Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-05-10
SENATOR HODGES ANNOUNCES
FOR GOVERNOR.

Senator Genee H. Hodges has an
n0nCed himself for Governor On the
democratic ticket The toIlOwing Is
t1s Official announcement:
In announcing my candidacy Cor
the Democratic Nomination 6m Gov
ennor, It Is duo tho voters. that I
mako plain the poAcies tn which I
commit mgsaf.
Progressive Demrracy more near4y
represents the modam idea Of gov.
enmmt than that Il any other party.
l believe the revenue ror the SUD.
port Of the general government should
be raised by a tanatf ON lux,ries a
graduated income and excise tax and
10y direct taxation. Raw material
should be admitted free and the tar
VI on necessities should be reduced
to the point where competition from
abroad will prevent extortiou by o,r
domestic manufacturers.
State candidates. however, have
only to do with state matters. II
elected Governor L will use my best
endeavons to have enacted into laws:
The Massachusetts, form Of ballot.
The publication and distribution at
actual cost by the state, of state
school text books.
a recording mortgage tax Law
simijlr to the measure passed at the
Les. session of the legislature and
vetoed by Governor Stubbs.
An Educational Administration
Boacd-whioh shall have the entire
management of all state Educational
Institutions including the Schools for
tie Def and Schools fer the Blind.
| am in favor of the unco1diticrr !
repeal Of the Irseuttance Tax Law.
l favor the section Of all offiCi-ls
by a dire t vote of the people.
I will use every endesvcr to have
the cc-r1itution amended permitting
the state to assist III the 6,relop-
ne2t 2zl improvement Of public high.
ways.
The rule of the people can only be
accomplished when they have the
right to initiate laws and vote direct
ly on proposed measures. l believe
in direct legislation in the Initiative
I-Referendm and Recall
One of the questions Of greatest
Importance in Kansas is that of in
creasing the efficiency cT our country
schools. They must be brought up
to a higher standard and made ade-
quate for the requirements Of the
present day demands for educating
the young men and women OF the
state. The obstacles in the way Of
making them what they should be are
limited resources Of the small country
districts Possibly the suggestion for
the community ceQbtf, which involves
the uniting and consolidation Of the
educational and social interests Of
enlarged country communities and
the combining Of the financial re
sources of communities In the build
ing OF better schools and better
churches and making them accessible
to every part Of the community will
prove the most feasible. But II Is
imperative that the right method
be found for making the country
schools meet the needs Of country
communities as the city schools meet
the need Of cities. The conditions
which now force the boys and girls
from the country homes to the cities
for the education which should be
provided them in the rural schools is
not only mconvenient and expensive
but 1t is the most potent factor in
causing our young people 30 become
dissatisfied with country life and de-
sert the noble pursuit Of agriculture
for the ghmOr and tinsel of the over.
crowded city. Kansas should be the
leader in this reform and should be
first to solve the problem. It's prom
inence as an agricultural state de-
mands that its sons and daughters be
taught to love and revere the tilling
OF the soil.
The ever present issue In state
campaigns Is that Of taxes. The peo-
! pie have a right 10 demand that theiI
state, county, city, township and
! school affairs shall be administered
i economically and at the lowest ex.
: pense consistent with good govern.
/ mem. l believe that a great saving
/. to the taxpayers Is possible through
, the prevention Of reckless expenditw
and waste Of public funds. l favor
/ adequate appropriations for state
! schools and state institutions. The
3 waste and reckless expenditure Of pnI
IL f1rrdr In h0fh ofafa ar,.d k,uoo'