Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-29
HOKE SMITHS ADMINISTRATION
Reform for Which He Stood Brought to Pass-Esteemed
by the Era the Greatest Man in Georgia-To Become
Citizen of DeKab

| lions which had escaped the payment of
their proportionate share of the taxes.
Large amounts of back taxes were also
collected. and the administration of Gov.
Hoke Smith was such a brilliant finan-
cial success that despite. the loss of a
quarter of a million dollars of revenue
from liquor licenses and the increase in
the appropriation for education, every
! oonsation was met as IL matured and
the surplus was increased about $500, OOO
The affairs of the Western and Allan
tic railroad were carefully investigated
and plans were perfected to provide new
terminals, which would have been OF
vast financial benefit to the state, and the
legislature directed the purchase but the
new governor failed to make the pay
ment, claiming he did not have the
money. Yet, he had the authority to bor-
row 100000. and he represented a people
who return for taxation $500 600, 900 worth
of property.
The chaingangs of Georgia and the
prison farm at Milledgeville had become
encountered with helpless and harmless
convicts. who might have been turned out
long before IL the officials had done their
duty. but for some reason this useless
burden upon the state was allowed to
continue. Governor Smith cleared the
chaingangs of these prisoners, in cases
where they had relatives that would take
care of them, and he pardoned many
triendless convicts whose meritorious
cases had been neglected.
But the browning work OF the reform
administration in regard to the convicts
was in abolishing the lease system in it's
entirety and clearing Georgia of all con-
nection with g. system which had brought
nothing diCRrqra IN
though PENAL institutions are intended as
but aids TO the enforcement OF the law,
ours was used to enrich the lessees, and
was honeycombed with graft. Even when
dealt its death blow. an effort was
made TO saddle upon the tsate a prison
farm unsuited for the purposes. to DO
purchased at a high price, and divert
convicts from the public roads. Governor
Smith refused to permit the purchase OF
the wimberly farm and by that one act
saved the state nearly 10000. All the
convicts were forced upon the public
road work. and the good roads being
made with convicts will prove a perma-
nent blessing.
Toward the close of Governor Smiths
term the strike on the Georgia railroad
occurred, and the way in which he hand
led the situation illustrated his wisdom,
courage and GOODNESS.
Very few persons know of the true In
wardness of that critical period and how
bloody riots were narrowly averted.
The strike was forced by the Georgia
railroads policy of promoting negro fire.
men, and Colonel Scott persisted In that
policy, and demanded that Governor
Smith protect the negro fremen with the
white troops.
like nj with fire in a now
der magazine. Riots once started would
probably have spread to every railroad
I'm the south employing negro 1remen.
This section might have been swept by
race riots Certainly, the Georgia rail-
road would have been a riot from end to
end. Time and time again, Colonel Scott
virtually demanded troops, and time and
time again, Governor Smith refused For
a week the trains stood still. but finally
moved again under a compromise brought
about by arbitration. and Mr.. SCOTS rail-
road was handed back to him uninjured
and no one was seriously hurt.
These are the main results accomplished
by the reform administration in the two
years in which a governor representing
the people was in power. The effort of
Governor Brown to repeal any of them
failed, thanks to the courage and pa
triotism of the present legislature, and
Georgia is happy and prosperous today
under the reform legislation.
The campaign TO bring about the de-
feat OF Governor Smith was originated
eight months after his Inauguration. and
before his great work for the state had
been accomplished. When HIS brilliant
record had been made up, the people saw
that he had earned their gratitude and
an Endorsement of a second term. They
saw that the governor who since the war