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

| couragement of cooperative move
ments to the end that the farmers and
producers may receive the highest
possible price for their products.
Improved Revenue Collection
| Our aim for the future should ex-
press itself in improved methods in
assessment and collection Of revenue.
An amendment to the constitution
permitting the assessment at proper
rates Of the great class of intangible
properties; a more equitable assess.
ment of property as between the diff
ferent counties; coordination of the
various departments of the state; an
elimination of expense incident to du-
plication of work, AMI finally the sys-
tematizing of our work so that many
positions, now hardly necessary. NAV
be abolished.
Higher Type Of Citizenship
1t is essentially the part of good
government, insofar as laws and gov
ernmental regulations can do so, to
create the highest possible type of
citizenship, having due regard for
the physical AMI spiritual welfare of
all the people. The work of a we'll
organized and efficient health depart
ment cannot be dispensed with. I'm
proved sanitation and general health
conditions result always in increased
capacity for efficient labor, giving to
every one a clearer conception of
LIES duties, and the ability to per-
form them.
Educational Problems
AS component part of this great
republic we must give serious con-
sideration to educational problems, if
we would preserve for all time the
democracy of our institutions. In a
country whose government derives
its just powers from the consent of
the governed" a country where the
voice Of the people, directly, and
through chosen representatives, be-
comes the real law of the land. the
necessity for an educated citizenship
| is more pronounced. l feel that we
are to be congratulated upon an awak-
ened interest in the great cause OF
popular education. Our national leg
islature is now considering the ques-
ton of national aid to our public
schools and acting on the same prin-
ciple our state must eventually aid
the counties in similar manner. The
day for proyincialism is past, the
time for larger conception of our OBJ
legation is upon us. The richer sec
lions of our country have drawn their
wealth, not only from their immediate
surroundings, but from every state In
the Union. The more aff1uent COM
munities in Florida, having done the
same thing, cannot say that the edu-
cation of the people in less forward
communities, is no concern of theirs.
We have recognized this principle in
the one mill constitutional school tax
and we should more adequately OBJ
serve it in the future.
Higher Institutions
| Let us adequately support our in
situations of higher. learning. l glory
in the great work they are doing and
am much impressed with the ever
widening fields of activity which they
are opening up to the lasting good of
the state. / hope the time may soon
come when we shall hear no more
that inadequate facilities must be
plead as an excuse for turning away
from their doors so many of the
youths of the state knocking for adj
mission. Our real educational prob
lem today, however, is with our rural
schools. The overwhelming percent
age of our future citizenship is now
attending the country school. Trying,
as best they can to equip themselves
! for life's duties in a school whose
term is, in many counties, not more
than four months a year, and of times
presided over by poorly paid, incom-
petent teachers. 1t is the rural school
problem which is beginning to attract
the attention of our national govern
ment and whatever plan may be un-
dertaken must find in our state re-
sponsive partner in the great work.
State and Federal Relations
| And finally we should aim to main
tain our democratic institutions and
a government that is jealous of all
the rights of the state but at the same
time is broad enough to realize that
the federal constitution must also be
given ready obedience and respect. A
government that guarantees to every
citizen the weakest and the strongest
alike, equal and exact justice before
the law and that stands always ready
to make good that guarantee; a gov
eminent, too, that offers to every citi-
zen, the weakest and strongest alike,
a fair and impartial opportunity to
exercise his inalienable rights Of life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness
circumscribed only by just consid-
Grafton for, the rights of his fellow
men. A government that is strong
enough fearless and fair enough to
make every citizen, the strongest and
the weakest alike, obey the law and
respect the constitution under which
he lives. Without this obedience to
law and order and this sort of respect
for constituted authority, the fairest
and strongest government that human
intelligence could conceive and human
energy direct, must ultimately fall a
prey to its own internal anarchistic
tendencies.
Conclusion
have spoken perhaps too much at
length, but now that the obligation
of great Office is mine find much
difficulty in giving full expression to