The Brinkley argus., 1913-07-18

If all property were assessed at us
 true value. none escaping, the rate or | taxation would fall probably to one fourth of what 1t now is. the burden Iail
 heavily upon none, and much less heavily | upon the common or poorer people. | This, inequality could be certainly and l effectually corrected by means Of law framed in comparatively few words; | and if I were Governor would earnest l ly recommend such an enactment to the l next General Assembly.
 l The State University is as 1t should l be. liberally maintained through legfs- | lative appropriations of money collected from all the people; and yet. many bright and promising children of the | common or poorer class are denied the | rich advantages it offers. and of which others more fortunately situated avail l themselves. by reason of the financial | inability of their parents to send and maintain them there.
 | If I were Governor. I would attempt | correction of this inequGAty of opportu- nifty by earnestly and jnsiStently recom- 1 mending to the Legislature the estab- 1 fishing of a higher and better class or 1 grade of our common schools. which the children of the poorer classes could at tend. the prescribing and furnishing Of suitable and sufficient textbooks to be taught in them and the raising and ap- propriation of sufficient money to main- tain them.
 Convict labor, whether State or county should be kept wholly out of competition with free labor; and if were Governor, I would strongly recommend suitable Legislation to that end.
 An increase in the number of experf- mental stations maintained in our State, so as to bring their benefits within the reach of all the members of our farming population, or as nearly so as possible. would be of great advantage to them; and if were Governor would use my best and most persuasive endeavors to bring this about.
 The present inability of the people tz f~Ar h.vra 1l Ixr .1g peditious proceeding from inefficient, negligent. inattentive or dishonest off cers during the terms for which they may have been elected is a deplorabIe defect in our system of government. The man who obtains employment for given time-one year. two years, four years or six years--from q private citi- zen. and then manfests incapacity for his work, or refuses negIects to prop erly perform it, is subject to immediate discharge. As the individual employer has this right; why should not the pub- tion and dishonesty in a public office work much more mischief, and arc more reprehensible than in private employ ment What sanctify, then. is there about public officer that should ex- empt him from the same rule that ap- plies as between private men? Nothing would work 50 wholesomely upon him IS the sight of lariat in the hands of the people ready to be thrown over his swollen head, for the purpose of .iyank- ing him out" The people favor the amending of their constitution so as to give them this power. A the last ele,t.- 1tion they voted for such an amendment; but the court. promptly proceeded to
 knock it out by way of anticipation. on the ground that only three amend ments could be submitted at the same election
 If were Governor would earnestly. recommended to the Legislature such an amendment, and that it be the first one offered
 The pandoning power is vested in the Governor to the end that he Shall -exer- else 1t in accordance with his best iudg- ment It is a function of his office It's well as in extending clemeney. It seems however to be a general idea that if is never abused except in extending 1t Consequently. most candidates for Gov ernor. believing it will increase the volume Of their votes tell the people that they will respect the .'judgraent or the courts to the extent that they will never extend clemency. where guilt has been judicfally pronounced This is only q way of saying they will not perform this duty at all. since there can be no pardon where there has been no convic- ton Moreover. judges and courts are not exempt from the frailties, prejudices anc errors of other people. If they are
 sahctlfied to such an extentaas to be exempt from the frailtes of human na- ture. they are ready for translation If their claim to purity of motive and dili- Gence in conduct. official or otherwise is superior to that of others I have seen no evidence of it if they are bigger or better or entitled to more favorable con Siaeraton than the average run of men 1t would take q superior intelligence n discover it. They are not keepers Of my conscience. nor is there much prohabilft of their becoming SO. ResponsbiIity for my con1uet I will always regard as df- rect. and upon myself alone
 If I were Governor whenever an anp1i cation for pardon was presented I would carefully investigate it and grant or deny 1t. as the discharge of conscien- tious duty might appear to me to re. quire. regardless Of what any court or anybody else had done or said or might say, do or think: and if you know of any one who disapproves or would dis approve this course. advise him not to cast his vote for me--unless he has pre- assurance that it will not be counted as cast
 You see my friends. that there is a difference between q candidate Ion his own hook and an 'impressed' candi- date; the latter can afford to tell the people what he means. and usually does do so.
 And now, that we are on the field, let us press forward with conauering spirit to- the conclusion of our little
 battle. and then. after 1t is over hold ourselves ever In readiness for active participation in the glorious, all-sweep- ing. all-embracng victory whose rlch
 fruits we will gather as the result Of s our great approaching battle of 1916