The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-06
GOV. BRoWARD'S MESSAGE
Savannah News.
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The message of the governor OF
Florida is long, but 1t is interesting.
and for that reason its length VIII be
excused. It deals with many sub
jects and all Of them are handled Wig
Orously and COMPREHENSIVE. II may
be that many Of his constituents will
not agree with all his recommends
lions and suggestions, but they will
accord to him praise for frankness
and chearneSs in the presentation of
his views. Perhaps, eventually, he
will come to the conclusion that he
made a mistake in introducing into
a state paper of such Importance his
differences with some of the news
papers in respect to the drainage of
the Everglades ana his suggestion
that a law be enacted for the control
of the press. He should have kept
in mind the fate. of Gov. Pennypacker
of Pennsylvania, who tried to gag the
newspapers of that state. If he is
right in his Everglades policy he
ought to be able to uphold it. He
certainly has the support of some OF
the brightest papers of the state in
the Everglades matter. The fact that
he wants gag law will be inteTpre-
ted in some quarters as meaning that
he has the weaker side of the con-
trOYersy.
The governor goes into the rail
road question thoroughly. He shows
that he has given it careful thought
and made himself familiar with all
there is to be said for and against
a more strict control of the railroads
by the state. He thinks railroad
rates ere too high, that the railroads
are not operated as carefully as they
should be and that they are greatly
OVerca pitalized. He recommends that
a law be enacted to prevent Overcap-
italizaCiOn. In this recommendation
he is in harmony with the sentiment
that is cropping out in all parts of
the country.
1t is gratifying that the state is
growing so fast in wealth and popuIa-
ton. Its taxable wealth has increased
about So per cent. in the last five
years. 1t is doubtful if there is any
other state that has had a greater in
crease in that time. The governor
thinks nothing would contribute more
to the development of the states re-
sources, and.to its increase in pOpula-
ton than an issue of bonds to
the amount of ten million dollars
to be used in road road build
Ing. I1C SuCS Jl1dJ Tue 1uISISSI OH
this sum wouldn't be as great as the
amount that is annually expended on
roads now, and no lasting good is
obtained. He points that with the
sum named 1000 miles of road could
be built, and that by the time so
many miles were completed the road
building spirit would nave such a
strong hold of the people that the
work of improving the roads would
be continued. What he says on the
subject is extremely interesting.
OF course he favOrs better schools
And he is right in wanting higher
salaries paid 20 the rural teachers.
1t is in the rural districts that the
most illiteracy is found. AS a rule
illiterate children are the offspring of
illiterate parents. Besides better
common schools the governor wants
a system of high schools In fact,
he advises the legislature to seriously
consider the advisau---,y of state aid
to higher education.
The governor is very pronounced
in his views on the race question. He
doesn't believe that the white and
black races can get along together
tremendously. According to his view
of the blacks only accen-
tuates the hostility between the races.
If he could have his way the United
States would buy territory somewhere
and ship the negroes there, paying
them a fair price for their property in
this country and exercising control
over them until they were able to
their own affairs.
This idea of deporting all the ne
groes isn't a new one. There are OBJ
lections to it The negloeS would OBJ
ject to going to an undeveloped terri
tory, and their objection could be
overcome only by force. The first
at force would mean serious
trouble because a big percentage OF
the whites would side with the blacks.
The consent to a deportation scheme
obtained even here in the
South. In about every Southern
state there are laws preventing emil
grafton agents from enticing negroes
to leave the state. Besides, sXlere