The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-24

Our total valuations are over $500000,000,
and a bank with less than three millions
of deposits is of the second rank. Cotton
is at a paying price and has been for
many years, and Alabama is a great in
dustrial state. Think how poor and weak
the resources to which Governor john
ston must look Yet in two short years,
but for the increase in the interest on the
public debt as provided in the debt settle
ment the deficit would have been gone.
At the end of four years. the deficit was
gone. although the public school fund was
increased during his second term BY $780,,
600 per annum
This was a great achievement How
did he do it? BY knowing how to man
age. And just as he knew how to man
age the finances of a state, so he would
know how to manage the finances OF IT,
nation. Better, perhaps, because the 4
ter are thesless difficult and compiled sed
of the two.
But no executive officer, not e
Secretary of the Treasury, is g 70
judged solely by financial results hat ha
general ability displayed in the naa1sk4-
ment of affairs. That GovernoI Ieins d
was an all around success az az exec
tive, is admitted by even hi nstA.l an
emies. Let us glance at ne
things done that marked ra-
ton:
/. He cured a deficit
,. He naugurated 81; tsftter
assessments and more eaas ia aaar-
ing.
g. He transferred 81 "a a. art
ment from a burden 20 th suit nto
an income producer, neft 5NG8 the
last year of his time.
4. The Greet appropr 5tu Is the
schools was doubled and s1@ In
creased from SC days to five fnthists
.. He inaugurated a 4eif-sQppor
bureau to recover school ,arot thai had
been wrongfully taken. or procure pm
pensation TO the school fund
6. Confederate pensions vef Yearly
doubled.
Z. The school for reform 81 veH4aful
criminals was established STATE in
stitution and a beginning MADE Is this
great work
s. His administration Increased the
number of examiners of lnhlie aren1nts
and the efficiency of ths hdrern was.
raised to the highest STANDARD
.. He procured the pas a4a 81 as hill
allowing the governor to 4fo,N eonvicts.
great and useful step 5HFod n me hui
manity of the convict sy ssa
These are specific inst atss IS ,inus
actually done. But beyoa taas ivid
ual instances shines the enerA lities
of leadership. He manaep1 rot
out of them the most an was
in them, and gathered alb bdard
following that has nee He
never wavered. Throug tito forms
of that most stormy a. IN no
never bent to a single L 81 ritated
at any breech. The COT ID man
was and is Spartan In ttnaes
And the best of all his q eader
ship was that he follow 81 s~ conn
sci.
Governor Johnston wef, Atars more
than one sore defeat. 5llf ii lefeate
were at the hands of - There
never was a time VIII of ti,e
boys out yonder in nd the
mines and the lumber not he
lieve in him and vote
And now coming bac rretarv
of the Treasury. Whe fohn-
ston went into the govei h fared
the poverty OF the peon >cfea in
the poverty of the tres mafa a
specially of economy. g re..ol-
lections of those four ses m IL
Montgomery. the inciie ttat r.ss
oftenest to my memory is fse raid
that would be deemed risya rssf{s X
these days of opulent approri atip; was
being made on the treasury H
discussing the best way to sc rc
and in the conversation he sa Nitt -
much earnestness md feeling aqe,
saw him show on any occasion
1T is SO easy TO spend other seg'
money!
great principle is here. my raaktess.