The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-05-29
GOVERNORS initial MESSAGE TO LEGISLATURE

restraint of trade, to provide adequate
remedies and prescribe the mode ana
method of procedure, to prescribe the
penalties and forfeitures, ana general
ly to do I'm relation to the subject mat
ter. what may be deemed necessary:
Generally speaking, there should pc
effective laws to protect the people
against unlawful combinations ana
in restraint of trade. But
there is special and mediate need Ior
such legislation to safeguard ana pro-
tect the interests of thousands OF peo-
pie who are engaged in agricultural
pursuits. The future progress and ma
terial welfare of the state depends up
on the prosperity of its farmers. They
cannot be successful If the state
through inaction tolerates and thus
promotes such combination and con-
'spiractes as to rob them of the fruits
of their toll. The situation that con-
fronts the people engaged in the pro-
ductlon of sugar and the effort made
to protect the industry against threat
ened ruin are well known. Notwith-
standing the protective duty levied by
the Federal government on imported
sugars. the sugar industry OF the state
has been gradually decling until ii has
reached a state of proStration. This
condition resulted from the unlawful
operations within the state of the
American Sugar Refining Company and
its allied interests, which had in effect
reduced the producers of sugar to
were instituted to curb the capacity of
the trust" or force il to leave the
state. Its response has been an arro-
gan defiance of our state laws and
now apparently with confident belief
in it's power, it has impudently given
notice to the people of the state that
IL Will send its paid representatives
here to prevent the representatives or
the people from enacting such legisla-
tion as may be needed to drive it from
the prey upon which it has been feast
ing unmolested for so many years. lf
a somewhat similar situation does not
exist as to other agricultural indus
tries, ii is liable to arise unless effec-
tive measures are adopted.
Honest Capital Safe.
1t was to be anticipated that any
effort to secure adequate and effective
| legislation for special purposes indica-
| ted would be followed by the usual ar
| gument that capital will be deferred
| from seeking investment in the state.
| There would be as much reason to ar
que against the enactment of more
stringent laws against larceny on the
ground that such legislation would
prevent people from coming into the
state to make their homes. We do not
need the capital that might come for
the purpose of robbing the people any
more than we need and desire the i'm
migration of thieves.
| The State of Louisiana has never
| been unfair in its treatment OF capi-
tai. and there is no ground even for q
| suggestion that Its policy will be diff
ferent in that regard in the future.
| Its policy has always been and will
continue to be sane and liberal. The
| legitimate operations of capital have
been and always will be promoted and
assisted in every way possible. Even
the American Sugar Refining Com
pany has no just cause of complaint.
1t has been left undisturbed for many
years, during which 1t has been doing
| hItO In ha ofaf nd hA
versy with IT arose only when II in
solently refused to deal justly and
fairly with the thousands of the peo-
pie of the state engaged in the pro-
duction of sugar.
1T must be borne in mind that the
agricultural activities of the state rep
resent an investment by our people of
productive capital. The material well
fare of the state and the prosperity of
all our people are dependent directly
and Indirectly upon it's avails. On the
other hand there is or in any event
Will be comparatively small amount
of unproductive capital invested in
such concerns as may oppress our ag-
ricultural interests. To fail adequate
ly to protect the large and vital inter-
ests through an unwarranted fear that
Legitimate capital might be frightened
would be nothing short of a crime.
The people of the state many years
ago adopted as its policy with respect
to the prohibition of the sale of intox-
icating liquors what Is known as local
option. 1t gives to the people of the
| parish. as the unit adopted in the state.
the right to say whether or not the
, sale of intoxicating liquors shall be
prohibited therein as a majority of the
: people of the parish may determine.
The policy, in common fairness and
honesty. imposes upon the General As
sembly the obligation to provide by
legislation adequate means whereby
r the people may be enabled to render
their expressed will effective. Exist
5 ing laws, 1t appears. are not made to
, accomplish that end. They should be
/. amended or new laws enacted. But In
5 framing such legislation. care should
be taken that there be no discrimination
e against the liquor dealers In this
I state in favor of dealers in other
t states. Such discriminatory legisla-
!. tion could accomplish no appreciable
4 result in the way of protecting the
\ people of a parish wherein the sale
n of liquors is prohibited.
Another phase of the subject mat
= ter relates to the statute by which To-
e cal option is established. An impor-
r tant provision Of this statute was by a
s comparatively recent decision OF one of
n the district courts declared null. and
: should his decision be affirmed. the
statute will have been destroyed by a
J, construction never contemplated. The
= law should stand in essential respects
s as Il has been uniformly construed
I and enforced for many years. In view
e of the presidency OF the litigation IL
e may be deemed advisable to amend the
t existing statute or to enact a new one
y and thus place the law beyond Ques-
d ton.
4 1T is deemed proper to call your at
n tention also to the duty that rests up
: on the state to recall by appropriate
II legislation. the lake. river and other
= bottoms which belong to IL In virtue
II Of its sovereignty. and which were not
J. intended to be conveyed to the Board
= of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee
1. District. but are now being claimed by
that board under a certification of the
Register of the State Land office
10 These bottoms are rich in minera
. wealth, and the state should no longel
suffer the loss Of revenue flowinS
A from control over the board as one o.
;. its agencies, II possesses the power 4
! would seem. to recall all lands convey
n ed to 1t. and certainly to recall sucl
n as were conveyed enormously OF with
n out authority of law.
/, "As to the other matters submitte
for your consideration. beg In lieu o
Is special reference to them to invite you
70 attention to the proclamation conven
IS ing you in extraordinary session.
= "All must realize, / am sure. that tn
p people of the state can receive tn
n service which they have a right to ez
I'd pect of your honorable body only whe
of all personal and political considers
\. tions are for the time laid aside. / al
be pleased to believe that you will agrs
with me that you should rise to thl
to high plane in considering and endea,
st oring to solve the problems which fas
H. us.
in L. f. HALL. Governor.
from q porvo IN okin0 Mra Candle II