Claude A. Swanson

Claude A. Swanson was an American Democratic Party politician who served as governor of Virginia from 1906 to 1910.

During Swanson’s time as governor, a wide range of social reforms were carried out. A Board of Charities and Corrections and new board of heath were set up, while hospitals and sanitariums were built for mute, deaf and blind Virginians, along with epileptics and tuberculosis victims. Also, as noted by one study, “Requiring that federal sanitary standards be followed, Swanson ordered Saunders to indict reluctant bakery owners who failed to meet them.”^[1] In addition, a number of labor laws were introduced.^[2]

According to one study, “Not since the Readjuster era had Virginia's elected leaders been so responsive to social concerns.”^[3][4]

1. ↑ Ferrell, Henry C. Jr., "Claude A. Swanson of Virginia: A Political Biography" (1985). Political History. 14. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_political_history/14 P.83
2. ↑ https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/bulletin-united-states-bureau-labor-3943/november-1909-477652?page=3 Title: November 1909 : Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 85, Volume XIX, P.790-792]
3. ↑ Ferrell, Henry C. Jr., "Claude A. Swanson of Virginia: A Political Biography" (1985). Political History. 14. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_political_history/14 P.83
4. ↑ The author is referring to the Readjuster Party; a reformist political party that governed Virginia for a time during the late 19th century.