Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-03-14
Gov. Smith Figures in
COnyerS Advance Program

CONYERS. Ca, March 11.-Gov. ELECT
Hoke Smith delivered an educational and
agricultural address 10 an audience OF
900 people here this morning. r.
Dawson, chairman of the state prison
commission. made short talk on road
building and the advantages OF the pres
ent convict system, and Charles 3. Bar
rett. president of the Farmers union,
made a brief. bat interesting talk to the
large crowd OF farmers, who had assem-
bled TO hear Governor Smith.
Under the auspices OF the local board
OF trade. arrangements had been made to
have Mr. Smith meet the citizens. both
from the town and Rockdale county His
coming on the same day that the edu-
cational train was due to arrive had been
extensively advertised and visitors from
every section of this and adjoining coun-
ties were present.
An interesting program, made up OF au-
tomobile rides and speechmaling, enter
tanned and instructed the crowd from
$50 o'clock this morning until the arrival
OF the college on Wheels at / p. m.
Governor Smith, Mr.. Dawson and the
Farmers union Representatives, were
met at the depot at $50 o'clock by
large crowd. They were taken in charge
by the reception committee from the
board Of trade, the members or which
were W. j. Fakes, chairman; Mayor M.
L. Wood. j. VIII Cowan. and w. v. AL
mand.
A drive over the principal streets of
the city and out several miles into the
country was the first number of the
days program With q automobiles in
line the party traversed seven miles of
new permanent graded road. A visit was
made TO the convict camp. Mr.. Dawson
complimented the county commissioners
highly upon the perfect sanitary condi-
tons that exist about the camp. The
drive was continued TO the county lines
where the convict gang was just finishing
the road TO connect with the highways
of DeKalb county. The visitors were
most favorably impressed with the dem
onstration Of permanent road building,
Returning to the city the speakers for
the day were escorted to the court house,
where a crowd, estimated at from 2,0oO
10 1900. awaited their coming.
w. L. Peek, after extending cordial
welcome to the guests and visitors. in
troduced Governor Smith.
Mr. Smiths subject was ''The Welfare
OF Rockdale County," He spoke at
length OF the advertising features Of the
Commercial congress in Atlanta 1t
means. he said. that capitalists have
learned OF the southeast. and 1t means
new development. new era Of prosper
ity. He pleaded with the local citizens
10 learn how to take advantage OF the
opportunities that now present them
selves. The hope Of this state lies with
in her soils. he said.
He win recommend to the next legis-
lature the establishment of the office Of
rural school commissioner. He said IT
would be the duty OF such officer to visit
the rural school and advise with the
teachers and parents. He wants the
schools 20 teach soil conditions and farm
ing methods the same as they do arith-
metic and spelling.
He was loudly applauded when he stat
ed that as long as he is connected with
the affairs OF the state there will be a
liberal expenditure of the farmers state
tax money for information that will help
them get the best results from their soil.
Governor Smiths speech was mainly
along lines OF scientific farming, but also
touched briefly on the necessity for good
roads. ,a-sv slt 4
r. T. n. Wilson. Of MississiDpi. made
an interesting talk to the Farmers union
members present.
Mr.. Dawson, of the prison commission,
spoke on good roads and the prison sys-
tenn. He said he was greatly impressed
with the progress being made with good
road building IN Rocl1dale county He
made a strong appeal to the citizens of
the county TO co-operate with the county
commissioners in their endeavors to make
this the first" good roads county in the
state. e.
President Barrett spoke along the same
lines that are CHARACTERISTIC OF his adj
dress when speaking 10 the farmers He
urged a Stronger cooperation among
the union members in all things. He
spoke briefly OF the good roads move
ment and urged permanent highway con-
structlOn
This closed the morning program and
the crowd went to the depot 10 greet
the educational train al 10 o'clock
Among the prominent Farmers union
men present from outside of Georgia
were r. A. NJ Wilson. of Mississippi. and
Mr. Morris. OF Alabama.