The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-10
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
CALLS ATTEATON TO
STATES WAR NEEDS
Recommends Legal Status and APP
preparation for Council ~
Defense.
FAVORS NATIONAL
PROHIBITION POLLOY
Education, Good Roads and Sane
Economy StressCd--i kinks Taxes
May Be Reduced Safely.

legislature yesterday recommends sew
eral vital things to be done for The
welfare of the state both from con-
siderations of war emergency and OF
future growth of prosperity.
To deal with the situation created
by the war, he suggests that the Vir-
ginia council of defense be put upon
a legal status with an adequate APP
preparation for It's necessary expenses.
Heretofore the work done by the coun-
Gil has been unofficial and the mem
bers have served without pay. In
making this recommendation Cover
nor Stuart follows the example of
other states.
The governor highly recommends
the record OF Virginia troops and the
prompt and hearty response which the
Old Dominion has given the cali for
men to defend the country against the
sggressions of autocracy. He recon-
nends that legislation be passed to
protect the civil rights of sold .ers ana
sailors engaged in war service in CON
FORTY with the federal enactment on
the same subject.
In regard to taxation, the governor
Expresses great qualification at the Inn
provement made in the state finances
In the last two years and calls atten-
ton to the anticipated surplus OF more
than one million dollars at the end
of next September, In dealing with
the question of future taxes he ady
monishes the Legislature TO make the
rate no higher than viii be necessary
to meet the economically administered
expenses Of the state and to keep q
surplus in the treasury fer any emer-
gency that may arise. He suggests
reductions on bonds, capital and per-
sonal property.
E'nvors National Prohibition.
Regarding prohibition. the cover
nor suggests several amendments to
the present law TO render It more eff
fective, and says:
PROHIBITION IN VIRGINIA OF
THE LICENSED TRAFFIC IN IN
TOxiCA1ISG LIQUOR UNDER \
VIGOROUS AND RIGID ENFORCE
MENT HAS SUCCEEDED EVEN RI.
SOND THE HOPE. OF IT'S PROPON-
ENTs. THE RECOGNIZED RE
SUITS OF THIS WHOLESOME AND
BI.NEEICENT REFORM AFFORD
AN TRANSFERABLE ARGUMENT
IN FAVOR OF PROHIBITION AS 4
STATE POLICY AND ABUNDANTI.Y
JUSTIFY THE BELIEF THAT THE
BEST INTERESTS OF OUR OWN
PEOPLE AND OF ALL The PEG
PIE WOULD BE PROMOTED BY
THE ADOPTION OF PROHIBITION
AS a NATIONAL Pollen
Governor SGuart's recommendation
in regard "a sch 7ois and good roads
are vigorous, Straightforward and pro-
Sresstve. I!ls expressions on these
subjects are In harmony with the SEN
tifnents EXPRESSED by many mem bers
of the general assembly and bills Will
be introduced In both houses to safe
guard tht interests OF the state in
these res Is. The message follows
ientlemea Of the General Assembly,:
Responding To the invitation Just
extended me by your JOINT committee.
and IN conformity 10 section - Of
the constitution. l here present my
biennial message to your honorable
body / welcome you To the Capitol
OF your state, and trust mat your de
liherations may be both pleasant and
profitable
Although we are beiIiKerent ma
ton in the mlghtiest war OF history.
our law making body is privileged to
hold its sessions In peace and security
instead of in exile as are the eoverr-
ments of some OF our allies, and in
daily danger of enemy attacks rs are
The capitals OF others.
The causes of the war IN which We
are engaged have been generally ais
cussed and seem TO be clearly under
stood, so that II is Unnecessary to
recount them here. Suffice 1t To say.
We are today in the fullness 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 our
selves but for all thu generations that
are 10 follow US Our conflict is With
power which hY "a autocratfc ag-
gressions has challenged the civilized
world to mortal combat, thus consti-
tuting itself a murderer of peace and
common danger to the security and
liberty OF the great family of nations
in which we hold so large place
power which in its mad lust for do
minion has forgotten every principle
Of honor. OF fair dealing, and of civ
fifyed warfare, and has by its treat
ment OF prisoners and civilians. cs-
pccially women and children. forteite
al right TO the respect and cOnSid-
Grafton OF mankind. The good TOR
tune of isolation has saved us in our
unpreparedness from the same ruth
lsssness that the German empire has
visited upon the unhappy peop,es OF
Europe, and which that empire stands
ready to administer to us II we fail to
give prompt and adequate aid to our
hsroic allies and thus unite firmly and
effectively the forces of. democracy
against the forces of autocracy.
The National Peril.
In the face of this situation IL be-
/. comes at once apparent that no
: business which your honorable body
is called upon to consider at this time
is comparable in Importance to the
duty of strengthening. SO far as Il
may lie in our power, the hands OF
the federal government in the prose-
cution OF the war to a. successful is
sue. Our national peril cannot be
too often or too strongly emphasized,
nor can the several states as such
too fully recognize this peril an APP
preaching the doors of each OF them
and threatening every home and
hesrthstona within their borders.
Necessarily the executive power in
time of war IL concentrated In the
hands OF national authority and yet
Virginia must not In the emergencv
yield her Mace I'm the s'sterhood of
states as a leader OF thoueht. OF ser
vice and of patriotic devotion, what
ever there may he that we can do we
must do WITH our might and this
purpose must take first place In our
thoughts, In our aims and in our
Votes. From the BEGINNING of the
war | have kent stead Nv in mind the