Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-21
THE REFORM ADNIINISTRA TON
TWELVE MONTHS AFTER ITS END


ga ended
The policies it represented and the produced
loom clearly forth in the light of history
They be judged for what they really tested by
time and they actually the people
therefore, pertinent today look back to June 1907
when Hoke Smith became and to review briefly what
the constructive reform June 1909
when another administration What has been done since
this other administration shall at the present moment in
qure people already strained their eyes
in vain find single result accomplished attempted on
their behalf
was done Georgia between 1907 and
acts they durable furnish the
swerve that have strengthened and up
lifted every phase of political and industrial life
disfranchsement passed that has virtually taken
the negro of politics.
pure election law passed that bribery and
fraud and machine rule the ballot box.
railroad commission law passed that has abolished free
passes brought public companies under the regua
ton of the people and has saved the people million dollars
each year in the cost of travel
system abolished thus opening for
county greatest building Georgia has known
Larger appropriations than before made to the
schools and the states finances managed with such comp
that the increased appropriations could be paid
glance the five things which the reform admin
that ended year accomplished for the people
Georgia They laws the statute books that all
Them they vital the whole life of the common
wealth so that all feel and know thenl
represents definite achievement Each
particular and practical need Each of them
S the fulfilment of a pledge.
settled for all the
of white in Georgia 1t took the out OF politics
and the himself well politics and society as whole
the better for it.
The pure guaranteed the ballot white
and has guaranteed further that his ballots
vaed by and floating element IN the
Doodle fixing the time for registration 1t has
padding registration lists thus giving
the peoples will 1t has forbidden the
elections by corporations has required
candidate submit under oath statement showing what
money spent election whence his and to
whom fixed of the primary that the
mary manipulated in the interests of political machine
The railroad law drastic universally
with soundest and maurest thought OF
While recognizing the Importance and the rights OF
corporations the and rights OF the
people
convict lease system has proved to be
accomplishments of the reform
determined of former Governor Smith that he would
disposal of the and for the moral persistence
o a reform minority in the legislature.
usnesske of the states finances during
administration has whsood all efforts of criticism no
matter how efforts been In 1908 six
dred for education in Georgia
than 81 1909 marked the logical close OF the
fiscal under the appropriation and bill OF the
administration And that day there four
dollars the which amount to-
gether coecb debts gave net surplus of over two mil
unpaid appropriations for 1909 Such
the financial record of the reform administration.
And this brief its entire record viewed twelve months
after its close-a endeavor
progressive constructive spirit that worked constantly
people and for the advancement of the ate
highest The reform administration surely of
surely not 1t stood for something def
mite it accomplished something that endures.