Carthage courier. (Carthage, Tenn.) 1913-current, 1919-01-02


not hesitate to take his cause back
to those who voted him into Office
over most formidable opposition. 1t
may not have been forgotten that
President Woodrow Wilson once en-
ployed that weapon very effectively.
However, Judge Roberts himself is not
anticipating anything of that sort. He
feels that the members-elect of the
general assembly are with him and
will promptly scotch any effort to tie
his hands.
Zone often hears the question asked
as to what Gov. Roberts attitude will
be toward some particular department
in carrying out his policies of re-
trenchment and reform. The answer
lis that he is not playing any favorities.
His attitude toward any one of the
departments is the same toward all of
them. He expects to cut wherever in
cutting he can make a saving in the
interest of the taxpayers. He has no
desire to cripple any department,
great or small. His purpose is, when
possible, to consolidate some of them
in the interest of economy, and at the
same time maintain q high standard
of efficiency. This in general repre-
sents his ideas along these lines. AS
to the bigger things, he and the leg
islature will handle them as from time
to time they come up for considera-
ton.
1.-The administration of course may
expect some friction. 1t would be a
most unusual legislature serving out
it's full constitutional limit if some
thing did not arise to disturb the
harmony of the session, but whether
in this instance friction will develop in
the election of officers or in other cir
cumstances can not now be foretold,
but certainly in so unweildy body as
the Tennessee general assembly, with
its diverse views. as to men, piHcieS
and measures, one would reckon with
out his logic who counts upon abso-
lutely smooth sailing from end to end
of the session.
among the departments that
Judge Roberts has given and is giving
full attention may be mentioned the
board of control, the agricultural de-
partment, the state literary, the audi
ting, banking, insurance, health, mines
and fire prevention, shop inspection
and pensions. AS already set out in
you're columns, it will be the purpose
of the new governor to bring some of
these under one general head, and as
far as possible reduce the operating
expenses of the other without disturb
ing their efficiency. A full days work
for full days pay will be insisted
upon, and he believes with that kind
of service the employment of so many
clerks will not be necessary. He will
also insist upon the idea that economy
should practiced in the employment
of clerical help for the engrossing
clerks. This feature alone proved to
be big item of expense during the
last general assembly, the engrossing
of bills costing the taxpayers quite
$4,000. The employment of a great
er number of porters than is absolute
ly necessary will also receive atten-
ton, and by porters he means those
who serve the courts as well as the
departing Banner.
The world is now going through the
crucial process of REIMBURSEMENT, fol-
lowing the termination of the great
war. War is a terrible thing but it
is a great teacher and, through it, the
world makes progress. Nearly all of
the great forward movements in his
tory have come as result of war. 1t
took the blood of martyrs to estab-
lish the Christian religion. AS a re-
suit of war, the bastile was destroyed
and the French republic established
1t required the blood of patriots to
bring into existence our own govern
ment with all its blessings of civil and
religious liberty. 1t took a cruel
war between our own people to de-
stroy the institution of slavery
Therefore, we conclude that wars, ter
rible and hellish as they are, are not
without some compensations. The re-.
cent war, the greatest the world has
ever known, will vouchsafe to US many
blessings and, aside from the fact that
autocracy has been destroyed and the
world made safe for democracy,
there will be many compensations and
numerous blessings that will follow
in the wake of the worlds greatest
struggle. We have no doubt but that
the tendancy of the world is onward
and upward and that the world will
he better because of the war. The war
has taught us how to sacrifice and how
to give; it has taught US that we are
our brothers keeper and that we owe
a duty and a service to mankind. The
war tapped the fountains of mercy
and from the hearts of the people
there gushed forth sluces of kindness
and mercy and we are better and hap
pier because we supported with our