Inaugural address of Nat E. Harris, Governor of Georgia, June 26, 1915

INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
NATE. HARRIS
GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA
JUNE 26, 1915
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS
NATE. HARRIS
GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA
June 26, 1915
]~)l;j
< 'H,\,'S. P. HYHD, ,-.;t:l1P Prin1C'r, ATLA'.\'TA, GA.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS
ATLANTA, GA., .June 26, Hl15.
1lfr. President, Mr. Speaker, You Gentlemen of the Senate r1,nrl Ilm1se, and Lrrdies 1ind Oe11tlcnwn.
In this great assembly, amid these historic surroundings, I rome to enter upon the duties of the high office which the people of the Stnh~ havt! conferred upon me.
To one who has live<l in this Commonwealth from his youug rnnnhood through a long life, attending at tinws on, its public affairs, and aiding in a sma1l way in the administration of its government, this day e,m never be other than distinguished in the nwmory of all his after days.
1t is no small honor to be Governor of Georgia. One of the original thirt(~en rolonies; the ~~mpirP State of the South, and forging fast to the front as the J,~mpire State of the Union; possessing the largest domain of any State east of the Mississippi; witl1 a people devoted to the principles of the government of the fathers, and generally lacking the dt>uwrnlizations incident to the settling of n nPw ccmntry; with growing resources and rapid rnnltiplication of inhabitants, the State is of right c-hallenging the attention and bidding high for the admiration of all the people of this Union.
Boasting a soil and elimnte unrivaled, the north-
a

crn portion is <liY<'rsifi0<l liy ru,2;g0<l monntnins sP:rnwd witl1 rni1wrals nn<l h: h<,rntifnl \nll<:s down whi<'h tho11sm1ds of stnarns n1sh tow:ir<IN the 0<'<',111. Its mines lW<'<l only fnrtlwr d<:'Yelop11wnt, nrnl its streams, if all lrnn1ess<(l, wonld fnrnish power <'ll011gl1 to (lrin1 the rnnehi1wn of the nntion.
In tlH rnid<llc arnl soutltnn portion ya,.;t sh'<'tclHs of fortih fields i1wit<' tlw attention of tltP f'an11<'1 all(l plnnkr, and promise almrnlnnt h:nyests f'or th< people of thP whol<' land.
rl'ltis is thP Ntat< fo1 which yon, g<'nt l0nwn of th<' Ilonsc nrnl NenntP, 11,l\'C' lH<'n s<l0de<l to 111nk< th<- laws <lming tlw <'nrning two .''<'ill'S, to ,1id i11 its progT<'ss, arnl kgislate for th< lmppi1wss :rnd W<ll'arc of it:c; tePming popnl:ttion.
T sn.' it is a gT<at honor to lw Om<111or of n Ntnt<- lik<- tlti,.;. -:\fo11 of' national fame; of' 11aii011:1l prnmi1wrn<-, nw11 fitt<d to W<',11' 1li< rnh<'s of tlH higl1est oni<'<'S in ilH l:iml, m011rnl whose 11:mws an '\In 1lyi11g ln:-:tn will nhrn_\s ling<'r, :1rnl wl1os< d<'Pds :irr tit<' prnnd lwritng<' oi' n 11:di011, 11:l\'P oecnpiPd fl1is ch:1ir.

'l1 h<' nrnking of l:nn;, g<ntl<'rnPn, 1s 110 light rnat-

i<!l'. Law i:-: th0 <''-'lll'<ssio11 of tlH JH'opl<'s will

tl1rongl1 <'onstitntional forrns. r:l'liP most irn,ignifi-

cm1t statnt< hP<'Olll('i-- n solPrn11 ,id wl1c11 it l1,1s pass-

Pd

tlmmgh ~

tltP

lrnrnls

of

tli<-

L('!tislatnr< ( ,

'

hf'Pn

a1i-

prnY<\<l hy thP <'Xc<ntin-, aml <111ollP<l 111Hm tliP <'Y<'l'-

la:-:ting n<onls of tliP St:it<-.

111 rom long ohs<'l'Yation :rnd <':qwri<nc<', T ltnYC'

l'<':1Cli<d tll<' <'<rn<'lu:--inn tlmt tl1e h<st lnws an tlws<'

"lii<-11 HJ'(' most <':1rd'nll,\ cmrnid<'n'rl, most !'nil_\ dis-

4

cussed, nncl then deliherntt!ly enacted. The crude and hasty lugislntion sometimes pnt npon the State in tht! rn,.;h of the ]a,.,t dc1ys of the Ression return to mock us at times, and frequently hear a harvest of evil instead of good to the people.
It would be well if every statute, though carefully prepnred by a committee, could be fully discussed in the two Houses, in order that its enactment may carry with it the endorsemr~nt of the body and become in that way the deliberate conclusion of the General Assembly, renehed after full examination and consideration of its purposes.
I most earnestly recommend to you, gentlemen of the two Houses, this suggestion: Let the Legislature fully understand in every case what is being done, and the dangers to the Commonwealth will be l0ssened appreciahly while the welfare of the people will 1m moRt certainly subservcd.
vV Tm<: AR IN lj]uROPE.
Called to preside over the affairs of this State at a time when the -world is at war, there arc m:my misgivings natural to the situation.
vVar is demoralizing, not only to the countries directly engaged, but to all others within the sphcni of their influence. The people of the world are so closely joined together in these days of steam and electricity that it is impossible for any nation to er.gage in strife, civil or international, without seriously affecting other natiorn,. It is much easier to execute law when the world is at peact1 than it is when a state of wnr exists. __,_.\s the demoralization consequent upon such a eondition spreads over the rountr)' the enforcement of law hccomes more diffi-
5

cult, reqmnng gre:1kr t'xertion upon the llnrt of

thmw cone(rne<1 with the ex<cntiou of the lav.,, as

W<'ll for tlw sake of the lnwluss m; for the lnw-

abiding.

Our peovle have folt the effects of'the Euro1wan

war in tl1e vast lmsincss depression which followed

closely upon the announcement of hostilities. 'rl1csc

effects- <'ame home to the Routh with 1mexnmpled

force and versistency when the market for our staple

commodity was cmtailed and the decline of the

1)1'ice follo,ved in rapic1 succession. The farmers

lrn<1 invested heavily in the cotton crop, trusting to

the usual demand, and consequently they were ut-

terly un1)repared to stand the heavy decline in price

consequent upon the coll:ipse of the nrnrket. ~Iany

of thC'rn hnve suffered; many will yd suffer before

the end comes.

-1\ ]most every interest was involved. This eon-

<1ition during the acute> stage brought ahout a rn-

markahh, change in our lmsinuss affairs. Thu war

was so unexpectud that men's minds wen ready to

acce1it an: 1nophee: of ,qipronching evil. It was

feared that our home countr: -would soon lwrome

involved. Ko one could tell how long the ,nu wonlcl

last nor how widesvread would he the scope of l1os-

tilities. There were sa<1 forehor1inQ's on eYerv hand.

L'



The hanlrn lwcame frarf'nl of the situation, and for

awhil0sto1lp<'d all aecom1110dations. l\foney was dini-

cnlt to 1noeUJ'<' nnd prnpurtr vahwtions snff<'n'd

aceordingly.

-Whil<' this condition of affairs is much irnpro,-ed

at the- pre-sent time, yd tlw country has not enti10l~-

recovered from the first results. The imminc,nce ol"

events that might invohe our l10111e land has kept.

(i

the peoiile in a state of foar and e::-qiedation. Business could not entinl.v resume its usual course and while under the eirenrnstanres the price of cotton has improved, yet the nncertainty of the future haR lwen sufficient to deter the business interests of the lnnd from entering upon any extensive inveRtmcnts.
1t is bclie\-ed, however, that great good will come ont of the 1nesN1t situation for our 8tate. rrlie business depression will prnve a blessing in disguise if it should teaeh us to rely npqn our own resoun'f!S, improvP our mdl10ds of fanning, incn11se the countr,\ 's yield of hrcad stuffs am! live stof'k so that we need not look else,vltere for our supplies of tlwsti great necessaries.
-With such an im1,rovm11ent, ,vitlt tlte lesson that mu misfortmws ltave hmglit ns, we l1ope to se<> tile light soon retmn to the eyes of the people of our
State, and the smilPs again gather uiion their faces.
Jt is. not possihle or prnfitable in an inaugural address to atternpt to lay down anr policy whieli the executiYe would desire to have the Legislature earry out, Pxeevt in the most general krms.
-what I shall sa.v, therefon, will lw rather ,mggestiYe than ,l(h-ison-, in view of the faet that I shall han the 1ight to c01m11unicate \\ith the Legislature in writing from time to time on such matters as 11111y arise at the present session.
Oun FrKA-"1CEs.
The lnrnil](ss <kprt>ssion at larg< lias heen r8flected in tl1e rol ledion of om n~vcmws.
The difficulty of raising rn01wy out of the country's crops' enuscd tlw people to postpone to the latest moment pot-isihle tl1<' payment of the taxcs,
7

thus retarding the usual returns as compared with the same period in other years. It is anticipated, as a consequence, that in many co11ntics the nnrnher of tax defaulters will he so multiplie(l that the list will reach larger proportions tlinn nt any time perhaps in the Sbte 's recent history. This will materially increase the cost of collection, and decrease the net return.
The trouble is general and not confined to the countr,v, for the citiPs and tmyns have suffen,r1; t11e profits on innstnwnts have decn'ased, the WH/!,'('S of labor have heen cnt, and tho salaries of employees, as well as offieers of corporations, rednced so that the volume of nad,v money available for 1inyment of these m;sessments has been largely diminished.
The lowering of the tax rate h~- the former administration of half a mill, while in direet lino with the rule of economy laid down and faithfully followed by my illustrious predecessor, and earnestly advocated during the campaign by myself, Jias noeeRsarily resulted in the reduction of the amount of revenue usually on hand at corresponding tinws in other years. This reduction, wit11 the business disturbance, lrns caused a shortage even from -thosu counties -which -were 1)(_'St nhl0 to meet tlie levy aml raise tlw rnone~r to 1rny the same.
rl'he conseq1H~nco is, gentlenwn, that it may 1w regarded as l'Pasonably certain that the finm1cps will he somewhat straitoned during the term of officp for whieh you and I were elected. I-fo-w far this shortage may extend cannot now he nscertained ,vitb c<~rtainty. Yon will have the Comptroller's report before yon, and this, witl1 the 'L'reasurer 's re11ort, will sho,Y yon the amounts on hand and in sight, so that
8

you may be ahle, as far as practicable, to nrnkc your mn1 estimate from information furnished h~- th0se exp(~rienr'ef1 and efficic,nt offieNs of tl1P real situation.
The Act of the Genernl ).._ssembly, appron'c1 j\ ugnst 14, 191:3, known as tl1e Equalization 'J1 ax Ad, has the possibility of great adv,mtages to t11e State in its enforcement. ,\'hilt: tlw ) .. et is still on ti-i,ll, yet tlw many instm1ces in which it has prnnm of
manifest benefit, hoth to tlie comity arn1 the StatP, seem to indicate that it is destined to pl:1y no snrnll part in tlw future developm0nt of our finaneial
policy. The Act fnrnisli0s a means by which the glaring
inequalities in our system of taxation nrny l)(_! remedied. It will require mrwmlrnent, no duuht, so ns to adjm,t it to the work to be done.
Taxes are always lrnrd to pay; thp~- are paid un(for compulsion; hut if tlie taxpa_pr fools tlrnt he is on an exad eqrnility with his ncigl1hors, tl1at his burdens are no greatPr in proportion than an t1ie hunkns of other eitiz0ns similarly situatecl, tlie payment of l1is taxes lif'COill('S mueh Pasier and the aC'comp:mying semw of injustice is rnaterinlly 1P"S<'llP<1.
'l'lw _Act has lrnr1 the adY,rnbg<' of a YPry wise a11d effieient a<1ministrator in the person of ,Jrnlge .John C. Hart, and the campaign of edueation wl1icl1 he has c,nTiPd on thronghont thP RtatP rmmot lw
too highly commended to )Tom efmsideration. 'l'l1cre is no other -work of snf'h vitn l importanC'e to the
Commonwealth going on -within its honrn1". T1H' future progress of tire Stnte rcvo1ws about it.

lt nece:-;sarily results from ,vliat has }wen saia, that the Legicdatnn! sl1oul<l lw a little cantions during the, present session in tlI<' wa\- of extrn npprovriations.
I think it ma:-- be 11ossih](, to i11cn'asc the maiu-
ternmce fund in sorn( of onr Pdncntional and e]eemosenary institutions wliPn there is shown a pressing necessity for the same'. As a gPnernl rule, how-
eyer, it will not bP good policy to make spPrial ap-
prnpriatiorn,~or ,my great increase in any particular fund ht>rctofore anthorizec1.
,Vhile this state of affoirs is mnch to he n'grdted, yet it is the result of ennb entirely heyond the eontrol of the Stak, so tlrnt it is a condition which eonfronts and rompc,Js ns, though the theory wou](l point to (1ifferent results. I liave never tal,c~n foe Yiew that our Lt>gislaturus were guilty of any di;-;honesty if their appropriatiom, shonl<l happen to exeee<l tlJ(_' reYe1111es of the preYious year.
\\~hile the constitutional limit of fin\ mills fo1 taxation ought to act m; a minatory re:-;trnint on the Legislature, yet if tliat hod~-, as rcpresentati\'e of tlie whole 1wople and ading witl1 a fnll knowlPdgt'
of the situation, slwnlrl sec' fit, in its wisdom, to
('xlrnust the j11comt> of the State dPriw,d from thi:-; source by additional appro11riations in aid of meritorious objects, perfodly legal nml in lzeeping witl1 a ,yi:-;e llolie,\' of ,idvance on tlie part of the State at
lnrgP, I think I woul(l lin taki1i: too rnnch on rnyself
to denounce sncli pnW('C'di11g as <lisho11cst, ltowenr umyi:-;e I might regard it.
The subjects of taxation, ltowPYer, an~ so mrnwr-

011s awl the values ni<> so C'!inn;(alik tlint it would l'CIJllini a Y<'r., IH11eirntin; ini<ll(d to miti(ipat<> 1l1<
ba11kn1pi<: of tlH 'l'n;1s11r: frrnn au ov<nlral't in lwlwlf of tl1e lY1rni1wss of tlte t-ltnh> its(!lf.
But while this is my 1ic~rs01rnl Yie,v, l shall expert the Legislature, in evNy case wlwre nd<litional approprintions nre 1mHle, to levy a sufficient tax 011 new subjects or find means to inereas0 the tax alrendy le,ied 011 old snhjects to a 1ioint neee:-:sary to meet the adclitional lnuden. 'ro this end, I woul<l
lrnve eyery l<c>gislator an C.1' o/f'icio mernl1er of thP AJJpropriations and lVays aJld Means Committees,
so that the responsibilit: he fu1l,v unden,tood hr all and not horn<c> b~ a single committee.
To the same Pnd, it would he well to requirP b:
rule or statute a joint rnC>eting at state<l i11krrn Is
of those eornmittees in the two Honsc~s lrnving eharg\' of the firnrne<:!s, in ,vliicli meetings the considPration of tlw appropriations eonld he had and the taxation
necessnry to med tlie smne eould be ndjnsted or <luvis0d.
Such a eo1usc wonlcl not Prwroaeli upon the jnd<'IH'lHlPncr of eitlwr House, but 1Yonl<l bring ahont a situation in whi<'ll the budget could lw made up with some slio\\' of eertaint) as to amounts rpecive(l arnl mnonnts appropriated. In this way, too, the
ohjC>ets e11titled to the 8tnte's support eonld be con-
,.;jdprcd, tlie lincs stakc><l ont arnl Pstahlisliccl, and
tlw Legislatme lie- enahle1cl to direct tlw h11si11ess ne-
eon1iHgl_\". Orn ;-;tep in this dindion has a lrc-n<l: h<'<'ll tnkcn in tlw rPqni1emPnt of n joint fiirnneP
eonHnittPe to Pxamine tliP 1msirwss of the ( 1cJ1ll]ltroller and Tnasnrer.
rrl1P apprnximntc> rncorne of tliP State ong1it to
11

he ascPrtained hy every 1egiR1ator, and the amount of appropriationR -wliieh this in<'ome 1Yi11 authorize <':ll'ct'ull~, f-ig111<<l out Ro th;it. lw mi:lit vote i11telligl)11tly wlH1wn1 a11y q1wstio11 ,nos<i inYolving tht exp<rnliture of the State's mone_,. It will be the steady and earneRt puqiose of this administration to see that the people at large get Ya1ue received for <>very dollar of taxes paid into the Treasury.
Speaking from a Jong experience on the financinl side of the State's business, it seems to me that th0 present method of allowing one committee to determine the appropriations to be made and another committee to decide on the taxes necessary to meet these appropriations, has too much haphazard about it to commend itself to an intelligent legislator. Both cornmitteesi ought to be consulted, as well on )qJJll'OJJriations as on ,\Tays and ::\leans, and -when a llolicy is agreed u1ion both committees ought to lw strong enough to secure or defeat legislation by convincing the judgment of the two Houses.
This is a growing State, nml as such must have growing demands for money. lt was the purpoSL' of the ( 'onstitution to provide in the General A )lpropriation Act for meeting such demands, and in the General Tax Ad for raising the money necessary out of the peovle.
_At Inst the people must furnish the means to carry on their government, and to meet the expernlihues required to f;ecure its progress arnl lll'osperity.
P1,:Nsrn~s TO CoNFEDER.-1.TE ~OLllrnRs.
The forni is nem :it hand whc~n it would he good
polic)' to douhlP the pensions paid to the ConfN1-
NatP f;O]clierf;. ,\ge and infinni tic~s increase the

necessities of thiR <'lass of our citizens and remler each one more dependent.
Georgia ltas done well in the past-rnnch hetter than any other Southern State-in her treatment of these old soldiers.
Yet there has 11evcr bPPn a Rnhstantial imrenR<'
in the Rchedulc of allowancC>s ma<1c to tl1ern. The
small nmount apportioned to each one will not avail to meet the wnntR of the pensioner, as age and hcl1llessness come on and his labor becomes less productive.
I have thought that Rome kind of count.' opi ion might be well. This could he hronght about by constitutional amendment, hut it is probably l>est to continue the matter in the State's hands.
,Vhile an increase here would he a heavy lmnfon on our finances, yet its purposes would jnstify the
outlay. rrhesc, olcl men h:ne earned the right to he
sn1lported by the State, and tlte resultant satisfaction on the part of the people with sneh e~qrnnditures is the proof that the patriotie sentirnmt of the fathers yd snnin~ in the hearts of the sons.
The number of pensimwrs is grm\ing ]pss in H<'celera ted proportions ever) .''(',11'. Tht' exp(rnl it u re will not he 1wcessarily very long.
I woul<l be glarl to see a constitutional anwndnwnt ,mtliorizing the separntc le\; and collection of a tax for tl1is purpose. The people eould then vote
on tlw matter and settle tl1e quPstion as to wlietl1er
or not thE1 incrPas<> slionlcl he allo\n1rl. By tlw tinw a vote could he had tlw fin:rncial affnirn of tlie Rtat(' will he in hettPr condition.
There are many other thi11gs which the State
13

might do to show its appn)eiation of this class of onr citizens, he:-:i<les the pa,vnwnt of 11ensio11s.
V7 01' lll,\' part, I wonld like to RC'e the railway comp,miPs of the 8tat( authori1/.ed to gin' free transportation to all tile delegates from the {\rnfodPrnte camps to our amrnal n1mi01rn. rrhis wonl(l affonl great e11courngeme11t to thl' ke(ping np of all tlH camps, and to the continuanee of tliat association ,diich is so clPar to theRe old men. Of com,-,e, tl1e delegates onght to he confined to the Confoderate soldiPrs and the 1mrnlier limite<1 acconli11g to the munhem in the earnp, ns now proYidec1. I woulcl not ha\'<'. this com1mlso1y on the raiJroa(h, hut I am sure tlwy would he glad to 11i<l our olcl uwn in this way, for i-\Uch a course wonld continnP the reunions, and i11sure a n)nmw to the railroa(ls from the ontside, tlnrn making up for tlw small frl'<' hnnsportati01J. 1t should lw :-:,1i<l to thP credit of the rnilwny companies that they liaYe take>n goocl e,ne of the Sontltem \'l'knrns in the fixing of rntPR to the reunions-and ncentl: I smY man? old men going to Hichmornl 011 free transportation wli(n the~- would luwc h(l'n 1111ahlt> from poYerty to lrnv<' otherwis(' made thP trip.
1t is well to continue onr Confoclernte ro:-:ter:-: and tlH" ac<''llllrnlc1tiou of aeenrate data <'oneen1ing th<' spnicc of Georgia soldiPrl: in the Coufo,lerak \rnr. The -time is corning whe>n tlic,;c reeonls \\'ill he of inl'a lcnlalile Yahw to the people of the Con11no1rnealtl1, and as mueh sought after as thu records of He,olntionnr: times. I hol)l' tlrnt the roster c01rn11i:c;sion, and tlw Pffi<'i<'nt lncl> se<retar> ,Yill lw giYPll He1., ern01ll'ag<nw11t in thLir hrn<lnlile w01k, as well h,\ ,qJprnpriations a:-: liy irnliYi<hwl :-:uh::-cription.
14

It nppe,ns l'rnlll tll( report of tlH ( 1ompiln of

Ntat<> H(cor<h, il1nt tli<I'(' :in a m1111lHir of nih1u1,:s of ( 1olonial HP(onl:-; eompil<d iiy l1is pndeccs,rnrc:, Oon,rnoi-:-; ~\lle1i D. Cm1<llei- :1rn1 \\'rn. ,T. Xortlitll,

yd u11pulilisl1ecl.

Norne of these eontnin Ynlnahll' urnnnseripts eon-

cPrniug tli( Stafo 's l1istm:-, copied at ,1 l1<>my c:--;Ji(11se from the British Mn,.;eum in Loll(lon, y\'J1il,

till'(( of tl1u,.;c yo]m11<:- nlat( to the Civil War pc-

ri 0<1.



Some of tl1e Yolnmes ,irP ,nitt<>n in pencil arnl

will lw em,ily lilurnd so tl,nt it is irnportm1t tlrnt

th<>_\' h( printe<1 as soou n:-; prndieahle.

Tlw ( 'ompiler calls atkntion to H ,.;ingnl:n fact,
to--wit., tlit -want of an nrh,qnnk l1istory of the Shit<

covPring the perio<l from 1,8:-i to rnG0. Jt lias long 1ieen a snhj<!d of mortifiention to rne

1Ylwn I 1rnn~ met eitiztns of other Statc,s and note:11

how little eornparntinl_\- is kno1n1 of GPorgia, of her

nc11icnnwnts in the pnst and the work of tl1osc> wl1 1 ) guidP<1 her i11 tl,e peri()(l of lier C'nrl_\' (!:--;istpn('C'.

( )titer Stat(,.; haYe hnd tliPi1 historiPs c:n<fnll)

writt<11 mid ih<ir acliicnmic11t:-; Pxploit(!cl, so tlrnt the

<'-:unts ill their growth lian ricrom<' e1assira1; and

11ot to he connrsm1t -with tliPm wonld arp;1w ignornncc on tlw part of eY<'l'_1' one i:vlio pretonds to in-

form himself on tho history of his co1rnh7.

I think possihly thP lack of n])1)l'(ri,1tion among

the \\"Pll-infonned nw11 of tl1c! nation, so far as om

Ntntu is <'Oll('(_l'nNl, comes from tlw fad that W<' l1nn, 11:Hl no <:-;:liansti,e hi,.;tm: writtc,n, arnl tlie growtl,

of tile Stnte ha" 1wn'r 1Jppn set forth in t<>rrns snffi-
eicnt1)- striking to commml(l attention.

1 .;

rnrn time has come wlwn Georgia shon1<l no 1ongp1 hP vo11tP11t witlt mi infprior position in tliis nsrwd. Ilr'l' gTowi l1 11:-; ;i Niat<, tlw a<'hi<'n~111r11ts of her lH'ople, hrr work iu tlH' fonnatin period of tlH' Rcrrnb1ie, tile wornkrfnl de,P101m1e11t of hfH" resonrcm,, tlie steady adnrnce of her 1rn1m1ation in wealth and inte1ligenee, the ,vork of her hri11innt statesmen, the starnling of her jur1iciary, the ineor1uptibi1ity of her Lc!gis1atnres, and above a11, t1w cliarndor of her eiti:;1,tn:-;hip, mostly pure-h1oo<led aml we11 m,similated Americans, devoted to a11 the, traditions of the past and fn11 of hope for the fntun of this nation, to whose gro,vth sho has so long eontri!mted, entitles lier to r:rnk with the greatest, and ought to be' knO\vn to t]w world, so that her name,
when spoken, rniglit command tho liorn:ige to ,vhi('1l
it is justly entitled. I trust, therefon,, that the Legislature wi1l prop-
erly ap1lreeiate the efforts in this direction heing rnaclc, hv t1ie Com11ilor of our Public Records, nrnl give' him vdrntP\'f'l' appropri,1tion is necessary to rnnv on the work, to <>1rnhlP the historian of t11P
fntnre to <lo for Geol'gia -w]rnt other 1iisto1'inm;' havp
dom! for otlior fitah!s.

:\fn,TTARY.

r:Phe wnr in Enrope Prnpliasizcs the neressit_v of

k<c>ping up a wP1l regnlated military in the Common-

wealth. Ko one mm fr]] ,vhat an hour mav hrinO'



C"l

forth. ,\ t a word the who!(, eountry ma_v 110 11lnnge<1

into the fiereest war ever known. Our coast is so

large and tho facilities for ]anding troOJlS so man:,

that this State> wonld h<' amonp; the first to su-ffor

from inyasion.

1fi

During the three-(Jnarters of a century following the Hevolntionary T{nr, every citizen within certain agcf:5 was <':-.:IHctcd to med at stated times 011 tlw muster grounds and be\ pni through the e,,olntions of the military drill. This was n<1nired of the citizen, an<l the co11sequcnce ,vm; that we managed to keep np the semblance of a citizen soldierly. Since the war of the '(-i0s, and the vast advance in rnilitm~, equipment o'llr musters have become obsolete am1 our militia is merged entirely into what is now the National Guard.
I am of the number who bt1lieve that the best way to insure peace is to show a present readiness for war. r_f'hc facts leading up to the great struggle in Europe ought to set at rest the idea that cliplornacy or appeals to a seuRe of justice can postpone or prevent indefinitely the attacks of a jealous neighboring nntion.
Business rivalry, military J>ride, the ambition of exacting rulers may compel one nation to go to war witlt another in utter disregard of the fundamental principles of Christianity. The best educated nnd most 01ilightc11P<l are after all only savages in disgmse.
"Be ye also ready" may he sai<l to nations as well as to individuals.
I am, therefore, in favor of doing all in o'Ur power to foster :md eneonrnge the military establishment of our 8tatP. One may sleep better these times ,vlio lrno,rn that there is a strong, well-armed aml ,'VPll-dril led hod:' of men in the community ready to nspond to a call in case of emergency, to resist invn "ion or ai<l in the protection of life and propert~~. Law affrr all firn1s its snndion in the sword of tlie sol<lier.
17

rrllC re1iort of the Adjntm1t-Oenernl, COl1C('l'l11l12,' our n,lations with the national ,rnthnl'ities touehing the militar.'-, affonls rnatkr for rnneh specnlaiio11.
rl'lien has heen a steady 1irngnss on the part ol' the nationa1 g<wnnment towards the nbsorption of our organized militia into tl1e national orgnnization. I believe sometimes this is tending a little too for. I lrnve thought that there ought to he some portion of the military remaining nnder the State control and disei1)line; for the time heing, a domestic fore< upon which reliance could he placed whenever 110c<l for such sboulfl arise "'ithin the boumls of the Stat0. I do not like to see the State lines obliterated or tlw State rontrol entirely abolished here by Congress; yet the force might be jointl,\' maintnined, for I can well understand how the national government ,Yonld he eom1wlled, in time of war, to utilize the forces within the States. It is pradieally the only :c:onrce of supply, and I trust those who are in rliarge, as well for the State as for the national go,,ernrnc>nt, may he able to work in liarrnony so that the militnr_\-
may he brought up to the highest degrPe of effocti \'e-
ness possible nnd he n,1d~, at nny fone at the call of the nation to do its part in the protection of mir 1wople and our homes.
There are sonw a1)pro1iriations tl1e Rtatc must mnke to meet the new demands of tllP national nuthorities. This, 1 trust, will 1w don0, ns a failiue would result in very sPrions ernbanass11Jent.
Orn EnucATTONAL SYSTEl\f.
Georgia still enjoys th(' pninfnl 1fr.:tinction of appearing in the group of four Rtahs slHming the lmgest pereentnge of illiteracy in the 1Tnion.
18

While this mortifying fact is due principally to
the large number of colored illiterates, yet the fnd is none the less a reproach that every citizen who ltas any pride in the iirogress of his State ,voulcl re-
joice to see completely wiped out.
'J'he admirnble report of tlie State Sniieri11krnle11t of Pulllie Schools shm,s bow other States of thv Union are earnestly endeavo1ing to uring thtir peovle up to a higher plane in this respect. "J'he soealled "moonlight sehools" of Kentucky, organized for the puqiose of teaebing illiterates of every ageJS to 87-to read and -write the English language, is an instmHe in voiut. Thes< schools are organized and presi<led o,,er by the regular teachers in tlw public schools, -who after teaching tl1e <'hildren all
day give a large part of the night to the im-trudion
of the parents who are lean1i11g to rend and write.
The same method lrns been adopted in L\lahama, and I trust rnny soon be taken up by the teachers in this State.
For my part, I believe it is time that our State should adopt some method of compuh,ory education. Unless this is SJ)N'llily done we will soon find our pvople leading tlie nation in the rnattPr of illiteracy. ,\lready forty-fourth rank, 1Ye arc still headed for low<>r clqiths if our great educators nre to lw he-
]i<_Wl1.
I would rather be remembered as tlw GoYernor of this Connnomnalth who took mrny from the Rtak this repronch than to he pointed at hereafter as th<> best firnmeiPr that eY<!r hel<l the purse-strings of l1cl' people ,;i11ce her organization.
It is ~ometiuws a good thing to save money for
19

the State, but it is often better to spend it judiciously.
If this, Legislature should adopt the method of compulsory education it would justify a revision of our entire common school system. The Superintendent of Education or the State Superintendent of Public Schools, as he is called, ought to he the most influential office holder in the Stnte. His work ought
to be we11 defined, and his power ought to be limited
only by the welfare of the schools themselves. No educational organization doing the work of the public schools ought to be exempt from his. influencc>. He should be the executive and the supreme court in all matters that arise in his department. He ought to be the best paid officer in the State, and his work should insurn him a welcome wherever he goes. T would be glad to see something done in this direction so that when the people fill the office, no subordinate place would be thought of in comparison with the head.
I do not believe that O'ur public schools, under the present organization, are returning to the State in many instances wl1at the money appropriated to them is -worth. But -wherever this is true it is probably from a lack of proper organi,mtion. 11 here never was a more faithful and devoted class of State workers than the teachers of Georgia.
Of course, the rr_v is for more money everywhere. The higher institutions are at a standstill, and the public school teachers are rinicl small pittances, ancl are even rompellcd to wnit for several months to get what they have earned in the service of the State.
I trust that this Legislature will adopt some
20

method by whieh this can all he changed. The outgoing executive has RuggeRtcd n method which I trust you will carefully eonsider. It appears to be fcaE;iblc.
Tf it ncc<h; rnorc money tl1c ~t:ite is alile to furnish it if you will 1novi(le the means for the same. If the State should ever go to protest, I W(mld rather
this Rhou]d occur from an effort to educate its chil-
dren than from any other cause on earth.
THB UNffERSITY ANLJ ITS HBANCHES.
For some thirty years I lrnve been serving on the Board of Trustees of tlw University. I11or tlw sanrn time I have been Chairman of the Loeal Board governing the Georgia Sehool of 'rechnology.
I enternd the University as a student in the year 18G7. I ]iave seen the parent Rchool grow from a contracted college with about thirteen professors to a splendid -Cniversity with eight great branclws awarding diplomas; with the parent school enlarged until Reven schools are under the Chancellor's immediate dinction, with seventy profesRors and a student body of 1,G78 in number. I lrnve seen a great l7nivcrsity s~-stem evolved <hiring that time, which toda:, el:1ims an enrollnwnt of 5,~70 students, scf'king a higher cdneation in this State.
Of the units which corn1iose this splendid syRtcrn, tlw Georgia Sehool of Technology, which hogan operations in l8RR, has aheady become the vride of tlH State as an engineering scl1001. Located in the enpital eity, it Jia<l an atfornlnnce rlnring the current y0ar of some 1,00(-i students, corning from all the walks of lifr, ,md all earnestly s0eking to secure the training necessary to fit them for work in the great
21

industrial de1mrtmonts of t1ie Sbte. Uml<r th(~ leadol'shi1J of that splendid (dnentionnl statPsman, Dr. Kenneth G. ::\Tathpson, it is striving to l"C'neh tlie higliest limit of' prnfrst-1ional 1-wl1ools in tho Fnit(d States.
rrhe (korgia Kornial ,md Indnt-1trinl S<'l1001 a1 ::\Iilledgeville, foll<miug on the plnu of tile 'J'eell!lologicnl School, 01le1H)(l for girls iu the, :<m 18\)3.
Kearly two thousand girls 1Hwe graduated from its lwlls since that time, and since' the >ear 18!)7 it has denied admission to about four thousarnl girh; for lack of l'oom to fake them in.
Its enrollment <lnring foe past year wat-1 t,\(;1, marly ovel'y one of whom was a resi<lent of Georgi:1, and all of wlionfwon, sPeking the industrial trnininu; offered to wom<~n in tliat magnificent :-:chool. lh. ::\f. M. Pal'kt-1, tlw ahle and efficiPnt 11rnsident, has lrnd his heart turnecl sick heennsc of the faet that he coul<l not afford room for the girls of Georgia to gPt the benefit of the Pducation that lrns been provi<lo<l for them.
The Korth Georgia ""\gricultural and 1\IcchanicaI Collr!go at nalilonoga is doing a groat work for thP rnonnbin ]mys and Q;irls, and d(sc1ves the support and cornmernlation of the Legi:-:lature. Dr. Glcnn, who rnan:1gr>s this school, has prohab1> been more modest in his ckrnands on the l,P,ds1ahue than anr otlwr hP,1rl of a Georgia institution in tlw last thirt> :Pars. ,Yith an enrnllmont of 2:53 during the last :car, tlw school is looking ont for n hnrndor scope, ,md is gTcatlr in 1wc<l of 1ir>lp from th<' Statr> to conr th< fip]d that lies lwforP it.
Th<' Stnfo Xormal School at ,\tlH'llS, wlwre frn hnndrccl young voople make their aunnal pilgrimagP
22

to l<11rn to Jiec011H' i<'nell(1s in i11P p11h lie Ri'l1ools of this Nt;1t0, is ;rn irnlis[i('llsahl(' link in i li<' l'l1ai11 of our gr<'ni institutions, hirnlin: tli<' pnlllie ,wliools ,md H(a<1Pmies to tl1e l'oll<'g\~s nrnl nnin;rsiti0s.
Dr. Ponrn1 lcn<1s a trni1w<1 and ,Ycll-cquippe(1 ('Ol']JS of t0nclien; CYery .'-0m O'ltt into the fi0lc1 to lwlp tlic Geo1gia cl1ildre11 get an 0d11c:1tion arn1 conqner th0 lieight:c: of knowledg0.
The Stah> Agril'nltnrnl Coll0ge at Athens, um1cr
Dr. ,\ ndrew ~r. Soule, is assuming a con11nnrn1ing
position in the Pdne11ii01ml field of the State>, meding a ,nrnt that no othPr school c;m supply, arn1 iilisolut0l,\- ean,\-ing tlw coll0g0 to the rloors of onr fanning population thronp;hout the whole Rtat0.
rrliis rollcge 1iegan its ,york as a hraneh of tlw
1-niYcrsitr in tlH' .'-em mm. Tt has stined np rnur0
r>ntlnrniasrn, awakene<1 mor0 int<>rest, nnd earri11l more hope> to th0 hr>nrts of the people of Georgi:1 than an,\- school that has cnr lwen 01)cncd in its honlPrs since it hegan as a Rtat0. Endowed with Ntatc and Fe<lc>rnl funds, if it (1oes not compnss tlw 1Yl1olc romHl of its (lnt.'-, it ,Yill }1p 1Jc,cm1se of tho fnct that with all its <'ndowments it has not ,\et snfficifmt fnrnls to earry1 on tlw work whieh is set hefo10 it.
Tlw 1[Pdicnl Rel1ool at Augusta is an intc,grnl part of tbe UniYcrsit_\-. Its 01wrntion under the JH'<s<>nt anspices is quite reeunt, hut it is starting out und(r th<' most fcn-ornlile rirr11mstnnrcs of m1,\nw<lical S<'hool 1irolrnhly in the Ronth. Tlw cit,\- of ,\ ugnstn has corn<> to it,; help, Pquippt>d two great l1ns1)itals, and is t~iying it a promin0nce that will ea11se it to work ont n gTcat d0stiny in tl1c fntnn. Frnkr tlic eontrol of Dr. DongM,\-, arnl profiting h,\th( wis<lom aml forcsigM of its ahlu Chairmm1,
2..,,

,Tmlge E. H. Callnway, it is hid<ling for the pntronag<' of the cotmtry with ey(ry aRsmame of sueces".
Tlw yom1gest of tl1<> sistnlioo<l, tlte Valdosta Normal mid lrnlnstrial School, opP11cd <lming the Ja:,;t two years, is asking for patronage in that great empire, south of the middle lines of the State. Its work has just bgun, but the ficl<l stretches out liefore it and promises nbundant haiTest.
The l)h~v0n Distriet ~\grieultural Schools constitute- an intermediate link between the public schools and tl1e Hni,ersit:-, and contribute to the student hod: of the other Stat<' institutions, more espceiall~the Georgia 8el10ol of rreelrnology and the Statn Agricultural College at ~Hhens.
'!'his constitutes the University system and its lmmches for the white people.
There is located at Savannah the Georgia State> fndustrial College for Colorecl Youth, whi<'h is also a hrmwh of the University.
In this instituti011 is provided a course of training a<lapted to the \Yants of the colored people, hotl1 men arnl women.
Farming, eooking, washing, farm mechanics, arnl nrnny other 1elated branches, are tnught to the ('Olored youths with tlw idza of fitting them for tlH splwre in which their work lies witl1in the State'. The school receives an ap11ropriation from the State, and also shares to some extent in the funds provided by the United States G<wernment for th0 meclrnnieal colleges of the nation.
The rlistinguished gentleman at the hen(l of this
Board, General P. ,V. "}foldrim, watehes every step
tlrnt is taken in earrying out its plnns and purposes, arnl l1is work in this fi.<1<1, as w<>ll as on the Boar<l

of rrrustees of the University of Georgia, of ,Yl1iC'li lie is an cx-offi('io nwrnher, is a r<~marlrnble ('xhihiiioll of fidelity, a]Jility mid mHpwt:ltiom'<l lo>alt>- Li the great Stat<' in wliicl, 1,e ,vas born.
In going O\'l'l' tlie units of onr educational s>stem it wou1<1 be improper for me to omit mention of' our denominational institutions: Emory and l\IercPI' Universities and Pio Kono College for boys; the gl'eat colleges at Home, ,:\tlanta, l\Incon, Forsyth, Cuthbert, LaGrnnge and elsewhere for girls, all nwet and fill a want that the State rannot reach, viz., the supvlying of denominational education. 'J'hpsc schools play an important part in the education of our people. They furnish a restraining influence over the State institutions, nnd I most 0arnestly l,id them God Rpee<l in their se1mrate field.
N r.En l\Imrn 1\loNEY.
All these State sC'hools of the University s>stem are in need of money for development some for research work and t~,dension teaching, some for <lorrnitories to shC>lt0r the students, and some for lmildings to house equipment donated to them.
There is a eonstant cry going up from the authorities in charge of them for help. 'J'lie State syst0m cannot stancl still. These schools must either go forwnrd or go haekwanl. The~- should rereive your most earnest C'Omitenance arnl snpport in so far as the state of the Treasury "rill 1wnnit.
rt is a matter of great regret tlrn t ,Ye cnnnot meet
all of tlwir demands. The most we C'an do is to ('11eonrage with small additions, if, in your \Yisdorn, you should see fit to take this eo1use.
)Jo Stntr, cnn lw trnl~r gnnt unless its people ar0
2/i

(<lncated. lgnonmce is th(' pnrent of YlC<' and of
('l'lllH'.
O'inn a ('<>1nmomn,tltli \\'ith a l1iston wlios< pages are stmTPtl \\'ith great mtmes, hlessed with a fortik\ soil anc~ inliahited by a peopk ,Yith fair ideals -let this people be educatcd-nnd the State ,Yi11 win its wny into the front of the world's progr0ss and achieYe a destin_\T of real greatness about wl1i('h there can he no dispute.
It is wPll to he lilieral with our e<1nrationa1 institutions wlHrcver praetirahle, for rno1wy inYPste<1 in hrains will most eertainl_\T yield to the people n sure and genurnns return. Tt has offon bQen ohjert(d hy men of contrncted Yision that these colkges mid nniversities ought not to be supported hy tl1i:_ State>, b0cn11sP nll t1w eliildren of the State eannot
go to them. Tl10.\' are onl.y for tlw fayored few' so
it is said. By thP snrnc nwthod of reasoning those men
"\\Tonl<l aholisl1 th0 town cloek lweau:-;e all th0 connt:-eam10t gct tho lwnefit of it; tlic,y ,voul<l abolish th< eit_v because all the 1ieople eannot liYe in it; thPy would aliolish the Cavitol of the State hceanse nll
the inhabitants cannot come to it; they wonld abolish
the Legislature lw<'anse eH!l'_\'hody rannot get elPet-
ed to it; they would abolish the Gov(rnor's placP
because onl: one man out of two and a half millions can hold it in two years.
NO-you would not abolish the college b(cmise o,Tel',\' lHl_\' or girl cannot go to it. You b10\Y thHt it is the hop<> of s011w day goi11g to collPg< that s1btains tlw studP11t in thP school room, eornforts the h<>nrt of tliP ho:T in the eorn fipld, cncomagPs the girl in tl1e dnir; or the canning fadorr-the poor, wPnk,
20

almost helpless, child on the nm of life's opportmiity, with shriw~lc,d frame and weak and tremhling limbs, knmvs that though l1is body may he deforme<l yd the spark of divinity that the "\1miglity lias ln'(!athed into his hrain may be brought ont and m1rtmNl and warnwd into a glmv thnt slrn11 light a nation on its wny or point a lost world to God.
Oun PROHIBITION LA ws.
nuring the C'mnpaign for Governor I told tlw
people of the State that if eleeted I inknded to tr.Y
to enforee all the laws of the State, ancl among others mentiorn~d the laws prohihiting the sale of intoxicanh, in the State.
I may be a little ol<l fashioned in my notions, hnt J believe that the laws of the 8tate are enaek<l to bl\ ob<')'Cd. Otherwise the State would cioon acquire a hody of professional hnvhrealrnrs who ,vould bring gn,at demoralization on the lleople at large, and no small shame on the lovers of justice ancl right throughout the Commonwealth. ,\ State in ,vhose bounds the criminal laws cannot he enforeed hns retrograde(1, and her civiliziltion is moving baek,nll\1 towanh, the earlier da)'S when might was tlw <mly law and eo1ut houses and jails unknown. It is
for better to repeal a law than to a11ow its violation
to contimw with impullity. T <lo not believe an~, comnmnity ought to be a11mnd io abrogate a niminal statute enadc<l for the welfare of the ,d1ole State, no rnatt(,r what the 1oeal opinion mny bl'.
The test of the hw is found at 1:ist in its euforc<>nwnt. Tf it is a good law, tl1e effects will he good. If it is a bad 1mv, only evil effods will resn1t.
,Ye legislate for tl1c greatest good to the great-
27

est number. Govel'nment is built on concessions. ,vhen the Legislature enacts a law and annexes a penalty for its violation, the people have spoken through their representatives, aml the Act carries with it a demand upon every one in the State for its obedience. To say that any man or nny commnnit~ can select one law to obey and anotlwr to disreganl would be to abolish the Constitution and endow the individual with a grc~nter power than the peo1ile in the aggregate who enacted the law. This would soon lead to revolution. I announce to you today that f utterl,v reject this doctrine. I shall stand for1 tlte administration of the law and equal enforcement of its demands on all the people so long ns the law is left upon the statute hooks.
Liquor selling is not allowed in Geo1iia, therefore, liquor selling should cease, just as gambling and stealing and murder and other crimes forbiclden by law should he put down. -While tho law exists the majority demand enforcement, and the majority should rule in this government.
1''or my part, I believe the prohibition law is salutary, reasonable, eronornir and in aid of good gonmnnent. It is only one way of bringing about tPmpenrnco in the Com111onwPaltl1. It is a strong auxiliary in the crusade for tl1e betterment of the race, for its uplift and reform. r:L'he nations of th<> earth are fast coming to a realization of the evils of intemperance. The safety of the State-its vcr~ life~is concerned. The fat0 of the living and of millions ~et unborn hangs on the work of this age. Rtatesmen, solcliers, grcat tl1inkers, great legislators arc busy with this problem. It reaches far beyond
28

the <lcrnancls of human liberty; it is concerned with tbc very lives of the people themselves.
Georgin, ill rnany cotu1111111iti<1:-;, h,1s lH!eu solllPwhat lax in the euforeemeut of this law. It is a tirne for investigation, for consideration, and for determination, and the matter is in your hands, gentlemen of the Legislature. If the law needs strengthening, see tlwt it is done. If it needs amendment in any dircetion so that it nm)- be easier of enforcement, sec that this is clone. A hove al I-more tlrnn all-let the people be on an equality. ,\Tith rcganl to this matter, and in your legislation, keep in mind the greatest good for the greatest number, and the executive will be with you to share your responsibilities, and, God willing, to execute your wishes.
In one of our counties where the colored element predominah~s, an intelligent citizen said to me during the canvass: ".Judge Harris, we can't afford to have any queRtion as to how a cnndidate stands on this issue. It is a matter of life and death with us. Turn liquor loose in our county and our forms would soon he unproductive, and the community would not he safe for our -wives and rhildren. Then we would be forced to emigrate." Police protection would lw re<1uircd in the eonntry as well as in the rit)-, and n vast revenue would be rcciuired to keep up a con stalrnlnry large enough to deal \Yith sneh a caS('.
Trrn STATB HoAn.
As the lease of the State rond terminates in
December, mm, it woul<l sN'm 1iroper that the pce-
parntory steps shonld be taken looking to n disposition of the roa<l for another l)erio<l I take it frn

granted, of conrse, that the Legis!ahnc will wisl, 1o lease the rnml ng,1in and J1ot to :-;ell it.
l tliiuk tl1(~ ti,ue of tlw new lem;c~ should exc,(d tlwt of the last, for it wonld furnish a greater i11centive to bid, the estate being more extensive in point of time.
Some 11rovision should be maclc in the new leasP for the double tracking of the whole line, and :llso for reimbun,ing the counties through which it rnm for the expense of the courts, inasmuch as no taxt'.S can be levied upon the property.
But this is a matter of detail. This road is the most valuable asset which tl1{' State possesses. ln it all of the veople of the Stnt( are interested. Everything, therefore, which 111jmes the road affects adversely every inhabitant \'i' tlie State. No mere local consideration ought to weigh one moment when the welfare of the wll(W! 1ll'OJJcrty is involved. It is the s0eurity which gi,cc; stnhility to the ere(lit and financial starnling of th,, mate. I am opposed to nn,\ rnensnre that ,Yill depreci,l1P its ,nine 01 injuriously affect its business. l trust the Legislature will take immediate arn1 effective skps to prevent its being paralleled by an~rin1l road. T have felt for :-ears that it was H serious mistake to hav0 allmved sneh a thing in tho 1rnst all(l I earnustly reeommend that 11w general law f'or the ineorporation of railroads hf' so ,mwrnl(,1 that no eliartl'l' ean be granturl to anofapr roa<1 whicl, nms within tlw t0nitor~r adjaePnt to the prPsent line, or so neiir as to affoet its lmsi110ss.
This mnch is dne to the whole pPoplf', who nr0 tlH ownprs of the line. Half of its n'v0rn1Ps is ap-

pro1iriatcd to public 8chools-evcry child in Georgia is, thcrnfon>, eoncenwd in the protection of tlw property and the increase of its income as far as can legitimately be done.
TmuvnKALS TN CnATT.\~OOGA.
I agree with the outgoing Govemor in commending to your sel'ions attention the status of the terminals of the road in Chattanooga.
8orndhing :-should he done at once to lll"c>ve11t the tlinatenc<l invasion of tlic property in the intcrest8 of the cit: of Clmttnnooga-mo1e espeeia Ily looking to the securing of the largest ineome po8sible from the pro1iert: in the future. r:l1 liis, as wc~ll from tl1c road itself a8 from the krminal property in the cit: aforesaid-if it is possible to tl'Ntt tlw latter scparn te ly from the road.
J emcIAL H1womvr.
J cannot hut feel that some help 1s needed to bring tlw judiciary into line with tlie modern denrnnd for the s1wed.v and effoctive eonelusion of litigation.
-While tltc superior 11ncl city eonrts, for the most part, are kec->ping W(ll up \\ith tlwir business, except in sonw congeste<l locations, yd the eases liav( heeonw hanked up before-> our higltest court8 till oftentimct-J an affinnance li:, law is avoi<lcd only with nry gre,1t difficnlty. _.Argument is }111cl in c1ne eoun-;( lmt the docket is so large that often so long a time passes lic->fon\ a <kcision is reaehe<l tlrnt tlir 11wmories of tl1Q jnclgps are tnxe<l lwyoud l':hnt is reasonable to rc->tain tlH:1 suhstnnce of suc:h argument. _As a result, tlte resort to lH"iC>fs is mon: favored tlrn11

oral argument, the latter being rendered m man: cases of little iwail by the cle]ay.
'-Yhile this course may begPt a more accurate finding of the law in the end, yd it changes large]:; our American idea: of the Yalue of counsel in onil argument.
The delays in these courts are so great tlrnt T have no doubt at tinws ren1 injustice resnlts, and yet tlte jndges are doing all in their power to keep up with the docket.
a:-\t tlte meeting of the Bar Association recpntl.v, it became known that not one of the judges was able to attend tltat meeting because of the heavy and onerous demand upon tlte court preventing any pm,tponcrnent of the work.
There should he some method of relief adopted -without delay, either by lessening the number of
cases or giYing to the eonrt a wider latitude in tlir
decisions of the same. In a conversation recm1tly had with one of tl1(
ex-judges of this court, he told me that "the oppression upon his spirits arising from his desire to avoi<l affinn:mee of cases b.'' 01wration of law, was so grcat lw could gPt very little pleasure from hi;-; office-that lie was on a constant strain tlrnt destroyed his sleep."
1 call the Legislature's attPntion to the matter arnl lwg that somc means ma:' he clevise<l hy which rPlief can he brnught to this grc>ntcst legal tribunal of our State.
HrnHWAYS OF THI~ STATB.
The work of the convids on the pnhlic roads 1s beginning to make itself felt in the State.

There is svringing up among the 11eople a decided interest in the good roads question. 'l1lie efforts heing rna<k to lay out intPrstate highways, the bids for the same, the proposition to open up branches in every direction, and to curry the building of good roads into every county, for the irnvrovernent of traffic and trnnsportation, evinces the state of the 1mblic mind on this subject.
Tn fact, the eonnty whieh fails to cateh the Rpirit of ent0rprise on this que:c-tion will soon find itself lieltirnl the other c01mmmitie:c- of t1ie Commnrrwealth.
'l'1w m1tornohil<! tax, whiC'h must be distrihuted ac<on1ing to the r<HH1 milPage throughout the counties, will douhtless serve to create inten,st in the n~11air of the roads.
1.\ t the Road Congress, ,vl1ich recently met in .L\ tlanta, it was urged ns 11 proper step towards keeping ali-ve the interest in roacl building that the Legislature he requestc>d to authorize the appointment of a State Ilighwa~' Commission, ,Yith power to fo1mulate advisory rules and regulations concerning the improvnm0nt of 1righwnys, at the same time disiwminating 1nw11 literature as ,yonld be found instrneti ve 011 th<> subject of working and building ronds.
I do not think it would he amiss for the Lc-gislatnre to look into the rnntt<~r suggestPcl It is n Imost imprncticahlc to sc,cme harmony and effieit>nt co-01wration in an:' genel'al seheme of road improvement without s011w snp0rintcnding power, whose dnt:' it would be to aid in seeming the ador>tion nmong the eonnti0s of such a plnn. The eost of such eomnnss10n wo11ld he very smnll. 'rlw rncmlwr~ eould ser,'e without salal'y donhtless, having only

their Pxpe11ses pni(1, while n senf'tary <ould he appointecl who ,Yonl(l act, at last, as the Pxeeutin! offi-
cer to cnny ont the ideas of the conrniission.
SeYeral bills ,Yill douhtl(~ss lie 1npsented to yon,
all looking to tlie establishment of such a cornmi,--
s1on. T trust tliat you will he nhle to pnss on these mnt-
t('l's so ,ls to ,-atisf_\' the pulJli( (1e1mrn(l: for go'l
roads.
Cnder the Stnk law, all cm1di,lat<s for St,1te offiees, ineludi11g the Gon~rnor, l'nite<l Stnt("S Se11-
ators, judges and others, are reqnirc<l to file "\\'itl1
the ComptrolJc,r-Ge1wrnl au it0mi;r,ed statenwnt of all emnpnign t\xpenses incurred in the 1n-irnary 01
general eledion. In the c,1se of Pnited SLitm, Sen-
ators the Federal law limits this ex1wnse to :1 ('ertain surn, lwyoll(l whieh it is forhidc1en to go. ThPn is no limit fixed in tl1c~ State lnw, lio,n'Yl'r, for GoYcrnor, jrnlges or other State Honst officers.
I resppctfnlly m,k your attention to this 11rntte1 and recommeml that you fix a limit to the expencli-
tures of the, Rtatc0 officers also. The expeHses of thest1 c,un1rnig11s 1111\'P liecome
so onerous tliat onl)' a niry riclt man 01 onP ,Yho
liap1iQns to possess a nnm1wr of1 friernls willing to
eonfri)mte, can affon1 to embark 11yion a contest. The m11on11ts t>xpended are so grent in eompnrison ,Yitli the s,ilal'_\' in\'oln<l, thnt nnfnymnble eritieism is ofkn incm-rP<l c-ven though tlw cxyHrnlitnres mn~, be perfretl.'' legitimate m1<ler tl1e Pwtho(ls 110,Y n-
sorted to in urging nu a])])enl to tlu:-, Yoten,. It w011l,1
llP "-cdl to limit tl1e ex1Hndiim<s of tlw guhenwtorial

cnndidafrs to not rnon\ tlinn $,\00() each, 01 ('\'('ll l<':-;s, al](l tlie otlwrn in 1lrnportio11.
Tlw l;ny :-;lionld hL :-;o l'ranHd ;is to eu11tpPI oh('dienee to tl1r s,mie so thai tl1L evil may he reall~' rPrnL'<liPil hy tlw enactment.
s~nTn-LEYER _,:_\cT.
'rl10 n'solntion of the lnst Legislntun, aecc!pting i lie fr mis ol' the Smith-LPver ,\et for exknsion work in the ,\gricnltnrnl College, it is claime<l, Yirtuall_,. commits the State to make an appl'Opriation of $2.3,174 for tlie elllT(mt year in aid of this great work.
If this should be dorn~ the l~nited States Governnwnt, under tl1e terms of the ,\ct, wi11 furnish a like~ amount, sn1lpleme11ted lly tlw annu/ll appropriation of $10,000. 'Jlhc college authorities also propose to collect from oubi(lc sources an adLlitionnl $10,000, to be 11sPcl in defniying ex11cnses, thus making a total of $--1-5,17--1-, .which arldetl to the State's appl'Opriation would hri11g the fund up to about $70,000 for carrying' on this work in lw1mlf of the fanning interests of Georgia. The State ,\gricu1tura1 Col]pge at _c'dhe1rn lws an ineome of $fi0,000 for maintenance, aml t1w Rtatc adds $-1--0,()()() additional for extension work. Tliis nr1dition of $+0,000 is appro-printNl to S<cl'Ul'C from t11e 1rnitc(1 States Go\'Pl'Ilnwnt an nd(1itiona1 sum of $80,000 for the extension \\ork.
I am to1<1 that if :111)' part of this $40,()()(l should h0 nsui1 in aitl of tl1(' ;1pprnpri,1tion mn<l(' in th<' S111ith-L0Y0r ,\ct tlH! co11Pgc would lose two <lollnrs
for cnr:-- onP of the foniwr arlpropriation.
The l'niY01s-it_\. is tlw elP,ning house of th0sc fonds of tl1P l Tn-itP<1 States (-loyemment, arn1 T snh-
.-
,)._)

mit this matter to you in view of the resolution, with the earnest recommendation that you look into thf' same and do that which is best for the cO'lmtry ,1ud the interests involved.
GAME LAWS.
I call your attention to the report submitted hr the chief game warden, Mr. Davis, and the recommendations contained in the same.
These law:c; are rather in a formative state as yet, and amendments are probably necessary to perfect the same so as to secure the purpose intended by the original enactment.
PUBLIC AUDITOR.
I heartily agree with my predecessor in recommending to the Legislature the enactment of a law providing for a State Auditor, whose duty it shall be to examine the various departments of the government handling the State's funds, examine the vouchers, and make reports from time to time aR required.
I think this is in keeping with the requirements of modern business, and the Legislature, it would seem, should be willing to take the necessary steps to secure such an officer.
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
The relations between labor and capital in this State appear to be more harmonious than at previous times. There is no more important matter that could be brought to your attention than the effort to reconcile the differences and secure complete accord between the contending interests in this field.
36

Yonr wis<lom will cnahlP yon to dNll with <'Heh matt<>r that eonws lwfmp yon on this suhj<>ct so ns to seenrn to the Rtatc tlie lwst results possihlc in every instance.
COLLECTION OF TAXES.
In the Comptroller's report, together "itli tlw report of the rrax Commissioner, referenec is rna<lc to the difficult_\' of enforcing the eollcetion of tnx0~~ in the harnls of the tax collectors. l\fy pred0eessor likPwise i1wokcs yonr attention to the sanw. Then nre nlso sonw diffieulties met with in tlic eollPding of the autornohih1 tax and the near-beer tax.
I respectfully ask you to look into these 1rn1tt<>rs so that some steps may h<1 taken to nm1e<ly tlw trouble without delay.
p H UBLIC EAL'L' H.
T am in receipt of a eornnnrnieation from the ('liairrnan of the Rtntc Tioanl of ITcalth eone<!rning the work of thnt Board and its needs for thc coming Y{'al'. I will try to have this c01m1mnieation printc,d nn<l it will lw put upon tl10 desks of all the 11wmhen, of tlie Oencral Assembly.
Y onr attention is especially callc<l to the matters wliieh thc ehairrnan sets forth as ,lemarnlecl of his Board, for whieh no appropriation has yet lwen nrn<k. Tnclnclerl in these is the gathering of Yitai statisties, coneerning which I lian~ reeeived some important. eommm1icatio1rn from the of-fieers of tlw National Tlealtb Department at vVashington.
rrhcn is no mnttcf which tnuchcs the "elfnre of
thc ~tntc\ more nearly pcrliaps than that which is
eonfirlP<l to onr Ocorg'ia Brnml of lfoalth. I nPk
37

your earnest attention to these matters, and trust you will do all in your power to meet the situation, keeping in view the straitened finances of the r_t'reasury at the preRent time.
And now, in conclusion, gentlemen of the General Assembly, permit me to say I think there never was a time in the history of the State when she had need of a more careful, intelligent, painstaking body of legislators than today. Harmony at opening, no one can predict how long the great European war will last, nor what may be the outcome of its influence on our nation and State, or the results that are to follow therefrom.
vVe rejoice that there is a man at the helm in vVashington capable of understanding the delicacy of the situation in which we are plaeed, who is sagaciouH, fnr seeing, brave and honest, jealous of our country's good name and the rights wl1ich our fathers have purehased with their blood. vVe trust the country's fortunes, with confidenee, in his hands, and rejoicingly declare that our own great Stnte will always he found at his side whenever he calls for help, in times like these.
"Within the limitations of the Constitution, gentlemen, you will work with me to secure the welfare and happiness of our people by providing such legislation as urn~' be for her good and Sf!rve her interests, as our oaths require.
I began this ad<lress with a reference to the greatness of our State. I <>nd it with tlw same snbjert.
There was publishe<l recently, by the able Commissioner of Agriculture, a book called '' Georgia, the Empire State of tlw Sonth; what she is and
38

will be.'' I trust you will get this work and read it and study it, as it gives an epitome of our State's resources. A knowledge of the State's greatness is the best conservator of its peace.
Her physical domain is, indeed, beyond any adverse criticism, but the greatest thing of all is the character of the people that inhabit that domain.
I rejoice in the conservatism of those whom we serve. They bow down to no new idols; catch no new fads from the North or vVest-they cling to the Constitution of the fathers, and reverence the tombs of the proudest ancestry of any people on earth, swerving in no jot or tittle from their loyalty to the heroic past, abating nothing in their hopes of the opening future, always devoted in heart and life to their homes and the altars of their sarred religion.
This is the people who inhabit the Commonwealth.
A great State to work for, my countrymen. A great State to live for. A grand State to die for antl be buried in her soil.