Washington telegraph., 1909-01-22

language imposes upon the Governor the duty
to see that the laws faithfully executed.
! promise you that | shall faithfully observe
this imperative mandate of the organic law.
COUNTY CoNvIGTs.
The Governor discusses the evil of traffcing
In the service of county conyiets and says
As remedy for this illegal and inhuman
! system, l suggest that you pass law prohib-
| itng any eonyicts, for any offense serving
over six months Imprisonment county
! farm or any other compulsatory servltude out
! side of the penitentiery.
LAWS FOR PROTECTION OF LABOR,
The proper safeguard should be thrown around
| the laborer when engaged in the duties OF
his daily life You should examine carefully
as to the safety given him in factories, mines,
quarries and railroads, and make laws sufficient
in all respects.
| suggest also that If you have the consti-
tutiOnal authority, you amend our antitrust
laws there be doubt as to their
exemption of Farmers Unions and other labor
organizations from the penalties prescribed
therein
TEMPERAcNE LAWS.
In the matter of laws for the regulation OF
the liquor traffic, there are two eontendlng
propostions-loeal option, have it,
and Statewide prohibition; and these issues
our last Democratic State Convention, composed
of members fresh from the people, together
with many of the leaders of the temperance
cause in the State, adopted n resolution pro-
vding that the will of the people on this
question be aseertained by taking vote during
the year 1909; and that when their will be
ascertained that it be carried into effect.
recommend that you carry out this expression
Of the peoples will this question.
VETERINARY LAWS.
The Governor calls attention to the presence
and practice of flake" veterinary doctors and
recommends suitable law similar to that of
Missouri, covering such offenses.
JUDICIARY.
The message pays a tribue to the Supreme
Court Of the State and commends the last
Legislature for increasing the salary of its
members to the constitutional limit of $4,000
This salary raise, however, is not effective
until the expiration of their respective terms
and the work has increased that the Cover
nor recommends an appropriation for two more
stenographers to relieve them of much of their
present drndgerye He also recommends that
salaries of Circuit Judges and Chancellots be
increased to $4,000 per annum
ELECTIONS.
1t Is impossible to have high form of self
government unless the ballot is sacredly pro-
teced. Every qualified elector should have
the right to cast his vote wltslut Interference
or intimidation, and to have it counted as cast;
and believing that absolute fairness requires
the party in power to hold itself aloof from
even a suspicion of taking illegal or unfair
advantage of any weaker party, a revision of
both he primary and general election laws
should be had so that 1t will be impossible for
any party or interest to influence the eIector |
improperly or take Illegal unfair advantage
Of him in casting counting the ballot or
certifying the returns.
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
l recommend that you submit To the people |
a constitutional amendment providing for the |
Initiative and Referendum. l regard such a |
Initiative and Referendum. The sovereign |
people should have the right to demand any |
law they want through the Initiative. and |
lnnul any act by use Of the Referendum
FREE PASSES
In my opinion, the free pass has cost the
State of Arkansas more in material prosperity
than all the so-ealled ''corporation oppression
that has ever been ever will be administered
to public service corporations ia the State
/ earnestly recommend that you pass such
4 law as will forever abolish this evil; law
which will effectively prevent free transportn-