The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-01-12
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE

With a commanding presence, the
| picture of manly strength, with an
impressiveness that made the occasion
historic. Governor Robert Broadnax
Glenn read his message to the General
Assembly in the House yesterday. His
voice rang out clear and strong. ms
enunciation was perfect. and the mes
lsage had the charm of a strong per
sonality. He seldom departed from
the written manuscript which he held
in his hand, but departures added
weight to the arg lnent and interest
to the reading. Every Senator ana
Representative was in his seat and
marked attention was paid to the
message from the opening to the
closing sentence. There were tears
in the voice of the Governor when he
referred to the fact that this was the
last message he would give to I de-
Lucrative body and the high purpose
that had actuated him in his endeavor
to so act as to best upbuild the
states highest interest" and there
was communion between the ENecu-
tive and Legislative Departments when
| he repeated with patriotic fervor.
Carolina, Carolina, Heavens blessings
attend her.
While we live We Will cherish, protect
and defend her"
The graphic description of the chief
ox-,.+ - L;- ,.J,o; n, ;c+r ~ +;an ranalIa1
to his hearers the magnificent figure
he made when the railroads sought to
destroy the sovereign right of the State
and the Governor was UNFOLDING the
majesty of the State with dignity and
courage. His prediction that no
power can ever induce the people of
North Carolina to return to the curse
of whiskey selling brought out the
conspicuous part borne by Governor
Glenn in securing State Prohibition,
going into almost every county, "by
day and night not ceasing," arousing
the people to put an end to the saloon
and still agencies of evil in North
Carolina. 1t is not too much to say
that, though others were the pioneers,
history will give chief credit for the
State Prohibition victory to Governor
Glenn, and in so doing history will
place the credit where it belongs. The
eloquence of the Governor, backed by
the power. and dignity of the high
office Of Chief Executive, were factors
more influential in securing the rati-
fcation of State Prohibition than can
be fully measured or estimated. He
came into office declaring his ambition
to be knoWn as the Industrial Gov
~ernor.' He gets a higher honor and
will be known as the temperance
Governor" for, though his admins
tration has been helpful to industrial
expansion and to educational progress,
the chief thing that his administra-
ton will be remembered for is that
it broke the chains Of the still and
the saloon in North Carolina.
Most Of the Governors recemmen-
dations are wise and practical. When
a member of the Constitutional Con-
Lvention Of 1885. returned homo from
Raleigh, a constituent asked him:
What power did you give the Cover
nor" The laconic answer was: The
power to draw his salary" meaning
that little actual power was conferred
upon the executive. That is true to
this day. but The Governor. if he is a
man Of force and conviction exercises
more power and influence tina if
more duties had been given him by
the Constitution. Governor Glenn
suggests that an amendment to the
Constitution be submitted giving h
Governor of North Carolina the same
veto power that is exercised by the
Governors of more than forty States.
Every Governor has the veto power,
except the Chief Executive of Rhode
Island, Idaho and North Carolina.
The men who controlled North Caro-
lima and Rhode Island were Jealous
of the rights of the people, refusing
to ratifH the Federal Constitution
until the bill of rights, free press and
free speech and freedom of religion
and other rights had been incorporated
into the Constitution. The fact that
CiltN' lid y e never given the veto power |
to TIE Chief Executive shows that
they are slow TO part with the power
they hold through their legisla-
tors. In view Of the u%surpation Of
power by the Federal executive and
the executives of some States. there
is ground for not desiring to elevate
the Executive to It position where the
legislative branch is subject to the
executive. 1t would have been a sad
day Tor North Carolina during the
Legislature if Governor Russell had
possessed the veto power in 1899. The
fathers provided many checks and
balance to make it difficult for the
VIII Of the people to be carried into
effect and they have operated in pro-l
tectlon OF privilege and e~ntrencbcd
wrong. The executive. legislative ana
executive branches ought to be soma
rate. The only way to secure tba,
desirable end is by radical CHANCES,
AS long as Judges are appointed Nv
executives and as long as iu1p.s as
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