The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-10
CAMPAIGN OPENED
GOV. r1oS<r SMITH WANTS ANOTH-
 ER TERM.
4r<aks ct Decatur, Gn., and Refers to HIS Reform Movement and sfiiI Further Reforms
 He Wants Enaeted.

nG W4MtN HM8Et~&s
 
 Atlantn. Ga. March s.--Governor
 Hoke smith opened his campaign for
 reelection as Governor of Georgia
 with a speech at Decatur today.
 He referred particularly to the dis.
 franchisenent bill passed by the last
 te9isiature and said the people would
 nave an opportunity to ratify at the
 next election Referring to the fran
 ekise act. the Governor said:
 Under our new law. when satisfied.
 the state will be freed of danger at
 fne ballot box from that class of citi-
 1snR who unable to govern themselves,
 are utterly unfit to provide for the
 rovernment of others. For generations
 to come white supremacy will be pre-
 served In Georgia without the necessi- ty for intimidation or violence. and
 even though the white voters may bs divided. this will still be no danger at the ballot box from the ignorant and the purchasable negro votes"
 The Governor referred in strong language to lobbying influence on. elections and said:
 by there has been a combination in Georgia between certain railroad in- tefeets and the liquor dealers associa- tion which put up tho money for can dfdates for the House of Representa- tives and for the Senate. I believe they put the money to pay the ex- penses of candidates for even more psfches have brought us the informa- ton that the brewers association has recently raised $1.0oO.0o0 which they propose to spend in the South to con- trel election. Georgia was named as one of the states in which the money is to be used.
 ssrhs state has been deluged with printed matter, all printed in Louis vile. Ky. attacking our reform move ment 90 far as railroads are concerned. No foolish cry especially If it came from Georgian. was unworthy of notice by Louisville publishers
 *i urge legislation which will make E crime for any of these interests to enntribute to politics in Georgia
 In discussing Georgia banking faws, thc Governor said:
 Our banking system in Georgia should be perfected. We should have well organized, proficient system of bank examination, upon which the pub lic can depend
 our insurance laws should be i'm proved. The utmost care should be La NH u HtS lO II IndI the DuDl1C lS Euarded against putting their money into insolvent companies. The rule should not only apply to insurance companies, but to all that class of guaranty companies that solicit money From the public to prevent schemes Impossible of performance or visionary and unbusiness-like in their nature
 On the Prohibition movement. he said; -
 ssr. n,.~t.... ,,.,, ..,,.~..... ... ..., | before the Legislature met 1 frankly told the people that I was a local eptionist; that I would vote against the sale if called to vote in my county but that while did not advocate a State Prohibition law. I would dIsapprove 1t # the Legislature passed it.
 sAt that time I did not believe the sentiment of the state was sufficiently strong against the sale of liduor to enforce prohibition all over Georgia, have never believed 1t wise to under take by legislation to prohibit the sale unless public sentiment had developed enough to sustain the law. During the two years between my first announce ment for Governor and the meeting of the Legislature. the temperance senti- ment in the State grew with wonder ful strides and the Legislature in pass ing q state prohibition bill. responded to the overwhelming will of the white people of the state.
 Since the Legislature adjourned. the temperance sentiment has continued to grow and, I believe in the near future. 1 & state prohibition law will drive the sale from Alabama, Tennessee and North and South Carolina. and hope to see Florida, Texas and other South ekn States fall into line.
 While there are advantages in per- hitting a local vote upon this subject with the conviction that the local sent tment of the white voters in practically every county is against the sale, it Is useless to leave this disturbing ques- ton to harass the people longer in county elections. consider it wise to adhere to the legislation which has been passed. amending the bill perhaps in some particular. as experience teaches with which to make 1t more perfect.
 T say this in advance most posi- lively because I trust to see the ques- ton relegated from the politics of Georgia for years to come. and the way 1 to relegate it Is to let those interested | In the sale understand how useless it | will be for them to make a struggle | for the sale.
 T wish to add that I consider that | the bill should be perfected by the friends of prohibition rather than by its opponents.
 Regarding the method of paying pen- 1 sions to Confederate Veterans. the pay | ments having been changed from an- nual to quarterly, the Governor said:
 Under the Constitution as it stands l with the States finances, see little 1 prospects to pay Ss5O.00 for pensions out of the treasury the first of the | year. If the old soldiers find that this 1 change works a hardship upon them. l they should go further than simply to | ask a change of the law. They should | ask that the Constitution of the State | be amended so that the Governor could | borrow the money necessary to meet | their pensions the first of the year or | of some kind should be | passed by which the money is to be | raised. SO that 1t will be available the 1 first of the year to pay the pensions | =.