Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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.