The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-07-11


offenders with hardened criminals IN
our State Penitentiary was crime
against humanity, / advocated the
establishment of Juvenile Reform
atory: and a law was passed to this
effect, carrying an appropriation 10
purchase a farm in order to start the
work of founding the institution.
In addition to this farm, and that OF
the Experiment Station, the state,
under my administration, purchased
the Capital annex, the Governors
Mansion, farm connected with the
Central Asylum, and large addltion
was also built to that institution.
With the aid of the military, l rest
ored order in Obion County, and effect
ually quieted organized opposition to
law in other portions of the state.
Believing that private ownership OF
Reelfoot Lake was against public
policy and would probably cause fur
ther disorder, favored and still taVor
its acquisition by the state.
During my first administration L
urged complete change of our school
lawt, with the result that an act was
spassed which revolutionized the ed
ucational system of the state; and l
believe it is we'll within the limits of
reasonable statement to say that, aside
from the establishment Of the Free
School System itself, no law has been
passed whose blessings were more far
reaching in the present or more con-
ducive TO permanent and ultimate
good.
Acting under the authority of the
legislature, there were established
three Normal Schools for the training
of white teachers, one each at johnson
City, Murfreesboro and Memphis, and
one for colored teachers at Nashville.
AS chairman ex otIlcio of the Board
of Education, l visited with the Board
every place in the state which offered
inducements for the location of these
schools and we received in donations
of lands and money upwards OF a
million dollars for these needtul
educational enterprises.
There were other measures proposed
that were not made laws. Notable
among these were reforms in our Tax
Iaws, the creation Of State Auditor a
law requiring the deposits of the state
to draw Interest, an employees
liability act, and law forbidding the
issuance of free passes by railroads
and other transportation companies
In my first campaign the state was
becoming aroused over the Liquor
question, and it remained TO increase
the vehemence during my entire in
cumbency in office. With this issue
as with all others of public concern
| dealt with absolute frankness. The
people were never for a moment
deceived; for my views were precisely
stated and definitely known.
/ was opposed then, as now, tC
compulsory prohibition, believing thai
no law of repressive character, in
volving the personal habits and liber
ties of the people, can or ought to bt
forced upon them without their con
sent. 1t seemed to me that self
government, as expressed by the term
Iocal Option" was the best method
of dealing with the problem, and tha
strict regulation with high license
would reduce the evils of the liquo
traffic, which would only be increased
by outlawry.
| told the people, however, tha
whenever a majority of any locality
voted against the sale of liquor, | woulC
approve any and all bills which thu
legislature might pass carrying thei
will into effect and this promise, with
out an exception was faithfully per
formed.
also signed the Pendleton bill eX
tending the Adams law to the entir
state, which was as far as the most ar
dent temperance advocate then con
tended.
This, however did not suffice to ALA.
the agitation; and in second cam
paign, statewide prohibition becam
the overshdowing issue, and it was tn
proXimate cause of the disorder whlcl
followed. Our people became divided
and an unhappy factional spirit wa
engendered.
The ensuing session of the genera