Newspaper Page Text
THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS.
oAiciiLtAl, ellft* At, l*ii.
FEARLESS DEMAND FOR REFORM LAWS FOR GEORGIA
KEYNOTE OF GOVERNOR HOKE SMITH’S ADDRESS
Advocates Extension of State Road to Sea.
Demands Increased Appropriations For
Education in Georgia, and Denounces
Corporation Influences in Politics.
I N HIS Inaugural address Saturday. Hon. Hoke Smith, governor of
Georgia, outlined clearly the policies of his administration. He called
attention to needed reforms, and pledged himself to work throughout
his term of office in the Interest of the whole people of the commonwealth.
Mr. Smith’s speech. In full, follows:
Gentlemen of the Legislature and Fel- Increased when a class of voters has
low Citizens:
I take the oath of office with the pur
pose, God helping and directing mo, to
perform every duty the office permits
In the Interest of the masses of the peo
ple.
But there are certain duties which
have been specifically placed upon me.
They have been voiced by the voters at
• the ballot box. They have been de-
' dared by their representatives at the
Democratic convention. I accept office
under solemn direction by tho people to
.' carry out the platform pledges.
Wo must not be led away to other
tasks until our spcclflo pledges to the
! people have been performed.
A government falls to reach Its hlgh-
; set sphere If it does not protect the
[rights of property, and at the same
time constantly broaden opportunities
! for mental, moral and financial growth
1 to the leas fortunate.
A government by the people furnishes
1 the only hope for such a result. To
! make It sura ballot boxes must be pure
and legislative halls must be free from
! the Influences of predatory wealth.
| Every frank man admits that In na-
! tlonal and state legislation more power
; lias been exercised by the great corpo-
! rations than hns been consistent with
i the full protection of popular rights,
i The time has come when it Is neces-
sary to determine whether certain fa-
I vored Interests or tho state shall rule.
Suppress Lobbyists.
What has been told of hired potltl-
, cal agents Infesting legislative halls Is
I no idle story. They have been the
; curse of national legislation; their In-
! fluenco for evil has been felt 4n nearly
| every state, and Georgia has been no
| exception to tho rule.
The great body of the people inter-
| estod In legislative matters are busy at
! home with their dally labors.
! The hired political agent has been
j permitted to press his master's Interest,
1 not only by using his own personal In-
' fluenco, but by bringing from different
parts of the state his little strikers to
sit around hotels and present In the
presence of members of the legislature,
with professed Impartiality, what he
’ terms the wishes of the people, while at
tho same time, secretly, ho Is hired to
defeat their Interests.
I believe that you will pass legisla
tion to make It a crime for an attorney
or agent, hired to support or oppose
legislation, to discuss his client’s Inter
est In the presence of those who are to
vote upon It, except where that discus
sion Is at a public hearing, or with
members of the legislature officially
named for conference.
The proposed legislation also requires
that anyone employed to support or op
pose a legislative measure must
promptly enter an appearance with the
secretary of state In a book to be kept
open to the public, describing the na
ture of his employment.
To require the entry of such an ap-
; pearance is not a hardship. It Is no
reflection upon the honorable attorney.
It his work Is simply by argument to
present the merits of his side, there can
be no more objection to his doing so
than for him to make an argument be-
1 fore the supreme court of the state, and
; he should welcome the publicity of his
: employment. If he seeks to Influence
legislation by political pull, he should
be suppressed.
! OOOOOOGOOOQOOOOOOOGOOOOQOO
O 8T0P FREE PA88E8. O
O O
0OO0OOO0O0OO00OOO00OOOO000
I urge also the passage of a bill
which will put an end to the free-paaa
system between local points in Georgia.
This practice began, and was fol
lowed for a long time, with but few
harmful results. It baa grown tt be a
crying evil. It has becomo a means of
petty political bribery.
Our common carriers have no right
to charge for transportation more than
a sum reasonably sufficient to pay them
for their services. If some ride free,
those who pay must be charged suffl-
■ clsnt rates to cover the legitimate coat
of their transportation and the passage
of the free-pass holders.
The time has come when all should
pay, and all should pay less for trans
portation.
The hired political agent and the
free-pass system are twin evils. With
in a few days you ran make their exist
ence Impossible In Georgia.
If these laws are promptly passed we
may expect from throughout the state
words of confidence and praise, Inspir
ing us to further aetton In behalf of
better government.
Money In Politics and Clean Electlona.
The best results from popular gov
ernment can only be had where the In
dividual voter approachea the ballot box
Influenced alone by a patriotic purpose
to serve his country, his state and his
nation.
One of the evils which has polluted
elections and debauched voters has been
political contributions by the great cor
porations and special Interests. Their
money has been given not to advance
principles, but to debauch character
and defeat popular rights.
hirst, the voters are to be bought for
the candidate, and then the office-hold
er Is to be owned because the corpora
tion bought the voters for him.
^hrery time money Is used to buy a
vote or to hire a striker at the polls,
true Ideals of popular government are
overthrown and somewhere the people
themselves will suffer from It.
Make It a crime for a corporation
or special Interest to contribute money
to politics. Make it a crime to buy a
voter or hire a striker at the polls.
Place upon every candidate the duty
ot showing, under oath, a detailed
statement of what he spent, how he
spent It, and where tho money came
from.
With these three provisions enacted
Into law a great step forward will be
made. Then let us make elections so
clean In Georgia that other states, see-
Ini our good works, may follow our
example.
Constitutional Amendment Fixing
Franchise Standard.
I realise how difficult it will be to
reach the standard for which f plead
when a great number of qualified vot-
are hopelessly Ignorant and
for generations Inherited Incapacity,
and must transmit the aame Incapacity
for generations to come.
I favor an amendment to the consti
tution of the state which will fix a new
standard for the elective franchise.
The proposed constitutional amend
ment will be before you. With an oath
fresh upon my lips to support the con
stitution of the United States, I favor
the amendment
There is no restriction upon tho right
of a state to fix the qualifications of
those who may vote except the provi
sion of the constitution of the United
States, which declares that "the right
of the citizens of tho United States to
vote shall not be denied or abridged by
the United States, or any state, on ac
count of race, color or previous condi
tion of servitude."
ooooooooooo<h>oo<kh>oooooooo
0 O
O FRANCHISE 8TANDARD,
O O
00000000000000000000000000
I have no doubt that the amendment
proposed Is entirely free from consti
tutional objection. It neither denies
nor abridges the right of any citizen of
the United States to voto on account
of race, color or previous condition of
servitude. It only fixes certain stand
ards which must be reached by every
citizen of the United States before he
can become en elector In Georgia.
If it happens that the members of
some particular race lack more than
others these qualifications, their Inabil
ity to becomo voters Is not "denied or
abridged on account or’ race or color,
but on account of the fact that they
do not possess tho qualifications which
we legally fix ns Georgia’s standard—
the qualifications being required of all
without reference to race or color.
The proposed constitutional amend
ment Is along the line of the Alabama
law. It provides that a person to regis
ter and vote must have all tho qualifi
cations now required for that purpose,
and also belong to some one or tho six
classes following:
1. All persons who served in any war
of tho United States, the Confederate
states or the state of Georgia; or
2. All persons lawfully descended
from any of such soldiers; or
3. All persons of good character who
understand the duties and obligations
of citizenship; or
4. All persons who can read correctly
and who can write correctly when read
to them In the English language any
paragraph of the constitution of thi
United States or the state of Georgia;
or •
5. Any person who Is the owner of
40 acres of land on which he lives; or
fl. Any person who owns five hundred
($500) dollars worth of property In the
state of Georgia as shown by the tax
digest.
Tho right to qualify under the third
provision expires January 1, 1910. The
right to qualify under the first and
second provisions expires January 1,
1915.
A man who has registered under
either the first, second or third of these
provisions Is qualified to vote for life,
unless ho falls to pay his taxes, com
mits a crime, or does some act subse
quent to his registration which pre
vents his voting.
The attack which may be made upon
this proposed amendment Is largely
limited to the first and second provi
sions for suffrage which I have men
tioned.
Military service has been so generally
recognized as a basis for tho elective
franchise that no argument with refer
ence to It Is really required.
It Is the second provision alone which
has been the subject of adverse criti
cism. This qualification provides that
for a term of years any one descended
from one who has participated In vrar
as a soldier of the United States, the
Confederate states or the state of Geor
gia can register and vote. The criti
cism Is without merit.
This provision does not deny or
abridge the right of any one to vote
"on account of race, color or previous
condition of servitudeIt gives to all
who have the qualifications the right
to register and vote. It Is, therefore,
free from any constitutional objection.
If an attack is made upon the wis
dom of recognizing the right of suffrage
upon the theory of heredity, I would
have you remember that heredity Is no
novel ground for participation In gov
ernment. It has been recognized by the
■tates north of the Potomac, as well
as those south of It, as a proper reason
for granting the right of suffrage, and
If we cross the ocean and go to ntne-
tenths of the countries of the world, wo
find not alone tho right to participate
In an election granted as a hereditary
right, but we see the rulers of nations,
the legislators qf the greatest countries
In the world, to a large extent, occupy
ing their positions ns rulers and legis
lators by right of heredity.
1 would not have you think that I
believe In the right of rule by heredity
as It Is recognized abroad, but 1 do In
sist that precedent Is too ample and
too conclusive to justify on attack upon
the right of suffrage, based In part,
at least, upon heredity.
Whtle the proposed constitutional
amendment meets every requirement of
the constitution of the United States,
It will permanently preserve the elec
tive franchise to all of our citizens who
have borne the burdens of the com
monwealth In war and peace, and upon
whom the burdens now rest.
ill also exclude, by fair and con
stitutional test, the great bulk of that
class who are Incompetent to govern
others or even themselves.
It will protect us from dangers that
would otherwise attend the political
divisions of the future. It will Insure
the permanent control of the state, and
of every county, municipality and di
vision thereof, by its citizens of most
Intelligence and character.
We hold commission from the peo
ple. Loyalty and fair dealing to them,
as well as prudence and foresight for
the future, unite to require the passage
without delay of the bill submitting the
proposed constitutional amendment to
00000000000000000000000000
0 REGULATE PRIMARIES. 0
O O
00tW0000O0000000O0O0000O00
Papular government can only exist
aa a substantial reality where the
voters are given a full opportunity to
express their convictions at the ballot
box.
In our state It Is especially Important
that this opportunity should be given
In our primaries. By common consent
an overwhelming majority of the peo
ple accept the verdict of the primary
aa conclusive.
slblllty which they assume by Interfer
ing through restraining ordera with the
action of the atate. the officers of rail
road companies will realize the respect
due to the atate, and will present their
views to the railroad commission, and'
conferences will be followed by har
monious relations.
The railroad commission should be
reasonable and Just to the railroads, but
If the railroads persist In an attitude
of stubborn lltlgousness, they can
hardly expect a continuation of gifts
from the state. If the railroads are
Injured by resisting the authority of
the state. If they suffer In consequence,
the fault will rest upon their mlsguld-
* officeholders, and must not
It machine politicians are allowed to chargeable to the state of Georgia,
anlnulate either the time or manner Extent of State's Power.
manipulate either the time or manner
of holding primaries, the will of the
people can bo defeated and the schemes
of the machine may be substituted for
popular government. A common dodge
Is to call a primary long before an
election, when the Issues are not before
the people. No primary should be per
mitted more than sixty days before the
election.
I have no desire to discuss the past,
but 1 would protect the future. Let
us. by legislative action, fix the time
for party primaries and surround them
with safeguards which will guarantee
In future an opportunity for the voters
to select their office-holders, untraro-
melcd by cunning devices.
Regulate Railroad* and Publlo 8ervlce
Companies.
Our pledges made to the people cov
ered legislation to promote pure pop
ular government, and also legislation
upon the great question of protecting
the rights of the people In their rela
tions with common carriers and publlo
service corporations.
Railroad corporations and publlo
service companies are monopollatlo In
their nature. It Is Impossible for the
ordinary rule of competition to protect
the rlghta of the publlo In their deal
ings with such companies. Rsdlroad
corporations and public service corpo
rations are given special privileges pri
marily that the people disconnected
with those companies may be bene
fited.
Tho stockholders rely upon the direc
tors and officers of the corporation* to
protect their Interests. The rights of
the public must be guarded by the state
In local matters, by the nation In Inter
state matters.
It is especially Important at this time
when many are ready to transfer all
control to the national government that
the state show capacity to meet Its port
Amend Railroad Commission Law.
While the legislature' would be au
thorized to act for the state by fixing
in detail the duties of transportation
companies and public service compa
nies, these duties are ao varied that
years ago Georgia adopted the policy of
placing tho power and responsibility of
tho state upon a railroad commission.
Our railroad commission law, passed
more than twenty-five years ago, has
In It so much of value which has been
sustained by the courts that I believe
It to bo the wise policy to perfect by
amendment our present commission
laws rather than to adopt on entirely
new bill covering this subject.
Increase Power of Commission,
The commission should require for
passengers reasonable rates and proper
schedules and depot accommodations.
The commission should require for
shippers reasonable rates, and an effi
cient service, the control extending to
the time within which cars must be
furnished after application, to delivery
of freight, to the construction and use
of spur or side-tracks, to shifting and
Interchanging cars In railroad yards
and terminals, to freedom from par
tiality In all service, and to tho pay
ment of overcharges and shortages. It
should supervise the pay and hours of
sorvlce of telegraph operators and train
dispatchers. It should direct the form
of keeping accounts by those corpo
rations. It should cover every condition
where the officers and agents of the
public carrier may fall In duty to the
public.
It should have power to prevent the
Issue of watered stocks and bonds.
The commission must be given power
to protect the publlo in every relation
where they should be served by trans
portation companies.
While the rates charged for freight
and passenger transportation should bo
controlled, the charaeter of service
given Is of the utmost Importance.
OOO000000OOO000000O0000000
o o
0 CONTROL OVER RATES. 0
o a
00000000000000000000000000
By exercising the authority I have
outlined, the state Is still at but the
threshold of Its power. I cannot bet
ter Indicate this than by quoting from
a letter of Robert Toombs', recently
republished In Watson's Weekly Jef
fersonian:
"I. We have the right of eminent
domain; the right to take all railroads
for publlo use when the public Inter
ests demand It, by paying Just com
pensation.
"2. The right of legislative repeal of
all charters created or renewed since
January 1, 1863.
"8. The right to forfeit by Judicial
judgment all charters In the state for
violation of the same. These corpora
tions move and live and have their
being in daljy violation of the consti
tution and laws of the land, many of
which are legal grounds of forfeiture.
This remedy ought now to be applied.”
I do not urge that procedure be now
begun to forfeit railroad charters, but
I warn the men In charge of these
properties not to defy the conserva
tive demands now being made upon
them.
00000000000000000000000000
0 O
0 DUTY OF GOVERNOR. O
0 O
00000000000000000000000000
purchasable. The difficulty Is greatly the people for ratification.
The great problem of local freight
and passenger rates Is ons for regula
tion by the state. It Is for the state,
through Its duly constituted author!
ties, to fix tho policy of the state, de
termining what percentages of profits
are to be earned by transportation and
public service companies.
Tbe authority of the state has no
limit as to local rates, except that
which Is found In the constitution of
tho United States, providing that prop
erty shall not be taken without due
process of low.
The railroad commission, using the
facilities given to It by law. Investigates
the facts with reference to freight and
passenger rates. The members well
understand that the property of the
railroads is not to be confiscated. Far
from taking the property of*the rail
roads without due process of law, they
determlne that the rates which they fix
are reasonable and just, having In view
the Investments of stockholders In rail
road properties, the policy of the state
to encourage railroad building, and the
rights of the public to be protected
against excessive and Improper charges.
The action of the railroad commis
sion takes the place of an act of the
legislature of the state of Georgia and
becomes the solemn decision of the
state, through Its duly constituted au
thority. It Is a serious proposition for a
Judge to assume the province of setting
up his Judgment against such a finding.
Judicial Interference.
The time must come when the courts
will cease to grant temporary restrain
ing orders Interfering with the authdrl-
ty of the state In these matters. There
Is no broad question of law upon which
the court* could rest their Interference
with the action of a railroad commis
sion. The cases must turn upon ques
tions Tif fact, and surely the findings of
q commission upon the facts deserve
the respect of a court until a final hear
ing satisfies the court that the commis
sion Ims misunderstood the facts.
The finding of a railroad commission
er should not be suspended by the ex
parte affidavit of a railroad officer.
The actual trial of a proposed rate is
the best way to determine Its effect. If
It should prove to be unjuet to the
railroad company, there should still be
no occasion for the court to interfere.
The railroad commission should be re
lied upon, after, a fair trial, to modify
a rate. If the rate proved to be Im
proper.
When the court* realize the respon-
I believe It the part of wisdom to al
low your chief executive to carry a full
share of responsibility for the work of
the commission. This was the plan of
the original bill, and It Is the plan of
tho proposed law.
If the railroads continue the policy
of appealing to the courts when the
commission acts, the state must re
sist these suits with Just as much force
and power as the railroad companies
bring to their support
It is utterly Impossible for the at
torney general to meet alone the
swarm of lawyers and hosts of wit
nesses that will be brought forward by
the transportation companies and pub
lic service companies when litigation
Is precipitated. Wo must give to the
attorney general and counsel associat
ed with him every possible aid. We
must, If necessary, employ experts to
meet the railroad experts. I believe It
to be part of the duty of the governor
to render all possible assistance In
supporting decisions of the commis
sion.
I shall expect the railroad commis
sioners to give their time Intelligently
and unitedly to the work of meeting
any attack which may be brought by
the railroad companies. I ask you to
support the commission with any
funds that may be required to conduct
the side of the people as Intelligently
and forcefully as the side of the rail
road Is conducted.
A railroad commissioner who cannot
unite with ills associates In a vigorous
resistance to any attack mnde upon the
commission's findings owes tt to the
state to retire from the position which
he holds. The law authorizes the gov
ernor to suspend a commissioner. A
suspension by tho governor In no sense
Involves the Idea that the commission
er ‘has committed an Impeachable of
fense. If the views of a commissioner
are so hostile to the work of the ma
jority that he Is not In a position to
help,sustaln the action of the commis
sion, his presence upon the commission
would be a hindrance to effective serv
ice, and tt would bo the duty of the
governor to suspend him.
Western and Atlantic Railroad.
The platform adopted at Macon calls
attention to the fact that the act under
which the Western and Atlantlo rail
road waa built contemplated It* ultp
mate extension to the sea It also do
dares that the time has now orrlvod for
the general assembly to seriously con
slder the question of making the exten
sion.
I commend this suggestion to your
careful consideration. I believe the
ownership of the state road to be a
thing of great value to the people of
Georgia not only on account of Ita ca
pacity to produce an Income, but on
account of the Influence Jt may have
upon tho future regulation of the trans
portation question.
If It can be extended to the sea at one
or more points I have no doubt the In
vestment would be profitable, and Its
value to the people aa a whole greatly
Increased. 1 trust that you may be able
to present a satisfactory plan for the
completion of the road.
* Railroad Employes!.
The state owes a duty to the faithful
men who discharge the labor for rail
road snd publlo service companies. I
agree with the views expressed by
President Roosevelt that It Is unjust
when an employee loses limb or life to
place the entire loss upon him or his
family, In the class of cases called mere
accidents. Especially Is It unjust to
free the corporation from liability In
those cases defended upon the ground
that the employee knew of the negll
gence of the company and assumed the
risk of such negligence. An employee
may know of the existence of a defect,
known also to his superior officer. He
can not afford to quit work nor can the
public afford to have him quit. To de
prive him In case of Injury of the right
to recover is a rule so harsh that It Is
only defended upon the theory of prece
dent.
In some states the courts are break
ing away from this precedent. In some
states the courts are being relieved of
the precedent by statute. This severe
rule ha* received approval in section
2612 of the Code of 1895. I trust that
by statute this wrong may be stopped,
and that this section of the code of
Georgia may be repealed.
Another rule has grown up In our
state which requires the presiding
judge to charge that an employee to
recover must be "absolutely free from
fault,” and that If the employee le guil
ty of negligence, "however slight,” his
recovery is defeated.
This extreme rule Is peculiar to Geor
gia. I recommend that It be changed,
and that only negligence which
amounts to lack of ordinary care be
permitted to defeat recovery by an
employe*.
00000000000000000000000000
O O
0 LIQUOR LEGISLATION. 0
0 0
00000000000000000000000000
For a long time the state of Georgia
has adhered to the policy of local option
applied to the sale of liquor. All re
strictive liquor laws arouse Intense
feeling. As the enforcement of the
laws depends largely upon the senti
ment In tbe counties In which they are
to be enforced, we have permitted the
voters of each county to decide what
should be the policy of tbelr county.
Whtle my sympathies In a local elec,
tlon are with those who oppose the eale
of liquor, for the present, local option
may furnish the best plan for control
ling the liquor traffic.
But after the people of a county vote
liquor out It Is not fair to permit the
dally inpouring of liquors by Jug trains.
Our platform demands that the dry
counties of Georgia' be kept dry. I cor
dially favor legislation to accomplish
this result, and I believe It possible to
restrain'to a great extent the use of
liquors shipped from outside the state.
I suggest also the propriety of mak.
Ing the operation of a "blind tiger” i
felony. ,
Education,
The chief object of government
should be to prevent special privileges
and to give to all equal rights and op
portunities. To this the men and wom
en of Georgia are entitled, and you are
preparing legislation which Insures It to
them.
The relatloii of the state to the chil
dren goes much further. It Is the duty
of the state to see that tho children
are given an opportunity for all prep
aration which their probable life work
requires.
Education from books alone Is not
always of much value. It should bo
accomplished with practical training,
having In view the future of the child.
Negro Children.
Let me refer to the negro children
In this connection. Any plan for the
negroes which falls to recognize tho
difference between the white and black
races wilt fail. The honest student of
history knows that the negro had full
opportunity for generations to devel
op before the days of slavery; that the
negro race was Improved by slavery,
and that the majority of the negroes
In this state have ceased to Improve
since slavery. Few have been helped
by learning front books. All have been
helped who have been taught or made
to work.
It Is not the difference of environ
ment; It is the difference of race, deep
seated, inherited for generations and
generations through hundreds of years.
The large majority of negroes are
Incapable of anything but manual la
bor. and many taught from books
spurn labor and live In Idleness. Few
negroes are willing to work beyond the
procurement of the hardest necessities
of life.
The negro child should be taught
manual labor and how to live. The
negro teacher should be selected less
by book than by character examina
tions. The negro school to be useful
needs less books and more work. I fa
vor a complete change In the examina
tion of teachers for the negro schools,
and for them a different plan of man
agement; I would have the schools help
the negro, not Injure him.
1 will not discuss this subject more
fully at present, but I wish to be die
tlnctly understood. I seek the Intell!
gent treatment of the negro, and to
that end the radical difference between
the while and negro races must be
kept In view.
Racial differences can not be over
come by misguided philanthropists,
They shutild not be disregarded by us,
however much criticism may come
from any source upon us.
Outlines His Position on Issues of the State
in No Uncertain Terms—Asks For Dis
franchisement Amendment and
For Control of Railroads.
00000000000000000000000000
0 O
0 RE8PECT THE LAW. 0
0 0
00000000000000000000000000
But no one should suppose that su
periority Justifies cruelty. While every
caution should be had to prevent crime,
white the white men of the various lo
calities of the state should know and
apprehend any Idle, unidentified negro
who appears In a locality, punishment
for crime belongs to the law. The man
who breaks the law to punish a crimi
nal Is himself a criminal, and I ask tho
people of the stato to help me preserve
law and order. There la no place In
Georgia for riots and mobs.
It Is the duty of the governor to ex
haust the power of his office to pre-
tent lynching,.and I shall perform this
duty. I go further. In full knowledge
of the superiority of the white race, I
recognise the duty of the white man to
be absolutely Just, yes, he should be
kind to the negro. The white man
should exercise a controlling direction
tempered with kindness over the negro.
. White Children.
The white children of Georgia are
prepared for the highest development;
but I do not mean by this that they
will necessarily obtain It through lit
erary and classical studies.
For them It Is at this time most Im
portant to Improve the manual train
ing and agricultural schools, and the
rural schools. With a view to progress
1 ask you to consider the unorganised
condition of the educational work of
Georgia.
University snd Branohet.
The constitution of the state
Georgia limits the right of taxation
for educational purposes to the Uni
versity of Georgia, and to elementary
branches of an English education. As
a result of this provision, the School
of Technology, the State College of Ag
riculture. the 8tate Normal College,
the Georgia Normal and Industrial
College at Mllledgevllle, the North
Georgia Agricultural and. Mechanical
College at Dahlonega, the eleven dis
trict agricultural schools and the Geor
gia Industrial School for negroes are
classed as branches of the university.
The university proper Is the classical
college at Athens. This college has a
board of trustees called the trustees
of the university. The branches have
each separate boards of trustees, but
are also placed under the trustees of
the university, who are trustees pri
marily of the classical college at Ath
ens. one of the divisions of the unt-|
erslty.
trustees who are especially charged
with the responsibility for the classical
college at Athens? One way to accom
plish this result would be by a const!
tutlonal amendment, giving the legis
lature the right to tax directly, without
reference to the university, for the
support of these various institutions.
Another would be to make tbe trustees
of the classical college at Athens,
termed the university trustees, a local
board for that Institution just as each
of the other boards la a local board for
a particular Institution. Then create a
new board, termed regents of the uni
versity, connected with no local Insti
tution, but having general supervision
over all the branches of the university.
The necessity for action upon one of
these two lines Is the greater since the
state college of agriculture has been
located In Athens. I am deeply Inter
ested In this college.
00000000000000000000000000
0 O
0 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE. O
0 0
00000000000000000000000000
For years there has been nominally a
state college of agriculture, but entirely
dwarfed by the university proper. I
did not approve the location of the
agricultural college at Athens. I thought
It should have been placed at Griffin
with the experiment station, but tho
location has been made. The grounds
purchased, through the liberality of Mr.
Peabody, are ample and splendidly
suited for the work, and tho contract
has been let for buildings which will
cost over 390,000.
I am convinced that It Is Impracti
cable to conduct this college success
fully with a local board under the su
pervision of the trustees Whose work
primarily has connection with the uni
versity proper, or the classical branch
of the university.
There Is much In the record of the
university proper to inspire pride on
the part of Georgians; many of our
great men who made Georgia's history
1 rraduated there. I wish to see It grow,
urnlshed with ample money, made the
aide of every cltlxen of the state, but
tt management must be changed. It
must be brought closer to the people to
justify the hope of a future so much to
je desired.
I can not claim to have matured a
plan of reorganization to which I am
entirely wedded, but a change will help
the university and make the college of
agriculture.
As the atate college of agriculture Is
now permanently located In Athens, a
question for serious consideration Is,
Should not the experiment station be
moved to It?
ferent from that of North and midi
Georgia that I urge the establishment
of a branch experiment station In South
Georgia along side of one of our agri
cultural schools, or else by a Soutji
Georgia normal school.
The atate college of agriculture
should not bo limited In Its work to
students at Athens. It should conduct
extension work all over the state by ex
hibits and meetings, at which may
gather those already engaged In farm
ing, that the results of the experiments
may at once be available to the people.
From this college, coupled with the
Experiment Station, more Immediate
return* can be obtained for the state
than from any other Institution.
Agriculture Is the chief source of our
prosperity and wealth. A properly
managed agricultural college, working
with the district schools, the rural
schools and those now engaged
farming can revolutionise our present
methods, and Immensely Increase the
net profits from agriculture. This Is
no new subject. I pressed It upon the
State Agricultural Society at Quitman
eight years ago.
When I think what the people of the
state have lost by the way agricul
tural education has been neglected dur.
Ing the past years at Athens, while the
Morrell fund has been used for class!
cal Instruction, I almost lose patience.
The School of Technology 1* already
a great succese, and must be supported.
Normal Work,
Good normal work Is being done at
Athens and at Mllledgevllle. Tou
can not have good common schools un
less you have ample normal facilities.
The normal school work of Georgia
should be extended and Improved.
It might be well to make the school
at Dahlonega and the school at Mll-
ledgevllle distinctly normal schools, and
add also a fourth school In south Geor
gia.
District Agricultural Schools.
Tli* eleven district agricultural
schools form a large undertaking. It
will be difficult to find suitable lnstruc.
tors prepared for the practical work to
be done in these schools. It would
have been easier to start with a few
and Increase the number of schools as
we were prepared better to handle
them, but the' eleven hare been begun,
and now the thing for us to do la rec
ognising the difficulty that confronts
ua. manfully to struggle for their com
plete success. I believe the money will
be ready to meet their legitimate ex
penses, and they will receive from me
oyol and xealout aupporL
00000000000000000000000000
* 0
THE RURAL SCHOOLS. 0
0
00000000000000000000000000
The common school system of Geor
gia finds at Us head a state school
commissioner with a board of educa
tion not composed of educators, and
giving little direction to the work. I
cordially commend the recommendation
of the teachers of Georgia, that a
board of education ahould be created
at the head of our common school sys
tem for the state composed of men
trained aa educators, men who under
stand the wants of the common schools
and who will help Improve them. In
the cities and towns our common
schools are nearly everywhere under
the municipal governments. Our rural
schools are without this direction.
The rural schools of each county In
the atate will depend largely for their
trained teacher. He should be pre
pared to train the teachers under him
He should give his entire time to the
work, and be paid enough to afford to
dO 80.
I do not mean to urge that all of the
county school commissioners who are
not trained teachers should be
dropped, but I believe that trained
teachers should be elected county
sohool commissioners as rapidly as pos
sible.
It Is absolutely necessary that ths
state ahould train the teachers for the
rural schools.
Into the rural schools must be In
troduced nature study and primary
agriculture. This work to be success
fully conducted must receive aid from
the atate, first, by adding agricultural
departments to every normal school in
the atate In which the future teacher
may be taught how to teach primary
agriculture, and then direction In the
shape of leaflets and pamphlets must
Issue from the State College of Agri
culture, and be distributed among the
rural school teachers, from time to
time, to aid and guide them In their
work.
Train tho White Children to Meet
Life’s Responsibilities.
I long to see manual training Intro
duced In the school of the cities and
towns In the state. The great educa
tional work which Georgia should do
for her children Is not that they may
be able to read and loaf, but that they
may bo able to think and act. We
must train the boys and girls of Geor
gia ao that they can meet the responsi
bilities of life, so that they can use
the resources whloh God has given us,
so that they can surround themselves
and their children.
I would have the boy* and girls of
Georgia furnished an opportunity to
make useful men and women. Near
ly every white child of the tenant
farmer and nearly every white child
of the poorest day laborer carries In
his veins the blood of a Revolutionary
hero. He has the foundation on which
to build a manhood unsurpassed In ca- |
parity and usefulness.! We must not
permit this germ of greatness to be
smothered by lack of opportunity.
But you may ask, how is the money
to be raised? I have no objection to
glfti from outride the etato, but finally |
we mutt depend upon ourselves. We ,
mutt not only wllllnaly but Joyfully tax !
ourselves for this great work.
The cities and municipalities levy a i
local tax for their schools The rural I
districts, when they really see good
schools can be obtained, will readily
follow the aame oourse.
The state, although It now con- [
tributes liberally to educational work, ]
can largely Increase Us present appro- I
prlatlon. '
We must require the corporations In j
Georgia to pay their Just taxea Wo |
must equalize taxation among all the 1
people of Georgia. Who will object to
paying taxes when he realizes that the
money Is to b* Intelligently spent for |
the children of the state? Instead of
a burden. It should be a great prlvl-'
lege to help In so noble a cause.
00000000000000000000000000
0 O
O TRAIN WHITE CHILDREN. 0
0 O
0000000000000000000000000a
The state now raises from direct and j
Indirect taxation, from rent of the state i
railroad and from the lease of convicts
34,600,000 a year. Of this amount last j
year 31,000,000 went to pensions and to i
various contributions for the old sol
diers; 3400,000 to eleemosynary Instl-1
tutlons; 3400,000 to Interest and prin- j
ctpal of the state's debt; 3360,000 went j
back to the counties for the hire of j
convicts; 3340,000 to the general ex-:
penses of the state, and 32,000,000 to ;
educational work in the state. I do not
give exaot but approximate figures.
Georgia appropriates more ffioney for
her old soldiers than any atate In the
South. The money la freely contributed
and Is well spent.
Our eleemosynary Institutions ought
not to require more money than they
are now receiving. Onr general ex
penses peed not be made larger. Prao-
tlcally all of our Increase In the shape
of state re'venue can be devoted to the
children of the state.
The problem of handling our educa
tional Interests would be easy, but for
the fact that the state la 31,250.000 be
hind In paying Its appropriations to the
common schools. It Is further behind
now than ever before at this period of
the year. But for this, I would with (
enthusiasm contemplate the Immediate
progress of our educational Institutions.
I maintain that Georgia can not af
ford to leave her teachers without i
prompt payment. I earnestly hope that,
we can find a way to accomplish this
prompt payment. ,
I wish to see the business affairs of
the state brought to a* accurate a
standard as that of the best managed
financial Institution In Georgia.
I regret to say that the most accurate
Information obtainable from the
of the state treasurer Indicates that
after using all money collected between
this and January 1 next we will lacs
over 3200,000 of meeting appropriations
required to be paid this year, and be
sides this, we will owe 350,000 on the
state college of agriculture, appro
priated last year, but payable next year-
This 3260,000 about represents the
amount which the state has annually
for several year* failed to collect from
corporations which'can properly oe
classed as tax-dodgers, and whten *
believe from this on they will be made
,0 P a F- , .„h t
There are other subjects which *
would be pleased to discuss, but I de
sire to raise no new unnecessary !”“
at present The reforms with which »
are specially charged are entitled }
first consideration. To them J®®
dtatcly we will give our best thougn
with the earnest purpose to serve tn
ho placed ua here to n
Ours la a great state.
Ought not these separate Institutions | success upon the work of the county
to bo freed from tbe control of the school commissioner. He should be a
who placed us here to represent tb«
Ours Is a great state. The r J
make the state. To receive their conn
dence la an Inspiration. We • i
aside all other plans, and, moved n>
great unselfish love, we will im
serve the Georgians of today ana ■■
children who must make the Geergi
the future. .
May God help us to meet the res*-
Abilities which are upon us.