The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-01
THE GOVERNORS MEssAGE
Continued from THIRD Page

any CONSTITUTIONAL inntpiuOn1 anu Sth,
therefore, OF opinion that the 0enerAl
Assembly has full power to ORGANIZE,
maintain and control thia institution \
as may seem best for the welfare ana
relief OF its inmates
This organization deserves the alu
and announcement OF the Generai
1t Is stimulating and de-
as ad r @ssns w 81 snq .srds
The display of fruit made by this So
ciety at Lynchburg and Winchester |
has attracted widespread interest anu
the state for that Industry. The apple
crop is year BY year increasing N
value. and the income IL brings to the
State and the price of land upon when
in proportion The development OF
this and other fruit crops means In
crease of wealth for virginia.
Pabilc Accountant.
The recommendation OF Governor
Swanson for the appointment of pups
lie accountant Is one In which de-
sire specially to concur.
1 believe the officers charged with
the collection OF the States revenue
are honest, and wish TO account Tor
every cent received. but experience has
taught me that honest people are
sometimes very careless, and that q
simple, uniform system OF accounting
would be OF the greatest value to the
officers and the State.
Prompt and Emeient Law Enforce
ment--Ccurfs TO Disregard Tech
nlealities.
1t should be the concern OF all con.
nected with the Legislative, judicial
and executive branches OF the govern
ment, to see 70 il that the laws Avs, are s
nucent men charged with crime are
protected, and guilty men punished
quickly and with certainty. Ny exhs-'
riencs teaches that lyashinss, a. az "a 2
confidence On the part Of the people
In the 1Ae execution OF the law. All
ffna distrust grows out OF the praclice
which has obtained tn eirginia ana
known as technlcalities to stand pc
tween guilty men and their punish
ment. This practice is now so nrmiy
fixed that 1t will be impossible Tor our
courts, although fully realizing the
evil. to establish different rules. w
the remedy Is fully within the power
of the Legislature. and law snoulu.
in my judgment. be enacted when
will forbid our courts from setting
aside the verdicts of juries and grant,
ing new trials In criminal cases except
mon the merits of the case. My expe.
rience covers a good many years. ana
( have yet to see the AFst Innocent
man convicted. though ] admit II must
sometimes happen. i have, noWeNe.,
seen good many guilty men escape.
In England lynchinEs never occur. Pc
cause the law Is strictly and promptly
enforced and the people are willing to
trust to It.
Decide Contested Election Cases ON
And In this connection I think IL
will be well for the Legislature to DE.
clare by statute that elections shali
not be set aside for any in,o informal ~ o.
any other defect that does not make
the result uncertain, and that when
ever 1t shall appear that the peop,e
have spoken and their VIII ana ~
known the result shall be sustained
| Nothing so stirs UP and DIVIDES COM
munities as contested election cases,
! and the law suggested would teho 70
greatly diminish the NUMBER OF such
| cases.
| Primary md Election Expenses OF
| Candidates should he Limited.
! The amount which candidates Io1
State, offices should pc Ra,ian and
| election should be limited by law 10 2
sum which viii put II n the power -.
any man to be candidate ior ahs
| position Under existing conditions,
man who cannot raise ten or Twelve
| thousand dollars IL practically disana.-
| ified to become q candidate LoI Wv
ernor~ or United States senator. anu ha
| even IL he can raise this large sum, ne
| is at great disadvantage when con
frantea by a wealthy opponent. VINO y
able to spend much more. 90 ~ ~
mean TO convey the idea ~ 81 ~
!
| things as clerk hire, postage. pTlh.ihs,,
advertising, rent of halls. travelling and
| other legitimate expenses, but IN
any case, without some ress,lc.,oh' and
| moor man has but small snow, anu
| Whatever his virtue ana inteHasshee
| may be, and however much MS testo =,
| citizens may desire his services. his
lack of wealth stands ina n the h wishes Of
| the people. 1t ought not SO 20 Dc.
| The amount to be spent In any cam ,
| paign should be put within reach -.
| every worthy man. and penalties LOT
vioiat,ons should be sufficient to Sc
cure obedience. T..
Temperance-What Has Been Done I'm
| virginia.
Geyen YEAR ago. the night Tor teIn-
| perance commenced in Virginia under
| Conditions which made " aimosx nope
| less. The first bill offered In Decsn
Der, 1892, provided that whenever anx
person should apply for license 10 SCI,
iiouor by retail in the country or N
/ towns and cities containing less thAn
| ave Thousand Inhabitants, the eouFs
before granting the license ,,nan, sh % n a,
| nerson to conduct such business. ano
mat he will personally superinten,a
| the same, and Will keep an o.usft \,
| house, and that the place A. wie .or'
is to be conducted Is suttanie. con
| venient and appropriate place Tor con,
| ducting such business ana one =
| which police protection - ANU 80
and II 1t shall further pia cnmyt fRst !
majority OF the qualified voters OF VI
+ district IfeWHIn-WIiI EI-11I,1l. Z
| Iaaa Is sought to be exercised are II
favor Of the application. that tne SAL
| Of ardent spirits at that place VIII VIII, No -,
- contrary Il. sound public poncy -, =,
INJURIOUS TO the morals or the mats,,a
| interests of the community, tne coua
4 may, upon the execution OF nnno, s &c,
\ sran. s,,ch license" This bill, attel
being amended SO as to Apply " M
country and towns OF under nve M
dred inhabitants, Win ceasA .,a tsrtn
rlares and seaside resorts excepteu
Vas passed, and became the law o.
Virginia on the 18th OF April tsVa
Refore the passage Of the oiil tn Nm
we're in the state approximateIy
sastureS Now, under the operation
Of the law Just mentioned. the hss'
HI, nassed in 1ses. and OF the loca
anton law there are only sol suci
places, and the change has wroasn
such Improvement IN conoi,.on aa, ' M,
Hrst mentioned law, notwithstanalnt
the opposition which II nj nrst en-
countered. The order Of the state ma
greatly improved. and the nameiss
crime once so frequent Is rarely nea.'
Of. / do not deem 1t necessary 70 osh
because my views. which have no
changed, have been so, often sx
nrassed and are so well KNOWN. th%
10 repeat them here would be 70 use
iessly prolong this address. simpi.
!. reiterate my steadfast oppositioh ~, y
the saloon, and my confidence In TN
naople Of Virginia, who have the rign
10 settle this question as to them shal
Virginia has made wonderful stride