The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-01-28
Inaugural Address
Of Governor William Walton
kitchin, Delivered Tuesday,
January 9th, Upon Assum-

January 18th, Upon Assum-
ing the Office of Chief Ex-
ecutive Of North Carolina
A Broad, Patriotic, Conser-
vative and Business Like
Document - Declaration of
Principles Along the Lines
y pom Which His Admins
tration VIII be Conducted.
Following is the inaugural address
OF Governor kitchin:
Members of the General Assembly,
Ladies and Gentlemsr:
Political parties are not only nat
uraI. but necessary III our govern
nent Under our constitution all the
I legislative powers Of the State every
two wears. and all the executive
p powers every four years, are returned
to the people to whom all govern
mental powers belong. and the cleo
/ tor at those stated intervals deter
mine into whose hands those powers
shall be committed. The Democratic
party has again been charged by the
people with the responsibility for the
proper exercise OF these powers dur
in the constitutional period. By thus
further entrusting public affairs to
this party they have endorsed its rec
ord and have approved its declara-
tion OF principles as set forth i'll the
| Charlotte platform. In approving
Its record they did not intend to de-
clare it faultless or to approve every
act committed in its name No hu-
man being isperfect and no organiza-
tion OF man is perfect. The people
did. however, approve it's fundament-
nj doctrines and its we'll considered
policies. As no man is altogether
bad, no political party is altogether
bad. I'm disappearing the record OF
the Republican party and rejecting
it's platform the people did not de-
clare that nothing in that record is
good and nothing in that platform
desirable, but they expressed their
Judgment that the record as a whole
OF the Republican party in this State
has been harmful, that its platform
criticism of tho service of the Demo
cratic party to the public is unjust,
and that it's Remuneration of Demo-
cratic policies is unWarranted.
In assuming today in obedience to
the will Of the ma jOrity of nv fellow
citizens the weighty responsibility Of
the Chief Executive OF this Common
| TO
surance that the recognized principles
OF the Democratic party shall be Ell
cOuraged and pursued by the incOm-
ing administration. We have been
commanded to maintain and pro-
mote SO far as we can the great poll
cies which have been contained or in
augurated during the last eight years,
as well as to undertake the establish
ment OF the new policies prOpOunded
in the platform which was endorsed
at the polls and with the provisions
OF which you are already familiar
PRIMARIES.
Many electors unfortunately have
the easy disposition of failing to eX-
ercise their right OF suffrage or of ex-
ercising it in the general election. with
other motives than the high purpose
of strengthening the party represent
ing their political principles and Sc,
Letting officials who will in their iudg-
ment best serve the cOuntrv'S inter
est. Every precautiOn should be taken
to assure each electors having an
Understandings equal voice in NAM
ing the candidates of lis party. This
assurance will largely eliminate such
other motives. Aproperly safeguard
edldirect primary for electing the nom
inees OF all political parties is the best
plan that has been or can be devised.
1t enables the people to have closer
touch Will the more effective control
of their officials 1t renders harmless
efforts to trade against the wishes of
, the electors. 1t does much to DESTROY
/. the cry and more to nullify the at
i, tempt OF ring rule. 1t ought to di-
mlnlsh the expense OF campaigns for
nominations. Should such expense
for legitimate purposes increase as
they have increased III recent wears,
it will soon be that none but a wealthy
man can hopefully aspire to our
higher offices unless Others pay his
campaign expenses for the nominal
ton Ii others pay his expenses, he
will feel under obligations to them
and will not be in position to render
the people his best service, especially
in matters involving doubt as to the
path ofpublic duty. The public should
insist on having every official free
from obligation for his nomination
for office except to the people. Every
reasonable safeguard should be
thrown around our nominations and
elections to secure the accomplish
ment of the honest Judgment and un-
constrained wishes OF the electors
and to render less effective the shrewd-
ness of astute politicians in further
ing mere personalpurposes and reach
ing mere personal ends. Ability,
patriotism, character, service and the
principles and policies of aspirants
are rightfully the elements which APP
peal 10 the Judgment OF the electors,
and there should be the source of sue
cess. To partially attain to this
standard and TO partially eliminate
other considerations, the publicity
before convention and election OF
campaign funds and the names OF
contributors as favored in the last
Democratic platform will be effective
and q suitable law should be enacted
to accomplish the purpose of that
plank. Whether You favor a general