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■PENITENTIARY 8YSTE yjj MISDEMEANOR
The question
agement of
meanor cor
posed of in
of the
humani
no
l
disposal and man-
itentiary and misde-
been met* and dis-
with the interests
ers and the demands , of
misdemeanor convict is
the mercy of the private
The law declares that the county
a right to his custody, add
the penitentiary officials of the
the duty of inspecting the
where they are confined and guar
anteeing to them just and humane treat
ment. /
Under the new system the penitentiary
convicts riot able-bodied are worked from
a eentral penitentiary owned by the
State. The womens and boys are each to
have apartments Separate from the men.
The able-bodietLftre not under the control
or management of those who receive the
fruits of their labor. No one, save the
officers appointed by the State; can order
a convict Jco work, or inflict punishment
upon him. He is under the control of
the State, and no one else. In accepting
the second nomination for Governor, I
pu^tfhe people on notice that if elected I
" veto any bill which re-ehacted the
lease system,
ited in my messaj
sembly. The pro-p
act the old law fa.
'plan permitting pi
pay for labor only, s
and control of convi
vailed. Under this
statement I re-
j the General As-
of some to re-en-
. and the present
e individuals to
retaining custody
oy the State, pre-
w system it is a
safe estimate to say that the net income
of the State will be 1100,000 per year,
and humane and proper discipline will be
administered to the convict.
MALICIOUS SLANDERERS BENEATH HIS
NOTICE.
The people of Georgia know that since
I have filled the office of Governor it is
my habit not to notice men or newspa
pers who from personal or political mo
tives slander or insinuate falsehoods or
tell falsehoods about me or my adminis
tration. If the Character which I have
.huilded is not a sufficient reply to all the
slanders and falsehoods that may be
brought against me, I have lived to no
purpose. Mr. Hogan, however, is en
deavoring to injure the Democratic party
by making one statement about me in
connection with the recent penitentiary
legislation which I wish Xo correct. I
not b6 applied to public debt until matu- plicants and continue to pay the pen-
. . A * * - - -nv. .< nnnr /in f hft mil mhA hOITQ Tin
rity of bonds, January 1, 1899. Without
violating the law, I turned this money
to account in this transaction in the in
terest of the people. How? We had a
right to place this money in any one of
the State depositories. In the exercise
of this right I left it on deposit with
banks which agreed to pay the interest on
$100,000 of the $200,000 borrowed. The
State, therefore, while borrowing $200,-
000, pays interest on only $100,000 at 2%
per cent, per annum, and the banks were
required to pay interest on tha other
$100,000.
, -
NO GETTING RICH AT EXPENSE OP TAX
PAYERS.
The Democratic party may, in the opin
ion of some, deserve! no credit for the
manner in which it has handled all these
financial transactions. If, however, it
had selected officials who were corrupt
or weak, the vultures who are always on
hand, eager to prey upon the vitals of
the people, could at their expense have
grown fat out of every one of these finan
cial transactions.
PUBLICATION OP CODE, GEORGIA REPORTS
AND THE SCHOOL-BOOK QUESTION
In connection with financial matters
permit me to call your attention to the
fact that the Code, published during this
administration, containing about twice
as much matter as the old Code, is sold
for $4 per copy, while the old one sold for
$10. The Georgia Reports, formerly sold
for $5.60 per volume, were reduced by
my predecessor to $3; under a contract
recently awarded, first editions of these
reports are now printed at a cost to
the State of $1.50 per volume, while
reprints cost only $0.90. These facts
have been by me laid before the
General Assembly in such a light as to
make it so clear that the school-book
monopoly is exacting exorbitant prices
from the people, I cannot .doubt that in
the near future it will solve the school
book question in the interest of the
people.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY EDUCATES THE PEOPLE.
The. Democratic party has built up the
public school system, which offers edu
cational advantages to every child in the
State—white and colored. During this
administration, under the fostering care
of Hon. G. R. Glenn, the faithful and
able State School Commissioner, our
tion because m
ntance with
am the more ready to make this correc- schools have been increased in atten-
■ • ’ ' - dance, length of term, and efficiency.
During the last four years the common
school fund has increased $691,509.88, and
the income of the local systems
$156,144.42, making a.total increase in
four years of $850,654.30.
The * total appropriation for-
common schools for 1898 is.. $1,640,381
Total on local system 750,000
my long acquain
Mr. Hogan convinces me that he is an hon
est man, and I am persuaded that he has
not misrepresented me wilfully or mali
ciously He is stating to the people, in
substance, that I stated during the cam
paign of 1896 that I would veto any bill
which permitted the convicts to be
worked for any one other than the State.
I made no such pledge. My declaration
was against hinng out the body, the
management, of the convict to private
persons, was against the old lease Bystem.
To this pledge I have religiously adhered.
WOULD HAVE VETOED A NEW LEASE OP
THE CONVICTS.
I would under no circumstances have
consented to fastening the old lease sys
tem on the State, and I told the Legisla
ture that if it attempted to do so I would
veto their action. This I would have
done. The legislature, however, passed
no such bill, but presented for my signa
ture an act providing for an enlightened
and humane penitentiary system.
BANKS PAY INTEREST ON PEOPLE’S MONEY.
The money of die people deposited in
banks, which prior to the present ad
ministration yielded no income to the
State, nnder my management brings into
the State Treasury the sum of $15,000
per annum.
DECREASE IN PUBLIC DEBT.
At the beginning of this administra
tion the public debt was $8,441,500. It is
now $8,031,500. Decreased during my
term four hundred and ten thousand dol
lars. This, however, has been done sim
ply by applying the* sinking fund as the
Constitution directs.
LOWERED INTEREST RATE ON 8TATE BONDS*
AND REDUCED THE ANNUAL INTEREST
ACCOUNT.
At the commencement of thri present
administration the annual interest ac
count of the State was $387,035.00. In
terest account now is $346,130.00. De
crease in amount of annual interest paid
bv State during my administration, $40,-
906.00., This interest account has been re
duced in part by my paying off the $400,-
000of bonds with sinking fund, but chiefly
by paying bonds bearing a high rate
of interest and floating in their stead
bonds bearing a lower rate of interest.
In financial matters, what stands to
the credit of this administration ?
SAVED MONEY FOR THE STATE.
In financial matters how much has this
administration saved the people and to
that extent saved them from taxation?
Annual income from N. E. R. R.
(estimated) $ 16,000
Interest annually from State De
positories :....... 15,000
Net income annually fyom Con
victs, $100,000 (less $16,000
under present lease) 84,000
Decrease in annual interest ac
count ........ 40,905
Total for schools in 1898 .. $2,390,381
Has the Democratic party contributed
to the improvement ana education of the
negro ? Let the facts answer. Through
our State and local systems we mil
spend this year for the education of the
negro $833,833. The State of Georgia
contributes this year from State appro
priation to the education of the negro
$623,000, while Louisiana contributes
only $245,000, North Carolina $245,000,
Mississippi $350,000 and Alabama $280,-
000. I have been unable to secure like
information from the other States hav
ing,* large negro population.
CARED FOR CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS.
Has the State, during this administra
tion, met its obligation to the Confeder
ate soldier? In 1894 the total amount
appropriated for pensioning soldiers and
widows of soldiers was $460,000; in 1898
the appropriations tfete $620,000, an in'
crease in four years of $160,000.
This is a continuing animal
saving to the people of $154,905
In connection with these figures re
member the decrease of $410,000 in public
. debt, and that the State has acquired the
ownership of the N. E. Railroad.
I MONEY AT 2)£ FEB ANNUM.
During this year, in order to promptly
S y our common school teachers, the
res to pay whom will not come into the
‘Treasury before December, it became
necessary to borrow $200,000. This amount
-was secured at the very low 1 rate of 2%%
interest per annum. The State never be
fore borrowed money so advantageously.
Only a few days prior to this transaction
another State borrowed at 4per cent.
No State in the entire Union has ever,
within my knowledge, secured money so
cheaply for five months.
STATE PAYS NO- INTEREST ON ONE HUNDRED
THOUSAND OF THE LOAN.
This, however, is not all. We have on
hand $100,000, known as the sinking
fund, raised for the purpose of paying
the public debt, which,tender our Con
stitution, cannot be used for any other
purpose, and consequently was not avail
able to pay the teachers, and yet could
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sioners now on the roll, who have no
higher or better claims upon the gen
erosity of the State. The sixty thousand
dollars which will probably be needed to
meet this increased demand must be col
lected in taxes from the people. While
I hope the General Assembly will devise
some system of taxing inheritances, or
making some special tax levies which
will bear lightly upon the people, it can
not be doubted that the obligations re
ferred to will be honorably discharged,
even should it require a direct tax levy
to do so. Our pension roll should be a
roll of honor, but no veteran standing in
need ofpension should be denied.
GEORGIA MONUMENT AT CHICkAMAUGA.
We have, during this administration,
not only provided for the living, but re
membered the dead. W© have appro
priated $25,000 to erect upon the Ohicka-
mauga battle-field the highest and grand
est of all monuments on that historic
spot in commemoration of the matchless
valor and splendid heroism of the Con
federate soldier.
THE * FIRST TO ADVOCATE PENSIONS FOR
WIDOWS AND BOLDIEBB.
When I was elected Governor in 1894
there were those who had been so far im
posed upon by misrepresentation of my
sentiments, views ana record, as to fear
that under my administration the Dem
ocratic party would not deal generously
with these cherished heroes. To be as
sured that these fears were not well
grounded you have only to look at my
messages to the General Assembly, the
increase of pension appropriations, and
my appointments to office.
I have not only been thoroughly in ac
cord with the Democratic party uppn the
policy of pensioning Confederates, but
was in advance of the party on that ques
tion. In a speech delivered in Newnan in
1878, which was published at the time
and distributed, I said:
“The widows of those who opposed us in
battle receive aid from the United States
government. To pay a debt of gratitude
and to relieve them honor from an incu
bus that overhangs it, every State in
the South should aid by pensioning our
helpless widows and helpless maimed of
the last war. To do this, would show that
we had hearts to love and generosity to
reward those who fought under the Con
quered Banner."
HAVE THE DEMOCRATS ROBBED THE PEOPLE
BY THE ABUSE OF THE TAXING POWER?
The question of taxation is always of
interest to the people. It is one that
goes direct to the pocket of the citizen.
The well governed State will not levy
tribute upon the people for an amount
beyond its needs. It is an old saying,
but none the less a true one, that gov
ernment wrongs the citizen when it take
from him through the power to tax
more money than is needed for its sup
port, when economically administered.
Try the Democracy of Georgia, and
judge her in accordance with the way
she has measured up to this standard of
duty.
In 1870, when we levied no tax for
school or pension purposes, our tax rate
was forty cents on the hundred. In 1875,
with a school fund of only $151,000 and
no pensions, the tax rate was fifty cents
on the hundred. In 1898, we supported
the State government and all its-magni
ficent charitable institutions on a tax
rate of 62 and one-tenth cents on the
hundred, and raised $2,430,000.00 for sink
ing fund, pensions and the support of
the educational interests of the State.
The tax rate this year has been in
creased oneamill, not on account of any
increase in the general expenses, but
solely for the purpose of raising money
to meet the increase of $400,000 in the
school fund.
The total tax raised on prop
erty under the present tax
rate is $2,882,000
The total amount of appropria
tions for educational and pen
sion purposes and sinking
fund 2,430,000
Thus it will be seen that the amounts
appropriated for these purposes alone is
<>88,000 more than the entire sum col
lected by the State from itsdirect taxon
property.
This means that under Democratic rule
in this State we could, on our income
from the rental of the State Road and
other sources, nay interest on the State
debt, pay 70,000 a year principal of the
public debt, sustain every function of the
government which we supported before
and for years after the war, and
not levy one dollar of tax upon property.
If we paid no pensions and no school ap
propriations, and a tax was levied only
on railroad property, we could then ex
empt all Other property, pay $100,000 a
year as principal of public debt, and
have an annual surplus revenue of
$237,000. If we exclude school and pen
sion appropriations, we can pay $100,000
lually on the public debt, andBupport
than the rental of the State Road, is paid
the expenses of the sessions of the Gen
eral Assembly, Agricultural,; Geological
and other departments, Public Printing,
Contingent, and Public _ Property Ex
penses, Military Appropriations, and all
other- expenses of the State, including
the Executive Department, and the en
tire judiciary of the State.. All these are
maintained on less than it costs to sup
port the Lunatic Asylum, Academy for
the Blind and School for the Deaf and
Dumb.
COMPARE GEORGIA WITH OTHER STATES.
No human government is ideal or per
fect ; but permit me to compare Georgia
with other States in the matter of taxa
tion.
Excluding educational and pension ap
propriations from all the States, and
confining the estimate to the expenses
for all o + »her purposes, aiu^, in estimating
Georgia’s, including the raising of the
one nundred thousand sinking fund,
what would be the comparative tax rate?
Based on Georgia’s taxable property and
appropriations in 1898, the comparison
would be as follows:
Texas 20 cents on $100
its
HI
We will continue to extend aid to the
old heroes so long as there are spared to
us those who need and deserve our as
sistance. There are now pending before
the Pension Commissioner applications of
2,500 Confederate soldiers, asking for
pensions. It is probable that two-thirds
of these will conform to the require
ments of the law and be entitled to have
their applications approved and paid.
The State must meet these demands. It
will not be right to deny aid to these ap-
the State government and all its public in
stitutions by raising noly $32,000 from tax
on property. Thiswouldrequireataxrate
of one-twelfth of a mill, or five-sixths of
one cent on the hundred, or 8H cents on
the thousand dollars. Is this a record
of which Georgia Democracy need be
ashamed? It is without a parallel in any
State.
WHERE THE TAXES GO.
Let us review a classified statement of
State expenditures:
Total appropriations for
1898,' is, in round num
bers .....$3,430,000 00
Deduct for educational pur
poses and pensions to Con
federate soldiers 2,830,881 00
Leaving a balance of..... .$1,099,619 00
Deduct from this:
Sinking fund.. ,$100,000 00
Interest on pub
lic debt 846,130 00-$ 446,130 00
Louisiana 47& « “100
Kentucky 35 “ “ 100
Tennessee 30 “ “ 100
Alabama 55 “ “ 100
Virginia 30 “ “ 100
West Virginia 25 “ “ 100
Arkansas 22^ a * “ 100
South Carolina 40 “ “ 100
Florida 37% “ “ 100
North Carolina 21% “ “ 100
Kansas ...40 “ “ 100
Georgia 5-6 “ “ 100
or 8% cents on the thousand dollars.
Can any State in the Union surpass
this showing? If so I congratulate it.
If the Populists endeavor to hold out
the hope of lower taxes on present tax
values, you can never realize that hope
unless they reduce the - appropriations
for schools or pensions, or both. In
addition to being proper expenditures
for the State, it is pleasing to note that
the total of these sums, amounting to
two-thirds of the State’s revenue, is sent
back to the counties and put in circula
tion among the people. The Democratic
party will never strike a blow at either
of these, and common honesty requires
me to tell you so. In the expenditures
for the maintenance of the ordinary de
partments of Government and the sup
port of our public institutions, if it be
possible to make any reduction at all,
it will be so small an amount that in fix
ing the levy it cannot effect the tax rate.
HOW TO REDUCE THE TAX BATE.
There is a way other than by taxing in
heritance in which the tax rate can
be materially reduced, and I have re
peatedly urged the General Assembly to
adopt it, but to no avail.
In 1892 tax values were fixed, not by
the tax payer who has a direct interest in
omitting to give in property or placing
the lowest possible value upon it, and
thus burdening his neighbor with a part
of the taxes which he should pay, but
fixed by a Board of disinterested Tax As
sessors ; the tax values increased from
$444,000,000 in 1891 to $463,000,000 in 1892.
This act was repealed in the fall of 1892.
The next year there was a decrease of
$11,000,000 in return of taxable property
and now after a constant decline it is
$54,000,000 less than in 1892 when valued
by tax assessors. If so much good was
accomplished in one year, with the ex
perience of this effort tax values ere now
would have been equalized and largely
increased, and vast amounts of property,
real and personal, which now escape tax
ation would be bearing its share of the
common burden.
When laws are enacted devising the
means to place all taxable property on
the tax-books *t a fair valuation, the as-
value of the property in the State
will largely increase, the tax rate will be
lowered and all citizens will pay their
just share of the burdens of State gov
ernment—no more and no less. I com
mend this suggestion to honest men of
all parties.
PURITY OF THE BALLOT.
I am rejoiced to know that the efforts
which I have been making for years to
close the doors against every possible
form of fraud or corruption has taken
such hold upon the popular mind as to
enlist the enthusiastic interest and advo
cacy of some who have heretofore been
indifferent. Those who in the past failed
to aid me in awakening the public con
science on this question are speaking out
now with the zeal and enthusiasm of
new converts. Democracy is determined
to accomplish this reform. In my mes
sage to the General Assembly in 16941
urged “the necessity of changing our
election laws and providing a system
wherein every unfair or fraudulent prac
tice may be easily detected and effectu
ally prevented.’’ Then, again, in my
message in 1895 I said, “I congratulate
you upon the progress made in the im
provement in our election laws, and ad
vise that you continue in this work until
every imperfection is eradicated.”
In my Milledgeville speech, in the cam
paign of 1896,1 said, “ We cannot over
estimate tl ‘
the parity of our elections. They shouk
not only be fair and honest, but so con
ducted that there can be no ground for
suspecting corruption. The purity of the
ballot is invaluable to us, as it is to every
free people. When elections are tainted
with fraud, the rights of the people are
uncertain and their liberties are imper
iled. Again, in 1896,1 urged upon the
General Assembly the passage of sueh
laws that no honest man’s vote can be
neutralized by a dishonest or fraudulent
ballot.”
Leaving a balance for the
support of public institu-
. tions and State Govern
ment $653,489 00
Deduct from this:
For support of lu
natic asylum.. .$290,000 00
Academy for the ,W,:- v *1
Blind 20,000 00
School for the
Deaf and Dumb 25,000 00— 335,000 00
Leaving a balance of $ 818,498 00
Out of this sum, which is $100,000 less
didate should be required, before he as
sumes the duties of his office, to exhibit
and file a sworn, itemized statement of
expenses, which should not exceed the
amount allowed by law. For a violation
of this law he should forfeit his right to
the office to which he is elected. Posi
tions should not be awarded toymen on ac
count of the wealth they possess. The
power and political influence of men
should not, in the smallest degree, be
measured by money, but by their moral
and intellectual worth. The history of this
country gives ample proof that the best
service has been rendered the Republic
by men whose study of questions affect
ing the public had so far monopolized
their time that their own possessions
were small. The proposed measure
should be sufficiently comprehensive to
specify the purposes for which money
can be used in a campaign, in a party
primary or final election. Its unrestric
ted use will degrade political life, put
capacity and..worth at a discount, and
make money the test of merit. The in
fluence of money in politics is already
too gtoat. To encourage worthy men
Who dp not possess wealth, to secure
a fair submission to voters of ques
tions involving governmental policy
and personal ment, to avoid the de
bauching of politics by the power of
money, to guard the purity of the public
service that government may ment the
respect and confidence of the people, I
earnestly ask that prompt action be
taken to avoid the disastrous results
which must follow the evils to which I
have called your attention.” -
LEGISLATE AGAINST EVILS WHICH MAY
COME. |
The State cannot neglebt to meet this
demand. Failure to do so may permit
and encourage the coming of the day
when money, not men, will be supreme
in Georgia politics. t
In my campaign for the Democratic
nomination for Governor in 1894, with
the most powerful organs of the State
and her leading politicians, who had for
years been masters of State politics,
against me, without the means to open
headquarters in the Capital city, to em
ploy a force of men to conduct a cam
paign under the management of leading
politicians, with no headquarters save
my humble home in the glorious old
county of Coweta, and no managers of
my campaign save the devoted members
of my owiy-family, I went directly to the
people ana submitted to them my cause.
To the confidence and favor of the people
alone I owe my triumph, in that contest.
I allude.to this experience of my own to
show that money has not yet become
requisite to success in Georgia and to
express the hope that legislation will be
enacted to prevent the growth of its
power and leave the road to preferment
in Georgia open alike to the rich and the
poor.
As the tendency to submit to be gov
erned by the power of money in many
sections of the Union is felt in Georgia,
the Democratic party can be relied upon
to check its growth and destroy its power.
To do otherwise would be to leave the
road to success in public life open only
to the rich, and to any man who has as
his supporters those great corporations
which could furnish the money to con
duct his campaign and then be his mas
ters, and hence the masters of the people
during his term- of office. The Demo
cratic party owes it to itself, to the peo
ple of the State, to the honorable, proud
and ambitious sons of the poor to so leg
islate that money cannot control our
elections and leave openJo the humblest
citizen the path to honoirand distinction
in the service of the State. This should
be one of the missions of the Democratic
party in her onward career.
PROMOTED THE GENERAL WELFARE.
During the last four years the o&cers
in charge of the State government have
faithfully administered the affairs of
every institution, met every just de
mand upon the State, improved our
schools and other educational insti
tutions, perfected our laws, fostered
every effort to develop our resources,
and multiplied those industries which
eir
t Twaur UfiTT -
In the very inception of
movement in 1891 I took thil
a speech delivered in Frankft*l
county, and urged that thp !’ N
would result in nothinlbl^rZ
have lived to see that ith«= 4 hai a>r
bitterness and strife without
ing any of its professed
Whenitbeganto^
the gallant Joe James of Tu? ni , te *W
had already met its leader
tore a Populist audience’
srjSsywMjigsS
was the opening of the DemomT ^
aign in Georgia against the Tw at , lc c 85i.
the following campaign Goverr 1S *H
then was elected by 67 ooq w v n ? r %
1894 they were defeated bv a J' ri ^' t
Realizing that
aEsasJMfssJi
ally to pieces, 83r
4^S! D « fasa*
withdrawn and therefore nSt v&i
In the very inception of thif *■
paign the Populists publicly
abandonment of their professed J - 4 *
pies by owniy endorsing a SJE
^ndffiate for Congress in thefijj
‘X
! 1;-
'te«!,
give profitable employment to the peopl<
and contributed by every means in the
power to her prosperity and strength at
home and her consideration and dignity
abroad.
ADVERTISING GEORGIA RESOURCES.
The display of our products at the
Cotton States and International Exposi
tion and the Omaha Exposition, now
open, has already attracted the attention
of the homeseeker and the investor to
the advantages offered by your State, and
when the era of prosperity, which I be
lieve is now near at hand, draws upon us,
will yield to ns a rich harvest.
ORRDIT DUB NO INDIvtoUAL, BUT TO THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
No one individual is entitled to the
USE OP MONEY IN ELECTIONS,
„ In 18971 said: “ Laws regulating elec
tions should effectually prevent fraud
and so guard the right of the elective
franchise that the destiny of our State
will be entrusted only to those citizens
whose ballot is unpurchasable. In ad-
dition to legislation dealing directly
with this grave question, the right to
use money in elections should be strictly
guarded, and directions given how and
through what channels it should pass. The
experience of others has led them to make
such provisions, and in my opinion we
should take similar action. The amount
of money which can be used by a eandi-
date before the people or General As
sembly should be limited, the purposes
specified by law. and the successful can-
————^ ■_ ’ i/aac; PUGCCSS
Consult us about your PRINTING of all kinds
Also your orders fo
DEMOCRATIC STATE TICKET EONSqj
WITHOUT OPPOSITION.
There is now no hope for the Pnr
party, and no hope in the Populhff
The strength of prohibition in
Legislature when compared with in,
decessors gives ample proof that Vl
^effort to involve it in partisan polit «•
flicted an injury upon the cause SS
hibition in Georgia. Bishop CanJv
Drs. Bigham, Lewis and others
clearly right when they took the rxJS
that the Prohibitionists in all
were stronger than any party, and tS
an effort to involve them in parti*
political strife would impede the ?
gress of prohibition. The Prohibit
party having learned this lesson have l
idea of again coming to the aid oftw
Populists. The Populist party has
its enthusiasm and hope, is sha
and disorganized, while the Prohi,
party has learned that a contest
the Democratic party in Georgia ii
its cause,- and will not again join
with the Populists and undertake tt,
trol the State, but will vote the De®!
cratic ticket. The coalition of P*.
ulist and Prohibition votes was for £
purpose of defeating the Democratic®,
didate for Governor, as his office ikt*
bore any relation to prohibition leci4
tion, and hence did not effect the vote of I
the State House officers.
In the election of a Governor in lm
the Democrats had to combat this foil
of forces. Now, happily for us, in 1#
the Democratic party virtually his«
opposition.
TOM WATSON WRITES AN 0BITCAET,
If there had been a glimmer of howil I
making a creditable contest, Hon. Tl
Watson would now be a candidate fs |
Governor. There is no doubt that he a
cognizes that the party is doomed,
party departed this life in 1896, i
Hon. T. JE. Watson wrote its obiti
when he declined to attempt
them further and refused to acc
nomination for Governor.
In Tennessee some of its leaders oil
party officials have given public
that they will support the 1
cratic ticket. In Alabama
Populist candidate for Governor
ried wenty-five counties in 18961
only ten in 1898. They received
votes in 1896 and only 41,000 in:
The Democratic candidate for Govi
received more than twice as many
as were cast tor his Populist oppoi
The people of the South are to be i
gratulated that the Democratic -
will no longer have to meet opp
of a substantial character from
who were formerly Democrats. Ini
Democratic opposition will come i
the Republicans.
CANDLER AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC JOB- ]
NEES WORTHY OF CONFIDENCI.
The State ticket presented
Democrats is worthy tnesupport'
Georgian. Hon. A.D. Candler,then
nee tor Governor, has been long in »
public service and his career is mowim i
you all. He has served in the House»
Representatives, in the State Senate^
he to-day enjoys — -
esteem of those whom he formerly
credit for alj that- is commendable in the | sented. During my term as Govemoi!*
administration during the past tour
years. The officers at the Capitol have en
deavored to do their duty, but there was
little which they had the power to do had
....... • ,—r- not the representatives in the General
to the importance of preserving Assembly been men whose patriotism
. J °1elections. They should, and wisdom made them worthy the posi
tion and powers entrusted to them. But,
after all, the credit for the fidelity and
achievements of them all belongs to no
individual, but to the Democratic party.
REFORMS NEVER CBASeJ
It is not claimed that the work of im
provement or reform is complete. Great
advancements will yet be made in the
administration of this State, and in all
governments, so long as there exists a
government worthy the name. There
exist serious problems for my successor
to solve, and changes and reforms in the
administration of the State’s affairs will
doubtless commend themselves, to his
judgment, and be solved in the interests
of the State.
The human mind will cease to be culti
vated, and government cease to improve,
on the arrival of the time when there are
no more changes to be made and no more
reforms to be inaugurated.
The proposition upon which I ask the
eople of Georgia to vote for the nomi-
pees of the Democratic party is that,
through the efforts of this party what
ever defects may now exist can best be
mended, and to it may be safely en-
tousted the promotion of the interests
has been your faithful, efficient and*
Secretary of State. ., , -.,,
Every other man on the ticket u
good, true man, who possesses tfie c ^ l
acter and ability to render the Stete 1
tingulshed service in the t"’ ’
which he has been named by L-. ..
I have on this occasion set low
reasons why the Democratic P© rt J
titled to your confidence and "
In doing this I have demonstra
it is the only party in the State
selects its nominees in
commands of the members of tne i
and that since it has been en . .
with the administration of our i
it has met every emergency3|
dom and discharged every trusi i
honor. This is the character I
party into which I invite
I especially urge those who were
ly one of us, to return to the n I
their fathers, clasp hands witnj £,1
ions and brothers, and let ■
ourselves to the cause of gow ?
ment. In the old P art y® kith's
for us all and in its conflicts ;
enemies of good governmen ‘ j
work for every patriot to a°. of lr I
ant to feel as you join theforW^Jl
mocracy that you are uniting j
who champion the rights of , J^l
and in their behalf appeal 1 L en . ^ I
and conscience of our country ^
arid growth and the protection of the I the people she stands
honor of flip State. and without a riQor
CALL AMD SEE the Largest and most
Printing Plant in the South.
CoffiP 1 '
LEGAL BLANKS, OFFICE STATIONERY
ELEOTROTYPINC AND STEREOTYPING,
BLANK BOOKS AND BINDING OF EVERY DESCRIPT* 0
Bc|ogS_Bottght, Sold and
" r 1 " — ^ •^•xotianaed.
THE FRANKLIN PRINTING AND PUBLISHING CO.
Box 425. V v-l •- > . ^
U5-71 Ivy Street and Edgewood Avenue, ATLANTA, G
Bos: 415.
Telephone 08.