The sun., 1919-01-02
Governor Smiths First Message.

Governor Smiths First Message.
An experienced legislator, famillal
with every detail of the complicated
processes by which the statutes o.
the State are enacted, addressing {
Senate and an Assembly controlled
by majorltles opposed to him in par
tisan politics, Governor SMITH in hi:
first annual message speaks with as
surance OF the solution of the prob
lens the State must meet. In hi!
words there is no suggestion Of al
ambition to dominate the lawmakin:
department, or hint that its members
viii for any reason fail to cooperate
with each other and with him in per
forming their essential tasks in the
Government.
His confidence IS that of a maj
familiar with the practices of the
Legislature not of one ignorant of 1t:
methods. 1t presupposes a common
purpose to serve the State Loyalty anG
intelllgently, not by the elimination
of party politics from public life, bu
by its restriction to the field wherein
1t plays vital part In successful
popular rule.
Such an attitude comes naturally
10 a party man of Governor SMITH
experience and capacity. The rela
ton he seeks TO establsh--or, per
haps. assumes to be ACKNOWLEDGMENT
the Executive and the Legislative de
partments would, If maintained, re-
l'eve the State of numerous costly
contentious which achieve no really
desirable purpose and seriously inter
, fere with the orderly transaction OF
business. Governor SMITHS years in
the Assembly taught him that in do
ing the States work party lines are
frequently ignored or forgotten, and
while he is unquestionably ready to
be party man when in his Judgment
partisanShip is desirable. he makes
no effort now to intrude partisan.
ship where it would be obviously out
of place.
The enumeration of those matters
pressing for attention which in Cover.
nor SMITHS opinion come under the
head of reconstruction makes plain
the continuity of our public needs
etanccs. The protection of the in
Jured, the poor. the widow, the orphan
whose misfortunrs arise from the
misadyentures of peace. is not less the
duty of the State than the protection
Of those whose Affections are directly
attributable TO war, whose care Gov
ernor SMITH catalogues as of TEN
porary nature. All should be provided
for wisely and generously. IF the ef.
fects produced by war awaken the
population to its Obligations in this
respect, we shall have cause for
thanksgiving. not only on behalf OF
the returning soldiers, but on behalf
of posterity generally.
The Governors list Of permanent
. problems of reconstruction is:
.The enactment of measures Of taxa.
ton which will bear equally upon all
classes OF our people.
provision must be made for the pro-
ductlon and distribution OF the necessa-
ries of life so that the people may OBJ.
tain them at the lowest cost.
I'VE must enact more stringent ard
moro univ ersal laws for tho protection
OF the health, comfort, welfare and eff
cheney Of our people,
The problems OF finance and bank.
ing, as well as the questions OF santa.
Of women IN industry, education ant
military training. need solution as peace
measures
1.-The readJustment of costs, produc.
ton and distribution of foodstufrs ard
fnel wages and employment alone pre-
sent very large problems"
The necessity for such legislation
as Governor Smith suggests in these
five sentences was not horn of the
war. and will not die when thc last
survivor of the struggle has been hap
PLY and prospcrouSiy settled in civil
life. These problems are indeed per,
manent, and TO their solution the on
ergy, not only Of the officials of tho
STATE, but OF all good citizens. should
be directed Governor SMITH rccog
nizes the utility Of numerous non
Official agencies for improving the con
dition of the people, and he urges
that these he employed to their ut.
most capacity to promote the public
well being.
No reader of ibis message can fall
So he impressed with the opportunity
the tremendous growth or the com,
Mnnlty spirit has OPENED far cnnpcra.
tive effort among all the people for