Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-01-07


positories for state Funds, Guar
anty Of Bank Deposits, Improve
ment Of Primary Election Law,
State immigration Department, Good
Roads Legislation, Increase in Mem
bership of Supreme Court, Regula-
ton of Trusts and Revision Of the
Insurance Code.
In his inaugural address to the leg
islature Governor Vessey said:
To the Senators and Representatives
and to the People of South Dakota:
In addressing you upon this occa-
sion l wish, first of all, to extend to
you my most hearty congratulations.
l congratulate you upon the hlgn
standard of your citizenship, upon the
and upon the high place our young
commonwealth has attained in the
sisterhood of states. For years South
Dakota has stood first in the Union
in the production of agricultural
wealth per capita and the increasing
immigration, together with the open
ing up of new tracts of virgin soil to
settlers, has increased our hold upon
this pre-eminent position. Our people
are lovers of law and order, haters OF
evil and lovers of right. They have
been steadily purifying our politics
and at the last general election made
themselves heard upon at least one
great moral question. In no uncer-
tain way they spoke upon the question
and the divorce evil, which lay like
blight upon the fair name of our
state, was corrected and it's advocates
rebuked.
Whenever the will of the peopIA has
found full and free expression ii has
always been for the right and for
better citizenship.
Carry Out Platform Promises.
1t is your duty, as a legislature
largely Republican, to carry into ef-
fective legislation every principle ad-
vocated in our party platform and
faithfully to fulfill every promise that
the Republican party has made to the
people of the state.
There will come before the present
legislature many problems to solve
that are not party issues, but which
will be for the best interests of the
citizenship of the state. | trust all
such measures will have the thought
full consideration and support Of all
the members of both branches of this
legislature.
The retiring governor, from an in
innate and accurate knowledge of our
state affairs, has laid before you in
detail the condition of the state and
the needs, as he sees them, of the
various departments. His recommen'
dations are supplemented by the re.
ports of the departments, so that you
have before you more complete and
accurate information than it would be
possible for me, standing upon the
threshold Of official duties, to give
within the limits of this address.
Penal and Charitable Institutions.
The affairs of our penal and char
table institutions have been ably and
honestly administered. The money
expended in enlarging and improving
, them has been utilized to the fullest
extent and with the best possible re
suits, With our advance along al
lines of modern thought and clearer
appreciation Of the brotherhood o
man have come, of necessity, new
ideas as to our treatment of those
whom circumstances have brough
under the discipline of our penal laws
The old punitive idea has been large
ly outgrown and in its place has come
! the reformative purpose in dealing
5 with this class. Our laws are adapt
ed to the old conditions and do no
y give sufficient opportunity for the eS
. ercise Of the best influences In thi
direction. / recommend that you Civ
;. careful attention to the subject of tn
: indeterminate sentence and the us
l of parole in dealing with our convict
y ed criminals for the purpose OF adapt
o ing their use fully to our Jaws an
T the present condition OF the stat
= penal institutions.
Our educational institutions are pt
= culiarly q matter for patriotic pride
- Year by year they have enlarged the1
borders and strengthened their infi'
. ence. Their usefulness has constan
{. " increased until today they hav
- . within their walls the largest numbe
:, of young men and women, future cit
,e gems of the commonwealth, that the
have had in the history of the state.
IN lust as the care Of the unfortuna'
g. Is q charge upon our Christian citize
Of ship, 80 the free and liberal support
~ our educational institutions is II
o. highest duty of our patriotism. | urt
= upon you . continuance OF the VII
:, and liberal policies of the past. car
! Continued on page s.