The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1917-19??, 1918-06-22
OPENING SPEECH OF
HON. AUSTIN PEAY
(Continued from Page Twol

rage 1WOJ
itself a new expense. Rigid and cour-
ageous economy and methods of
strict business will soon correct our
finances, if the state can be saved
from the intolerable mischief of sell.
fish and designing politicians. Enough
property in the state is now being
wholly or rediculously unassessed tc
supply the revenues needed for legit-
innate objects, and now lacking.
Confederate Pensions
l am the son of a Confederate sol
der who gave four years of his boy.
hood to the Lost Cause. He rode an6
fought with Forrest in those brave
days that tried the soul of the South
That is heritage of valor and devo-
ton which l would not exchange fol
any honor within the gift of men. II
does not matter how time may run
and what deeds of glory it may con
triVe, the Confederate soldier will al
ways be first in the heart of the South
His grave has hallowed the hillsides
of our Southland, and memory has
sanctified his heroism. Tennessee
would not withhold a single dollar
that is necessary to ease the hours OF
a single veteran, but the pension list
must be a roll of honor, and the time
has come when this expense, in natur-
al course, should not increase.
Rural Schools
| have remarked that the appro-
priation by the state to the cause of
education has increased in tenfold. II
l am elected | shall Immediately in
stitute comprehensive investigation
of this subject, as it does not seem
to me that our educational system
has proportionately improved. The rul
al school is chiefly on my mind. Its
term must be heightened and goo6
teachers must be supplied Recent
disclosures in the execution of the
selective draft indicated an illiteracy
among our adults which is alarming
and deplorable. 1t must be overcome.
The perpetuity of our institutions is
dependent upon an intelligent anG
qualIied citizenship. 1t must be rec
ognized in our educational system that
the boy is the future citizen, where
ever he lives, and that he must be
prepared for his responsible duties
Asystem must be devised which will
lend the aid of the state in substan
tial> manner to all counties of the
state that properly cooperate to the
definite end that a uniform and ade-
quate term will be enforced in oul
rural schools. How this may be done
I have freely investigated, and have
conferred with leading educators who
are working on the same problem
and it will be solved If | am given
the opportunity. Education of its
youth is the highest privilege ano
chief duty of the state, and no back
ward step must be taken. But the
generous taxes which are paid to ou
schools must be well expended, and
not consumed in administrative chars
es. l emphatically promise, if elected
that / will put our educationl depart
ment in such hands that it will be sue
cessfully administered, and so that
the child will get the full benefit OF
every possiblt dollar of school money
Highway Department
The state has recently created
highway department. 1t was organic
ed for better roads. 1t is now receiv
ing 10 per cent of all automobile fees
This is already large sum. 1t is
also charged with supervision over
the special tax being levied to Obtain
the benefit of federal aid.
The funds under its supervision an6
the powers conferred by law render
this an important department of the
state. / have been unable to obtain
the information in reference to its
expenses and in other particulars, to
enable me to form just conclusion
as to the value of this department.
Complaints are made of unnecessary
delay and friction in the expenditure
of the automobile fund in the several
counties, and the statue should be re-
vised to correct this trouble pledge
myself if elected, to put this depart
ment in the hands of experienced and
patriotic road-builders, woh are sim
cerly interested in such development
of the state and who are equipped by
experience and training for the work.
Charitable Institutions
All charitable and penal institutions
in the state are now under the con-
troll of a central board, which is in
vested by law with radical and sweep
ing power. This experiment has been
tried for two years. l have consider
ed this statute under which the pres
ent board is working with the utmost
care, and it is my profound conviction
that it vests extraordinary and ex-
cessive powers in the hands of single
authority. The duties are too many
and too enorous No board sitting at
- k,N,.o oh.