The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-01-04
INAUGURAL
ADDRESS OF
GOV. HARDEE
(Continued from Page 1.l

great instrument and WHO saw there
in each of said departments free and
coordinate. A free untrammeled and
independent judiciary must ever re-
main the bulwark of individual liber,
ty. An enlightened, and incorruptible
Legislature is the absolute essential
in governmental progress. By reas-
on of supposed particular knowledge
of our laws and policies, acquired
through the administration and execu-
ton of them, it is made the duty Of
the governor to cooperate with the
Legislature and assist, if possible, in
| its law-making functions. shall pro-
pose measures and policies but shall
not attempt to influence their adoption
through the improper use of executive
power.
Good Men at Head of Departments
We are to be congratulated in that
men of experience, ability and patri-
otto conservation to the public good
have been chosen as head of the con-
stitutional departments of our state
government. For my part 1 am great
ly pleased to be associated with them
in the work ahead of us and can but
feel that the official family, which
may with propriety call. the cabinet,
will, from the abundance of their ex-
perience contribute much towards the
success of our administration. The
occasion is quite opportune for me to
bring them assurance that executive
interference will not be INDUCED. And
only in keeping with the spirit Of the
law shall concern myself with their
dana rtmnntaI affairs
Welcome to CO.Partners
1 wish to welcome, as co-partners
the men and women who have been
chosen to fill their respective posi-
tions incident to the administration
of the law. There should exist be-
tween such officials and the chief ex-
ecutive a spirit of cooperation and mu-
tual helpfulness. Each of us may well
feel honored that we have been called
to service. That our fellows have such
confidence in our fitness that they
trust their business in our hands. We
can best repay them by a conscien-
cious regard for the important duties
of our respective Offices.
Laws Must Be Enforced
The laws of Florida must be en-
forced. Private property must be re-
spected. The rights of the individual
safeguarded in his legitimate aspira-
tions, but at no time and under no cir
cumStances must the individual
whether in a personal Or in corpor-
ate capacity, be allowed to assert him
self to the detriment of the superior
rights of the public. The obligation Of
law enforcement is upon the executive
department. 1 trust that all Of us who
may be thus associated will somehow
hear the call of the people for real
service and for high ideals in the adj
lministration of the law. Permit me
further to indulge in the hope that
it will not be necessary for me as
chief executive to resort to that in
strumentality of the constitution, car.
rying the power of removal of -subor-
dinate officers, in order to force a
proper execution of the laws. The in
corporation of this prerogative in the
hands of the governor contemplates,
however, a necessity at times for its
use. l would have everyone clearly
understand that 1 shall not hesitate to
use it when there appears wanton dis
regard of the oath Of Office or gross
| ipcompetency in the performance of
official duties.
State Institutions
| Perhaps no greater service can be
performed than that of caring for our
state institutions. Florida has not
been backward in making provision
| for her unfortunates who by reason Of
infirmity of mind and body have be-
come legitimate charges upon the
state. She has also provided institu-
tions corrective in character for those
who have violated the laws. The State
Hospital for the Insane at Chattahoo-
chez and the Institution at Gainesville
for the epileptic, and feeble minded.
Adequate provision for their mainten-
ance and humane treatment of the in
mates must always be observed. The
Industrial School for Boys at Marian
ma and the school of like character
for girls at Ocala, while incarcerating
hayward youths, must somehow lead
them back to respect for constituted
Authority and obedience to law, and
especially at these two institutions,
the application of effective methods
and humane treatment upon plastic
minds will largely redeem and reform
them. Our Prison Farm at Raiford
should be operated only by that class
of copvicts not physically able to
work upon the public roads. I am in
sympathy with every practicable hui
name method used in handling the
convicts of the state. He who would
mistreat them,, or who would lose
sight of a possible reformation, is
utterly unfit to deal with the problem,
but am unwilling for an ultra-hu-
manitarianism to dictate our policy to
that extent that we lose sight of the
economic and disciplinary questions
involved in incarceration. L believe
the Farm should at least be self-sus-
tanning and that the people should be
relieved of taxes for its maintenance