The Monticellonian., 1903-12-31
Gov. Davis and the Legislature.
CONTINUED.


 On the 4th day of Janaary the members of the Senate assembled in joint session with the House of Representatives for the purpose of hearing the inaugural address of the Gov ernar of Arlan SIS. to listen to his supposed ly wise statesmaulike suggestions looking to- ward the raral material, and educational welfare of this great State of ours. The scene WAS Il most impressive one. Gathered hera were not only the representatives of Il noble people. but within tho circle around the Speakers chair were the heads ofvarious Executive departments, the Justices of the Supreme Court, All elected by and responsi ble ta the same master who clothed the Gov ernor with his little brief anthority--the SOW ereign people. Beauty added its charms to the impressive Scrne l. WAS an occasion to inspire a Statesman to his loftest efforts. 1 What WAS tha consternation, the surprise, tho disgust of the intelligent audience gath cred thore. when they beard, not states mauIike document appealing to the peoples representatives to join him in promoting the welfare of the State by devising ways and means for the education of the people, for developing the great natural resources of our State, etc., but at least half of his three hours speech was tirade of abuse against the Superintendent of the penitcntary, his Iown selection, against the Financial Agent. whom he helped to elect, against the seere- tar, of State. the Attorney General. the Au- iitar, and the Agricultural Commissioner, each ane o whom received several thousand more votes than he did at Che general elec- ton He forgot that we had S0perintend- ent af Public Instruction, and completely ignored the subj'ct of edueation but spoke elaQaently on the subject of beer which no doubt s tbe thing of greatest importance in l his estimation. This remarkable message can kc found in the House Journal, pages 8 'a 57 inclusive ! shall refer only briefly to ] ts contents. IIc first talks about the peni- tentiary ring, and proposes to remedy il by making himself the whole thing. The only ring which the Governor can tolerate for a moment i, one in which Jeff. Davis .s both center and circumference, in whom all things move and have their being In other words he charges that penitentiary Board composed of five State officers is corrupt but just put he whale thing in his hands, allow him to appoint Boarl of seven men, and give hn tiie power t9 kick them out i when they don't give his brother.in-aw a job. furnish him with irrr eral, or nice set of parlar furniture, and then we will down the ring and have reform with big R The Governor stated that he saw in tbe distance ikea small cloud penitentiary ri.g. and if its approach WAS not stayed, it would bring shame and disgrace upon us. As the Prntentiary Board, composed of the Governor, Auditor, Secretary of State, At torney General, and Agricultural Commis- sioner has the complete cantrol and manage ment of the Pententiary, and a. it was not ] t1 be presumed that the Governor was eriti- cising himself, he must have been referring i to his fellow State officers as being members of this ring. or it's tools and agents. and must have meant that they were about to bring shame ani disgrace upon ns. Then he spends about half an hour abusing the Finaneal Agent, and the Superintendent of the peutentiary, wheni he himself selected from his own county. In tni: connection he eentemptnouss refers to the Agricultural i Commi. saner, Judge Bradford, IS '.the