The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-30
GOV. SMITH FAvORS
D|SFRANCH|SEMENTlI
Gcorgia's New Executivel'
Denies Suffrage to the
Ignorant Negro.
1NAU GURATED
IN THE OPEN AIR,
Urges Legislation to Controlj
Roads, and Outlines Position,
on the Elective Franchise.
Wants Negroes Hand
Educated With
4, His Head.

ATLANTA, GA, Juno 29.--EIbke !
Smith was inaugurated Governor sof
Georgia at noon to-day. Tho OATH OF
oace was administered by Chief jus
tlce William II. Fish, of the Supreme
Court, before tho Joint session OF tho
two branches OF the Legislature, which
began It's annual gatherings this week.
Governor Smith then delivered his In
augural address from platform erect
cd In the open mir. The feature oftthe
occasion was the parade OF troops and
citizens.
IN opening his address Mr. Sarr1th
referred to duties incumbent upon the
chief executive Of the State, and called
to mind the fact that the platform, upon
which he was elected entaiied special
duties, from which he did not purpose
to be led. Mr., Smith suggested special
legislation on several subjects. He
advocated that's hired agents or rep
rescntatives Of corporatc In Lcrests
should be required to register with the,
Secretary of statn; that they shoald mott
be allowed to discuss their clients,
interests with any person who Is tot
vote on the proposed measures Except,
at u public hearing. or with members,
of the Legislature. officially named tor
such conference
lie urged legislation prohibiting free@
passes Between points within, thes
State. He declared 1T should be- made
crime for any corporation or specialt
interest to contribute money for politi-4
cal purposes. Every candidate for pub.
lie office should be required to show,
under oath, q detailed statement oG
what money he had spcnt.a how he spent}
IT, and where the money came from.
The Electiyc franchise.
He favored an amendment to the;
State Constitution to FIX new stand-t
Z ard for the elective franchise There's
liz no restriction upon the right OF al
State to fix the qualifications of those,
who may vote" he said, except thel
provision of the Constitution Of the,
United States which declares that the,
right of the citizens OF the Uniteb
States to vote shall not be denied orr
abridged BY the United States or any
state, on account of race, color, orr
previous condition Of servtit ude II iii
happens that the nernbcrssof some par Il
ticular race lack more than others
these qualifications, their inability to
become voters is not denied or
abridged on account OF race or color,
but on account of the fact that they
do mot possess the qualifications which
we legally fix as Georgia's standard
the qualifications being required of all
without reference to race or color. The
proposed constitutional amendment is
along the line OF the Alabama law.
Every person should belong to one OF
the six classes following:
list. All persons who served in any
war OF the United States. the Confed-
crate States, or the State OF Georgia;
or
ed. All persons lawfully descended
from any such soldier; or
I'D. All persons Of good character
who understand the duties and obliga-
tIons OF citizenship; or
''4th. All persons who can read cor
rectly and who cnn write correctly
when read to them In the English
language any paragraph of the Con-
stitutlon OF the United States or the
State OF Georgia.: or
18th. Any person who Is the owner