Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1908-01-18
GOVERNORS MESSAGE

jackson. Nliss.-Gov. Vardaman today |
sent his farewell message TO the Mis-
sissippi legislature 1t was the longest |
document ever submitted TO the law 1
making body in this state consisting
OF nearly 10000 words The governor,
after careful review Of the states
financial condition, recommends liberal
appropriations for state educational and
eleemosynary Institutions state assist
ance in establishing a system Ct rural
high schools; normal and training
schools for teachers memorial to con-
grcss, either for the repeal OF the
Fifteenth aud modification Of the Four
teenth amendments or the calling Of a
national convention; division Of school
fund between races, and industrial edu-
cation only for the negro; child labor
law; industrial schools Tor delinquent
boys and girls; adoption Of statutory
and constitutional prohibition; governor
and attorney general should be members
Of railroad commission, and enlargement
of powers OF encouragement; constltu-
tional amendment providing for elective
judiciary; statute making attempt at
criminal assault punishable Ly death;
summary removal of public oiileihs
guilty Of drunkenness in office; sale Of
the old capitol grounds; more liberal
treatment Of national guard; abolition
of county convict leasing systems; lib
eral appropriation for INDECENT eX-Con-
federates; creation of office OF state
oculist; separate sleeping and dining
cars for races; reduction OF legal rate OF
interest to per cent; Endorsement oil
state board of health plan for suppress
sion of tuberculosis.
The message is in part as follows;
To the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives-It is a source of profound
qualification to me that on the meeting
of the legislature of the state | am able
to announce to the members thereof
that the affairs of the commonwealth are
in admirable form, and the general con
dition of the people most prosperous and
encouraging. The numerical preponder'
anae of the negro race in our state-a
race inherently immoral, ignorant ano
superstitious, with a congenital ten
dency to crime, incapable unalteraoly
of understanding the meaning OF Tree
government, devoid of those qualities
of mind and body necessary to seii-eon
trol-and being unable to control them
selves, are therefore unfit for the gov
ernment of others--vested by law witt
equal political rights with the white
man, it is but natural to expect tina
such conditions should be attended witt
disorder and lawlessness. But unde
the wise administration of the affair
Of the state, the vigorous enforcement
of the law, | thank God that | can re
mort to YOU a condition which give
hone for still better and a more har
monious state of affairs than we haY
enioved in the immediate past.
Financial Condition.
The report of the treasurer reveals
most encouraging and satisfactory cor
dition of the states finances. IL show
the total payable bonded indebtedness
of the state TO be about $1,250,000 /
round numbers. The Indebtedness t
the various school funds for which tn
state obHgates itself to pay 6 per cen
interest IS S2,336, 1878. The asseSse
value Of taxable property as shown b
the report of the treasurer Is SJf5
5s4,960.
Public Education
/ State education has become as muc
a part of the functions OF governmeT
, as determining the rights Of man,
the preservation of the liberties OF u
people. At this time it is the questlo
of consuming public interest, and u
/. end to which large per cent OF u
government revenues are devoted 1hel
, are few commemorative in this republ
b that devote as large per cent OF Il
0 revenues derived from taxation TO ed
cational purposes us Mississippi.
e ;ts broader and better sense, the ter
o education means more, embraces mo
e is fraught with greater good to u
4 republic-than all the other question
|. with which the just powers from u
l' consent OF the governed, that COVER
$ mcnt is enlightened, just in its law
r enduring in quality, in the proporll'
e that the best part Of mans nature
II deyelopcd and his mind and morals a
It interviewer in the fabric OF the stat
l. But there are fads in education, and
g lot of non essentials are engraited up'
?. educational system which often consuI
e the revenues of the state without oflh
d ing any substantial returns,
The State Penitentiary.
~ e lofyid Ia tt1rn
% directed to the reports Of the board
a trustees and superintendent, which sh'
~ n verv healthy financial condition. q
,f of the most gratifying achievements
. nv administration is the improveme
10 of the management of the penitential
20 The leasing system has been aoohsh
and the personal pecuniary interest
the nroducts of the convict's toll of
men who have charge OF the conVle
has been forever eliminated by Ia
"a Fayoritism and every semblance OF gr'
y, have been completely eXtirpated, Gre
n Improvement is apparent eyerywh
u under the new board, and ! trust Il
-, the system may continue to lmpf'
Il, as the years go by.
~ Treatment of the Insane,
e. One of the most beautiful fruits
" the better and deeper civilization Is
q. loving care ard attention given by
government to the unfortunate me
IN hers OF society. Every deformed hun
re body, every distorted human SOUL
he the legitimate result OF some error
d. mistake for which the creature in WI
he the error is manifested or bodied 10
"a. in no way be responsible. The one
i'll nreme test of the superiority of
ly civilization. to the civilization which
listed in another age of the worlds
he tory is shown in the care which is
h, slowed upon the afflieted-the w
nd and helpless members of society. Th
he is no class of the unfortunate memt
of society that appeals to me SO m
- as The insane.
bs Protect the Child.
rs The greatest blessing that q Der
tent providence can bestow upon st
to are strong men, vigorous in mind
va body. and pure, virtuous women "
gs physical force undistorted by iashl
. or misshapen by misfortune-the
feet image of the Creator. To sec
p that blessing to the commonwealth,
ne children Of the poor must be protee
from the errors of ignorance, the
to dens of poverty and the crime of grt
ne 1t becomes my duty to again urge U
the legislature the duty of the state
nd protecting the children who toll in
of r..a..,:s. n,,.lt otbnr .Snrk chnne. IN ,