The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-13

this declaration of certain principles anu policies for which I stand.
 While the world war into which tnis country has been forced is in progress, the people of Alabama should as a. uni. uphold the hands of the President anu remain unbroken in the faith of the suy- cess of our arms and the final trump, of democracy for the world. TO tnls S.,e S.o promise my best efforts to keep pls terness, discord and unnecessary issues out of my campaign and leave the peoPie united In tbe great cause to which we have pledged our men and material re- sources.
 PARAMOUNT ISSUE i The paramount issue in the admims- tration of the affairs of the state IS the solution of it's financial problem. The ultimate solution of this vexed problem obviously lies in a revision of the present constitution Since, however, the pres ent international crisis renders lmpracti- cable the holding of 8 convention at tnls time another solution must for the time being be invoked Nor will the mere adoption of the so-called budget sys- tenn of itself and by itself accomplish the end designed. Practically every business man subscribes to the policy of applying such a system to the fiscal problems of the state. For years l have
 advocated this policy and applied it in the
 administration of the affairs of Tusca-
 loosa county. Sincere men recognize,
 however, the outstanding fact that we
 face a concrete situation of very definite
 facts and figures. It is well understood
 that the so-called general fund.- has for
 more than a decade been the burden
 bearer of almost every conceivable kind
 of -legislation. The result is that the de-
 ficit in that fund has been excessive.
 We should face the situation candidly.
 I have no desire to be elected governor
 on a platform of evasion. I am, there- fore. saying plainly to the people of Ala bama that since little more than one. third of the regular levy of the state Is paid into the general fund, it would re- quire a huge increase in the ordinary revenues of the state to wwipe out the large deficit in that fund.
 Furthermore, during this war perioe the federal government is, directly or in directly, making a. tremendous demane upon the resources of the people wht ought not to be oppressed by excessive state taxation.
 r therefore, favor a gradual reduction of the states floating indebtedness, I1rst by the exercise of rigid economy in th' administration of the affairs of the stat' and, secondly, by the enactment or al adeouate revenue bill in advance Of th'
  ury, shall not approve any approprla 1 ton in excess of the revenues Of tn state carefully and scientifically deter mined in advance.
 | I announce my purpose, if elected, t enforce the law requiring complete sep aration of the general fund, the schoo 1 fund and the old soldiers pension fund thereby insuring prompt payment o teachers salaries and soldiers pensions. 1 Fixed charges, such as salaries and oth CT urgent needs of the state, should b
 specifically provided for in advance appropriations for other purposes.
 | favor an inheritance tax, as provide 1 in the constitution, on large estateA Tn revenue derived from this source shoul | be devoted to the liquidation of tn states indebtedness. Recently the stat | of Kentucky, as stated in the publi press, derived from a single large estat sufficient revenue to wipe out its entir debt.
 I favor the payment, as rapidly as po' sible, of all outstanding warrants of tn l state. These warrants should be promp ly funded, and the interest on all wal rants whose payment must, for an cause. be deferred, should be borne | ,I the state as matter of right and 4 sound business policy.
 I ON PROHIBITION QUESTION 9 stand for the prohibition of tf liquor traffic, and the maintenance an k, strict enforcement of the present prohib tion laws, and the strengthening of u , same, if necessary for their enforcemen 8. The separation of church and sta' lis cardinal American doctrine enunc lated in the federal constitution. I sul scribe to this provision of the constitl
 finn Tn civil matters the first duty