days. in order that
the immense stocks on hand may be
disposed of at fair prices. the COM
mission men telling them that prices
will be reduced from now on. but
that in order to prevent gluttfng of
the markets and causing a waste and
complete Generalization it Is best to
go slow and to get the stuff to the
market in smaller Quantities
There will be demand for all the
supplies. say the dealers.
HAVE Grand Pageant.
State ofiicers and educators have
begun agitation for q great historical
pageant here May Is. Jamestown day,
to commemorate the founding of the
settlements in America. The idea
originated several years ago. but the |
coming of the world war made post
ponement of the event a necessity.
The idea is to have a portrayal of |
all the events in connection with the !
landing at jamestown, to have all |
the characters represented. and to re-
scenes that marked the coming of the |
white man to this part OF the world. !
The state win have a part in the
ceremonies. and Richmond will be the
from all parts of the United States
win be asked to come and participate
In the, celebration. ~
Assessnen4 In Disappointing.
Figures Of the assessing board for
this city have been made public, and
while the increase is placed at less I!
than "a per cent over last year the
valuations are disappointing.
Based on the rental charges and the
selling prices of residential property.
the belief was that the increase would
be not less than ~ per cent. The
property values here were about $685.
100000. and were expected to reach
L. III.
who formed the board are men who
know real estate, however, and they
have submitted a report which has
been accepted by the Judge of the
court.
There had been estimates that the
state would jump to not less than
$1,000. .0oo. 900 in real estate. but this
may be shortened. There are one or
two sections In which the increase has
been more th8n 100 per cent in the
last fve years. There are many in
quirtes for farm lands. and people
are coming to Virginia from the north
and west in Increasing numbers.
Hsve sAbanaened StriDes.
Stripes are no longer worn by the
inmates OF the state penitentiary. the
directors named by the governor
having -inAugurated many reforms in
that institntion The men now wear
ing caps OF pattern designed by
Supt Wood.
There is to be a school in the
prison FOR fitting the men for better
things ana increased opportunities for
good when they shall have completed
their terms. A minister Is conducting
the school, and the men are said to be
eager to learn.
Ever since the state stopped the
legal traffic in liquor. the number
Of convicts has been declining each
year.. and today there are hundreds
fewer inmates than for the last fifty
years.