The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1908-01-12
GOV. vARDAMAN'S
LAST MESSAGE
CONTAINING TWENTY THOUS-
AND WORDS.
READ TO STATE LEGISLATURE
Reading Broken by Election of State
Observation-Disclosures Filled With
Visitors-Few Bills Acted Upon
What the Governor Recommends

Jackson, Miss, Jan. o.-The read
ing of the governors message was
broken by the joint meeting for the
election OF state librarian The mes
sage had been read for about an hours
time, and was taken up after the cleo
ton was dccidedt There was the
greatest interest manifested in this |
election Nomination speeches were
cut off by resolution, and the work
of sballoting started in short order.
! The nominations were Miss Matte
Pblnkett, of Jackson; ISIS Kate Blu
/ chanan, OF Chickasaw; Miss Minnie
B. Wilson, of Hattiesburg, and Mrs.
Anne F. Tan, of Kemper county
Miss Plunkett was elected on the first
ballot, receiving I23 votes
After the reading of the governors
message was finished tine veto of the
governor of the Alcorn fire protection
bill was laid before the house. A few
other small bills were put lout by the
4 members.
4 In the senate after the election Of
the librarian one committee was APP
pointed. The hours of 10 a. M, and
; p. m were fixed for assembling.
The governor'sc message gives
more attention to- the race question
than anything else He urges the
Legislature to take the initiative in
alling upon the United States con-
gress a constitutional convention foe
the repeal of the fifteenth amendment
and the modification of the four
teenth amendment Says the COVER
nor:
These iniquous portions of the
Unite States constitution were con-
ceived in a spirit of hatred and ignor-
ance and brought forth in spasm OF
venom and revenge To give the ne
gro the right of suffrage and place
him on terms OF absolute equality with
the white man was the capital crime
W
civilization. The eff ct has proven
disastrous, and the preparation OF
the evil effects Of he error can only
work harm to both races. You can
no adjust laws suited 70 the govern
ment Of the white n7an-the heir OF
4 all he ages in the foremost files of
time to this low browed, civiliza-
tion-veneered savage. And it is
worse than crime to undertake it"
Radical changes in the present
school system of Mississippi, under
which the negroes derive the same
| proportionate benefits from the gem
eral fund as do those of the whites,
are urged in the message. He as
/ serts that the white taxpayers SHOULD
not be compelled to support the ne
gro. schools, which, are producing moth
ing but the criminally idle class.
Two years ago the legislature in
creased the minimum penalty for
criminal assault from ten years i'm
pri5onment to life imprisonment and
Gov Vardaman in his late message
urges that the punishment be increas-
ed to death.
While he declares that the peri-
Tertiary should be self sustaining,
Gov Vardaman asserts that it IS
.-:,,,,;r.I So . r+,+o - ,S~f;. r.
crime, and he urges that the laws be
so amended. that the prison trustees
may set aside part OF the proceeds
off the labor of each convict for the
besnfit Of the prisoners family dur
ing his incarceration, or, if he has
no family. be retained to give him a
new start in life when he is releas-
ed
Although favoring an extension OF
THE powers OF the railroad commits
sion, Gov. Vardaman does not favor
flat cent rate, but suggests that
the commission be empowered TO
establish an elastic ordsr according to
the revenue and express of the roads
/ operating in Mississippi
h The governor opens the message
by congratulating the new legislature
on the widespread awakening OF civ
ic righteousness. He closes by thank
/ ing all Mississippians for having had
the opportunity Of serving as COVER
4 nor.-
State finances are in good shape.
/ says the governor, but Inc recommends
in ,oFder to avoid pinching, that 4
/ bond issue besfiosted or the tax levy
1sbs s::ss =;
New buildings for the Industrial
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