Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-01-21
Also Recommends SimpLified Ballot Plan, Urges
Revision Of Marriage Law and Suggests Relief
for the Increasing Number of Wives Who
Are Deserted by Husbands.

Special TO THE nv BNt4NN JOlhANAAH
DOVER, Del, Jan. Ex-Governor
Charles r. Miller's inaugural address,
read during the inaugural ceremonies
in the Opera House at noon today, was
as follows:
MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY AND CITIZENS OF THE
STATE OF DELAWARE: ~
1--WE are assembled hero today in
conformity with the provisions of the
Constitution of our State. TO place in
Office another administration which
shall conduct our governmental af-
fairs during the next four years We
now have the anomalous condition
of one party controlling all the State
Offices with the exception of that OF
Governor) as well as having major
ity of the General Assembly on joint
ballot. Let us hope that the spirit or
equity and square dealing may prevail
on both sides, to the extent that par
tisanship will not be permitted to in
terfere with the interests Of the peo-
pie of the State. who, having elected
us to our respective positions. expect
that we will be true to the trusts
which they have reposed in us. and
nclltNt We DOlH viii 1OiAoNANt dhh ''H
vance their interests.
"The people of our State have. dur
ing the past few years. enjoyed un-
paraneled prosperity. The farmer,
by reason Of abundant crops and high
prices of produce, has been amply
rewarded for his labor; the manu-
featuring establishments have been
we'll employed. in consequence OF
which manufacturers have been sue
cessful; the mechanic and the laborer
have had steady employment at good
wages. We trust that a continuance
Of these conditions may be vouch-
safed to our people for years TO come.
EDUCATION.
"If we are to realize a proper de-
velopment OF our resources, we must
have strong and robust men and wo-
men. Increased attention should be
given to the physical condition OF the
children in both city and rural dis
tricts
some parents through Ignorance,
and others through neglect. permit
disease to fasten itself upon their
children. The school can be made the
medium through which to correct and
prevent that which is overlooked in
the home There should be some leg
islation passed making il obligatory,
upon the part of the Board of Educa-
ton. to establish throughout the
schools of this State, a course OF in
struction which will educate the COM
ing generation how TO live correctly.
BY introducing such a course of IL
struction, especially in the schools OF
the rural sections many physical in
firmities which. when neglected, re-
suit in blindness, deafness. mental de-
rangement. pulmonary complaint, and
various other Affections, could be dis
covered and corrected. and the child
rendered healthy and strong. The
time is not far. distant when medical
inspection OF school children will be
made compulsory. to insure for them
those conditions of health which VIII
enable them to take full advantage OF
the free education offered by the state.
The character and quality OF the fn-
ture citizenship of our State depends.
in a large measure. upon those having
charge of our educational system
koeping abreast the times. and adopt
ing new methods of instruction SINH
lar to those which have produced
practical results in other places hav-
ing relatively the same conditions az
exist in the rural sections OF our
state. Reference is more particular
lv had. i'm this connection, to what is
now generally known as the Consoli-
dated Rural School This system has
been adopted. either in whole or IN
mart bv thirty-two States Of tire Tn
ion. Under this plan, the onc-roomed'
crcss-road schoolhouse. unsanitary
and unattractive. with its single
teacher. gives place to the consohdat-
cd school building. with more eincient
equipment. increased range Of study
and multiplied advantages incident 10
consolidation.
Another practical departure from
the old system OF teaching is the
Page County, Iowa School ComDlna-
lion. a system particularly adapted TO
rural schools. by which the child is
Caught in the terms Of its own daily
life. based upon the consolidation he
tween the farm and home lie. ana
the studies) Results show that the
effect Of this is to increase tho interest
of the boys and girls i'm the local
environments, which makes rural life
more attractive; reconciles them TO
remain at home in the country, and
adds to their health and happiness.
"The State Board OF Education mas
,,carefully studied the serious condi-
tions OF our rural schools and the
members have sought information in
other States. which have successfully
solved the problems that confront us,
and their recommendations are wor-
thy OF the most intelligent, impartial
and unprecedented consideration. BY
legislative enactment OF laws when
will make these recommendations
operative, better facilities viii be es-
tablished for attracting children into
the schools.
statistics show that some plan is
necessary to accomplish this result,
inasmuch as the census Of 1910 dis
closes the fact that 26 per cent. OF
the children OF our State were not.
attending at that time and, consc-
auently, not receiving any education,
which will practically destroy their
future usefulness as citizens. and de-
prive the State. Of its greatest asset,
namely, properly educated men and
women.
AFFILIATED COLLEGES
For some years. there has been a
growing sentiment looking to the es-
Enlistment of a college for young
women.
1T is urged that If there were an
institution of this character within
our State, a larger number of women
would seek higher education. Those
advocating this movement suggcsr
that such an institution be cstab-
lishcd and affiliated with the present
Delaware College. II the project can