Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-10
GOVERNOR RECOMMENDS
QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY
Advises Legislators to Scrutinze New Bills Carefully
Message Reviews War Situation and Praises
Work of Council of Defense

The most important incident Of the
opening session of the General Assem-
bly, yesterday was the transmission OF
tho biennial message OF the Governor
OF the State to the two branches of the
Leg islature. The comprehensive mes
sage was read at length in the House
OF Delegates. showing that the winning
of the war on respectable and substan-
tial principles is the prime object OF
the United States and of Virginia at
the present time. The Governor touched
| briefly on the part this State is to play.
| is playing. and has played III the con-
nict. paying tribute to tho Virginian3
in service and to the State Council of
Defense.
The message took up the further re-
ductton OF taxes and the segregation Of
them, as advised by the Tax Board. Of
which Governor Stuart is chairman. IT
also discussed the highway system pro-
posed by the Highway Commissioned.
advising cooperation with the Federal
| government.
reminded the General Assembly that
| they should act always with a view to
! tho quality ard value OF the laws.
rather than the number of acts that
proposed.
COMPLETE TEXT OF
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
| Following IS the complete text of the
| Governors message;
Commonwealth Of Virginia
Governors Office.
Richmond January 9. 1918.
Gentlemen of the General Assembly:
Responding to the Invitation just ex-
tended me by your Joint Committee.
and in conformity 10 section % OF the
Constitution, here present my BIZ
| ennial message to your honorable
body. l welcome you to tho Capitol
Of your State. and trust that your de-
l - -. 4
profitable.
| Although we arc a bclligcrent nation
| in the rnightiest war Of history, our
sT-making body is privileged to hold
| its sessions in peace and security. in
stead OF exile as are the governments
Of some Of our allies. and in daily
danger of enemy attacks as are the
capitals OF others.
Tho causes OF the war in which we
are engaged have been generally dis
cusscd and seem to he clearly under
stood, so that it is unnecessary TO re-
count them here. Suffice 1t TO say We
are to-day in tho fullncss Of our
strength at war for the preservation
Of the rights which were won for us
by our fathers in their weakness. and
transmitted to us not only for ourselves,
but Tor all the generations that are
TO follow US. Our conflict e with a
power which by Its autocratic aggres-
sions has challenged the civilized world
to mortal combat, thus constituting
itself a murderer of peace and q com
mon danger to the security and liberty
OF the great family OF nations in which
We hold SO large place-a mower
which in its mad lust for dominion
has forgotten every principle OF honor
OF lair dealing and of civilized warfare.
dno mas by It's treatment OF prisoners
and civilians, especially women and
children, forfeited all right TO the re-
spcct and consideration OF mankind
me good fortune OF isolation has saved
US in our unpreparedness from the same
ruthlessness that the German empire
mas visited upon the unhappy peoples
OF Europe. and which that empire
stands ready TO administer TO US If VIC
fail to give prompt and adequate aid
to our historic allies and thus unite
firmly and effectively the forces of de-
mocracy against the forces of au-
tocracy.
WINNING OF THE WAR
AHEAD or ALL ELSE
In the face OF this situation il be-
comes apparent that no business which
your honorable body is called upon
10 consider at this time is comparable
IN Importance to tho duty OF strength
ching. SO far as it may lie in our power
the hands OF the Federal government
in the prosecution of the war TO a sue
ccsslui issue. Our national peril can
not De too often or too strongly en-
phasized. nor can the several States
as such too fully recognize this peril
as approaching the doors Of each OF
them and threatening every home and
hearthstone within their borders.
Necessarily the executive power in
time Of war is concentrated in the
hands OF national authority, and yet
virginia must not In this emergency
yield her place in the sisterhood OF
states as leader of thought. of SER
vice and OF patriotic devotion. What
ever there may be that we can do we
must do with our might, and this pur.
pose must take first place in our
thoughts, in our aims and in our votes
FROM the beginning OF the war / have
kept steadily in mind the duty Of Nir-
GINA to the nation. and have endcav-
ored to discharge it SO far as il could
De discharged by executive authority
IN such manner as believed would