Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1912-10-24

my opposition to subordinate all public
interests to the interests Of their polit-
ical oligarchy.
Over these and all other obstacles my
administration has moved ahead and has
made good in every department of the
state government that has come under
my control. The Republicans and indie
pendent Democrats serving under me
nave given the people clean, progress
,ivc, economical business administration.
In the briefest manner | viii mention
the work done in a few OF the depart
ments.
Agricultural Department.
Nv administration took charge of the
Agricultural Department June l, 1911.
1t was second in Importance only TO the
Department OF Education, but its work
WAS the worst neglected and abused OF
all the states business. | found the de-
partment loaded down with political has
beens, and IT'S funds squandered in the
payment OF salaries as political rewards,
for which the people received no ser
vice. No wonder tire Federal census gave
the farming interests of Tennessee a
bad showing. The wearing out OF our
farm lands, the lack of diversiieatiOn
of crops, the failure to get the best re-
suits from the soil, the tagging of our
state in the raising of live stock, the
Importation of millions of dollars worth
of food and feed stuffs that we could
produce ourselves, and the accelerated
rush of population from the country to
the city, aroused but little intelligent
interest in the Agricultural Department.
1t was not run for the farmers, but it
was run by and for the politicians.
Whenever a fellow had to be taken care
of and did not seem fit for anything
else, he was unloaded on the Agricul-
tural Department - 1t mad twenty EN-
ployes getting salaries of 500, 800.
| began on this department by getting
a real farmer and live wire, and put
ting him at the head of it. | asked him
to cut out the politics, and he proceeded
to do away with the assistants who did
not assist and the inspectors who never
inspected. / need not dwell upon the
work that has been done in one short
year by Commissioner Peck, for it is
known of all men.
A trained veterinary has been made
1--we Stock Inspector instead of John II.
Mcdowell, who knew vastly more about
pontics than he did about cattle ticks.
The work that was being done by six
teen subordinates is now being done by
seven, and four times as much work has
been done. The net revenues for Peck $
first year exceeded the previous year
0,S7074. The department has been
brought close to the people and made
Of ,Nronfinol ha-nRt IN tho N
farmer.
The people are beginning to learn the
great value this department can be made
to them, and they are going to demand
henceforth that it be made to serve those
who farm the soil rather than those who
farm the people.
immigration Bureau.
In view of the facts already mentioned,
which show that Tennessee made a very
poor record in the decade from 100 to
1910, in point of progress IN wealth, de-
velopment and population, Il movement
has been set on foot, under my admin
istration, to try to win for Tennessee
her rightful share of the capital and inn
migration that are now flowing into the
South, There can be no question but
that the tide of immigration has at last
veered from the West and turned toward
the South, but so far, according to the
census returns, this tide has swept across
our state and enriched and developed our
sister states to the south of us.
AS | have already stated, the correc-
ton of political and governmental CON
ultions is necessary to make Tennessee
attractive to the outsider, but it is also
necessary to take proper steps to &c
matte, agricultural and geological SUI
periority of our state.
In order that there might be an active,
systematic effort in this direction; |
pressed upon the Legislature the dcsir-
ability~of vitalizing the unused Immigra-
ton Bureau by giving it sufficient
appropriation to carry on campaign for
the presentation of our resources and OPP
portunities to the immigrant and capt.
talist.
Under the direction of Commissioner
Peck the first real work of advertising
the state and inducing the immigration
of the thrifty and Industrious citizen of
tFe North. and Northwest has been done.
4hi''i"uSh wy "olk Vi MS puIeau is III
its infancy, it has succeeded in attract
ing wide interest among the people OF the
Northwest and gives prom Sc of accom-
k&shipg more than any oths. sone agency
#ak;e Tennessee's showing in the next
2eral census a source of de and CON
fatulation instead Of shame and regret.
Prison Reform.
mother accomplishments my admin
istration, OF wheh am es ally proud,
Is the work doA5n the 81 A,naiiod of
the prison. syst,A sbf - y.
The question - "a protect
-. ffnsa AalS.s II !