Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-01-30
HARDING MESSAGE
Governor Outlines Program For
38th General Assembly
MANY REFORMS SUGGESTED

WVNb I'LL OUm0 0O0VeOt6o
Woman Suffrage Advocated, Equal
lied Salaries for Officials and
after the War Work. Would
Go Slow on Road Work.
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
TIIIRTY-EIGHTH GENERAL AS
SEMBLY:
Pursuant to q constitutional man
date, it is incumbent on the Chief
Executive to communicate at this
time to the Legislature, 1.-THE Condi
ton Of the State"
Since the adjournment Of the last
session of the Iowa legislature, the
national government declared that q
state Of war existed between the
United States and the imperial gov.
eminent Of Germany, that war has
been fought to successful conclu
sion, and an armistice has been sign
ed outlining in general way the
terms of peace.
We proceed now with after the war
problems. The provisions made by
the last legislature in anticipation Of
our entering the war and the use Of
general statutes have made it posi-
Bile to carry on the government with
in the state without an extra session
Of the legislature.
Primarily, the state should see to 1t
that the returned man, so far as 1t
is humanity possible, re-enter the &C
tivities of life without handicap be-
cause of the war. By this mean he
should be re-instated in society equip.
ped to take the place he would have
occupied had he not been called to
the colors. Many ways, no doubt, will
suggest themselves to your minds for
working out this problem, such as
finding him employment, giving him
educational facilities, and other ma
terial advantages.
The second obligation is to see to
it that the work and sacrifice OF the
soldier and sailor is not forgotten and
thus unappreciated. Memorials in one
form or another should be builded, so
that the generations of tomorrow
may know what this generation was
willing to pay and did pay, that rep
resentative government might be pre-.
served. This is not necessarily the
problem Of this hour or wholly of this
generation. However, the start should
be made now, the facts should be
accumulated, SO that when there is
adequate opportunity the work can
be done in fitting manner. suggest
that you make appropriation SO that
the story of the war in facts, figures
and pictures may be gathered now
for the use of future historians
There is just cause for pride on
the part OF every citizen OF the state
for the way in which Iowa met the
call for men and money in this last
great war in which we were engaged.
In the neighborhood Of 5000 men
and women in all departments as.
sisted in the draft work It is not out
of place to say here that great cred.
it is due both the local and district
draft boards for the high-minded
manner In which they conducted
their work.
The population Of Iowa is about
equally divided between country and
urban. Each furnished approximately
500 Of the men who entered the serv
ice. There are about 217 900 farms in
the state, approximately $4,000 men
went from the farms into the service
OF the country, or one from every
fourth farm.
The Councils of Defense, state and
local, both men and women, respond
ed to every call Of the government
and through these organizations the
state was kept in the forefront il
war activities with the other states
of the union.
The last legislature appropriated il
all $4,000 for census and survey
and for secret service work and Law
enforcement. These funds were uset
to assist in the seed-corn census, t.
encourage the increase of wheat acre
age in the state and for other actiy
tiles along the line of production, il
finding employment for labor, in sec
ret service work, and to carry on
and make effective the activities o
\ the state along lines in harmony Will
the purposes of the federal govern
ment in prosecuting the war to sue
cessful close. n
There has been placed before 70,
and made part OF this biennial mes
sage budget report which sets on
the amount used for each year in tn,
biennium closing July LIST, 1919, o
each department. and also the ask
ings OF these various departments 70,
the biennial period beginning Jul.
LIST, 1921.
The total taxable value of all prop