The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-10

Retiring Governor OF Alabama. VIII
the Most Notable |
favorably with the earnings OF men en-
gagged in other profitable pursuits. They
are doing the worlds next greatest work
and the sums many of them receive is in
adequate pay for their great and success
full labors. Their product is finer than
that turned out by the furnace or the
forge: of larger value than that from
pick or shovel, or what comes as fruit
of loom or spindle. 1t becomes us to see
to it that so delicate a work is commit
ted to competent hands, and that they
may be competent it Is reasonable that
provision be made for the care and COM
fort of the workers.
Tuskeeee Institute.
The law requires that any funds re-
eeived from the sale of lands donated to
the Tuskegee institute by the national
government shall pass through the hands
of the governor. | have had In my pos
session $S1, 45O5 6. all of which. with the
exception of S319.3l, after consultation
with the board of trustees of the school,
has been invested in Alabama bonds and
turned over to the finance committee of
that board The remainder, 1881, IN
cash, has been committed to the custody
of the chairman of the finance committee
of said board, it seeming proper that
should, before | went out of office make
a complete settlement with the school
and not leave any fraction of the settle
ment for my successor.
1t has been complained that graduates
from this school do not return to the
farms; that they are being educated away
from them. The school does not sin in
this matter above the higher white
schools of this state. Graduates from
none of them return to the farm. This is
a great pity
Montevallo and Tuskegee Lands.
Only few hundred acres of the Tuske-
gee school lands have been sold. Monte
vallo lands to the amount of 1921 scat
tered acres have been sold and the money
$36, 6S deposited to the credit of the
school in the state treasury. There are
yet on hand of these Montevallo lands
q, 900 acres, the greater part of which,
being practically in one block, have not
been offered for sale by the board. They
have been reserved. All of these lands
are very valuable. most modest estl-
mate of their present selling value could
hardly be less than $40 an acre. The de-
termination of the board, made some
years ago, only to part with the scat
tered lands and then at fair figures. has,
1 think, been very wise and in the inter-
est of the school.
Deaf Dumb and Blind Schools.
These several schools were so unfor-
tunate as to lose one of their buildings,
embraced in the equipment for the deaf.
The insurance was inadequate. The
whole amount was collected by me and
turned over to the building committee. 1t
was found to be insufficient to put up
such a building as was needed. You
should read the report of superintendent
Johnson to get a fair idea of what the
several schools are doing and what their
needs are.
Hospital for the Insane.
The officers are doing great work.
think they are reasonably provided with
funds. You will find the report of DIR.
Searcy. the superintendent, instructive
reading
Child Labor Law.
The law which you passed at your last
session restricting child labor In the mills
was not sufficiently reformatory of old
methods and has not been very effective.
l take it this subject will be carefully
treated in the interest of the future man
hood and womanhood of this state.
Good Roads.
Our dirt roads, with a few exceptions.
are a disgrace to the state. How they
may be improved will challenge your at
tention. l have no suggestions or advice
To offer except to say that any legislation
that will advance this cause in a single
county in the state will be emnently
worth your while.
Racial Troubles.
think we can felcitate ourselves on
the comparatively kindly feeling exist
i,t IN, , {c hatx ia \NhlIp
it is not such as 1t might be it is better
than In other states and is altogether an
improvement on the feeling which exist
ed few months ago in this state. | am
in receipt of many letters from the lead
ing negroes and have had very many COM
Nersatons with members of the same
class, pledging themselves To stand with
the conservative and law -abiding white
citizens for the preservation of law and
order. l have talked the matter over
with leading white citizens and both agree
that there must be still better feeling
or we are in danger of IA race clash much
10 be regretted 1t will be very wise for
us all to understand that as we are TO live
together there is every reason for the
thoughtful of each race to consult togeth-
er in the interest of mutual helpfulness.
The tremendous number of Migrants
and thieves among the negroes, more
than ever before, admonishes all of us
that this must be the result of the pre-
cept of preachers, and school teachers.
We cannot escape the conviction. While
the state cannot interfere with the right
of free speech in the churches it can in
terefere to see that the states money is
not expended to keep teachers in the
schools who turn out a tremendous pro-
portion of children who look upon manual
labor with adherence or believe they can
live decently as thieves, or have an idea
that there is a pleasant thieves home In
the hereafter. This brings me to say that
it is well for us to consider If there is not
some better way of providing teachers
than by depending on moral perverts.
supplying them with the states money to
do a destructive work. Stealing and
vagrancy are the greatest dstrurbers of
'xace peace. They are the primary disturb
of that peace. This is great question
VI you have for consideration, and
Ie that any legislation you may
pass touching it. or both races