The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-07-02
HARRIS MESSAGE
STRONG DOCUMENT
DISCUSSES MANY OF THE VITAL
ISSUES AT LENGTH-TANES
NOTE OF GENERAL IMPROVE
MENT CONDITIONS

Atlanta, Ca, June 29-"The sec
ond regular session of the present leg
islature finds the country improved,
so far as its general financial condi-
ton is concerned" declared Gov. Nat
E. Harris in his message to the 'Geor-
gia legislature Business has con-
tinued to advance, and the recent low
prices of our farm products have be-
come things of the past. The mer-
chants are selling for higher profits
and in greater volume. The banks
are striving; money is easy, and the
people of the commonwealth, gener-
ally, are in much better spirits, in ev-
cry respect, than prevailed at your
last meeting.
"While the war still RACES with I'M
abated fury across the ocean yet our
people have escaped its ravages, and
our country, up to this time, has been
free from attack by outside foes, save
few incursions on the borders Of
Mexico.
"The call for the National Guard, it
is hoped, has been more to teach our
sister republic that the United States
is not as helpless as our critics have
sought to prove, rather than for the
purposes of serious warfare. The re-
suit has certainly disclosed the fact
| that a call to arms will be heard as
quickly, and answered as promptly
now, as was the same call in 1S47 or
| the tocsin in 1861.
ut is a pleasure for ME to tell you
that our state, met the demand as
readily, and that our guard was in the
field, equipped and differed, as quick
| ly, as occurred in any state in the I'm
ion-that the Georgia boys felt the
same patriotic ardor rs those in New
York or Massachusetts or any other
| Commonwealth of the Union. In thir-
ty six hours after the word came our
ranks were filled, our organizations
completed, and our men stood at their
armories with guns in their hands
awaiting the word of command from
the National Head
Governor Harris also discussed the
national guard and the army reor-
ganization act, passed by congress,
calling attention to the requirements
placed upon this state precedent to
securing it's benefits.
Among other subjects discussed in
the message were the lease of the Wes-
tern & Atlantic railroad the anti-par-
allelling act, lynch law, compulsory
education, prohibition laws, local leg
islation, highway commission, state
warehouse system, state finances, in
heritance tax, labor legislation, exemp-
lion of college endowment fromtaxa-
ton, litigation with copper compan-
les, and four-year term for governor
and the state-house officers.
| The governor showed that the Wes-
IN & Atlantic railroad is the best
Of all the tangible assets of the state
If Georgia. He said the prospect of
leasing the road seems very favor
able.
Referring to the prohibition laws
enacted at the extraordinary session
Of the legislature called by Governor
Harris, and for which Georgia prohi-
bitionists give him full credit, the
governor shows the great benefits that
have followed its operation al NJ arly
TWO months. Bank deposits have
argely increased in all the cities; the
merchants are selling more goods to
customers; there is more work in
progress, and a general Improvement
has resulted in nearly all the lines OF
cuisines throughout the state He
points out that the law is being well
enforced, and there seems to be dis
position to give the statutes a fair
rial in every locality. He recon-
menus compensation ioI tle oiuliie'i 100
Of each county for filling statements OF
each shipment of Intoxicating bever-
ages, as required under the law.
| The message of Governor Harris is
Of unusual length, as it goes thorough
| ly into the various subjects that he
takes up 1t is regarded by law-mak-
ers as a particularly strong document
and shows the close investigation
| which the executive has made into
matters connection with his admins
ration. The governor expects to
send special messages on the w. & A.
| problem and other matters.