The Monticellonian., 1907-01-17

made mistakes l shall pot attempt to deny. But these mistakes have been largely made in the interest of hpmanity and what conceived to be a Ineaciful administration of justice.
 In retiring Sentlemen-from the Cover nors offce-I want to reitera1e many of the things that l have said to your predeces sors. and warn you of some of the dangers and pitfalls that will be set before you under the cloak and guse of great solicitude foe the welfare of OUT people. The first sub jeet to which l desire 10 e1ll your attention | Is our
 PRESENT ANTITRUST LAW.
 This subject Aas been threshed out in th-ee campaigns, Bnfore two legislatures. and through the courts, until every detail of it has beeane thoras ghly known to the De 5ple generauE The courts have upheld the law in its most vital features; and to- day in my judgment if properly enforced aY the law officers ef the State. if stands without g He1el fer tee suppression of the srs.at trust seyil. The law, however, has nos been enfsroed in the spirit i'll which II was xrittes and :.seaase ef this failure os the part zf those having in charge it's | eH.oreemena its enemies seek to destroy t. warn you npw. gentlemen, at the yesy beginning of yaur official duties, not | ta lay 4ls4nd upon this law. or change one line one word. one syllable or one letter. but te exact ef your public officials
 fs strief 2n9 faithfni enforcement.
 STATE HOUSE LEGISLATION. Another question of great importance that wil5 he braugh aeefere your honorable | body viii be 5sn effort to obtain additional | appropriations for thn completion of the ueK s4zse Capitol II would be useless fDs me iH reitsrate my length the objee- tieus WBIeh l have urged to this scheme TSplf and unfaithfui to the rust imposed on me | f did R1t sa4 L. you i'll parting that this | has been Fhe most grieS1us burden that has lean plstsd upon my administration. IL Las been frtught with more dishonesty. | fraud and corrupt on than any scheme that l las been forced upon an unwilling people siuce l hape haG ginythiRg to do with pub.
 le ahairs Jhe wT99le pregect was conceived | n iniguitF and Brought forth in sin, and | every sfpp since its beg inning has been tainted wi1h the slime of its own eorrup. ton until at ti.e last meeting of your honorable body its tpra2en bead was so con spicuous that the commGnest wayfaring man might and understand its terrible
 influence uren tthat legislature l say to you. gentlemen .saun any further appro= priafion whi1e this present scheme Is In vogue as you would ssun a p.stilence. Shun 1t for thr good nau-A of yo,N' State. shun it for the good name of your children, your friends and FUscseh. 2"
 STATE CONVICT FARM AND PEJITENTIARY SYSTEM.
 The next snb5e-t to which d.sire to call your attention. seatlemen Is ths purchase of the convict farm. which was made dur ing my iisst term ef office. the Stsse agree. ing to pay SI 0.a92 l0O fog a tracx of land In Lincoln county, whes l have always cuntended was practically worthless and vslueless: which hss beep a source of an neyauce and without profit. and wbdelh Nis absolutely unfit from every standpoint foi' tbe labor of conK5ets You will be asked to pass law, gentlemen. authorizing z the board to pay the aecraaJ Interest upau this aebt as well AS that which Is yet t0 become due. The holders sS these oblI- gsfio have come squarely up against this proposition of law-that ihe Staae does not pay interest on any of it's obligations un- less there Ns a law in existence aa the time of inc makhng of the contract authorizing this payment. And l say Ia you, gentlemen, to day. that Sou are not authorized either by law or morals, to pass any kind of an Act that will belp these gentlemeR ont Of their dilemma . .
 FELLow7sERvANT BILL.
 In each and every message that I have had the honor to deliver to the legislature of this State, have Insisted that they
  fellow servant bill, which Is for the pro tection of employees of corporations agains. the negligence and csrelessness of their cotaborers; and insist now in the light of recent events in our State, the number of accidents upon railway trains. and the great number of lives sacrificed by these great corporations. that no man. who truly has at heart the interest of one of our most worthy class of citizens can. for moment honestly not be enacted.
 INNOCENT RATE BILL.
 While on the subject of railroads. gen tlemen. I desire to ask and insist that yon pass bill limiting the fare on passenger trains to a flat rate of two cents per mile. It Is we'll known to all that this question Is absolutely in your power, linn tied only by the proposition that you could not make the railroads carry passengers at a price that would not return to them A fair profit upon their investment
 OUR STATE UNIVERSITY.
 Our State University. gentlemen of the General Assembly. under the broad and liberal policy that has been heretofore pur- sued by your predecessors. has grown to be one of the. greatest educational insti- tutions In the South. and is the just pride of every citizen of our State. Here the humblest boy or girl In the land may ac- qure collegiate education second to none obtainable elsewhere. and that too, If he has pluck and energy. without money and without cost. Within the last six years this school has grown from an enrolment of four hundred 10 about a thousand ; scarcely a county in Arkansas is not repre- sented at this seat Of learning. and nearly ever, village and hamlet Is interested In Its welfare and its growth. But. !! could hope to do in this message. But. | iu concluding, want to insist that this