Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-30

real and substantial results, if he
is given a term of only two years
and is to face a campaign for re-
election before his work can be halt
done.
In like manner, I believe that
the term of the members of the
general assembly should be m;>de
four years, instead of two, and that
we should have biennial instead of
annual sessions of the general as
sembly.
Four Year Election Endorsed
''If this system is adopted, we can
elect a governor and the members
of the general assembly and all 9TH
er officers, state and federal, on one
and the same election day. and have
but one election every four years
and in WHICH we would vote for all
officers from president to coroner.
81 believe that this step will serve
to secure a larger and more repre-
sentative vote of our people, and
will give us q more stable and re-
sponsive government.
I'm this connection, I recommend
that the annual sessions of the gen.
eral assembly be changed from the
fourth Wednesday in June of each
year, until the first Wednesday of
January in each year. [ believe that
when the governor and the general
assembly elected in November of the
preceding year are installed at the
first Of January following, our gov
eminent will be more immediate re-
sponsive to the will of the people.
and without unnecessary delay or
long hangover terms. Once the leg
iSlature has met in January, it is
my judgment that it should both
organize and transact all of its bust
ne;:. without wasting either time or
en:rsy in an adjournment over to
the summer period.
1.-The constitution provides that
the governor shall take care that
the laws are faithfully executed and
shall be the CONSERVATION Of the
peace The fact is, however, that
while the governor is clothed with
constitutional responsibility in this
respect, he has very little power. He
can do nothing, no matter how out
rageously the peace is in danger or
the laws are violated, except to call
out the state militia, under proper
request being made therefor by Ger
tain civil authorities. In order that
the governor may be enabled to per-
form his duties, under his oath of
office and under the constitutional
provision above referred to, I make
the following specific recommended
tons:
State Police Endorsed
''1. That small body of state
constables or policemen, to be APP
pointed by the governor and sub
ject to his authority alone, shall be
provided for and that the governor
shall be given broad power to use
the police force so established in
any section of the state where, in
his jlrlCn ent, it is necessary to en-
,MOy them in order to conserve the
peace or executive laws of the state.
II make this recommendation
without any intention or purpose to
reflect upon our present mil tary
forces. The national guard, as at
present constituted, is an eXcep-
tionally fine body, and is, in my
opinion, in the most, efficient and
serviceable condition that it has ever
been in the history of the state.
But there are many acts of lawless-
ness and violence which the ma
tional guard cannot be employed to
prevent, and there are many occa- |
siOns when conservation of the
peace requires the employment of a
much smaller and more mobile force |
than the troops of, the state!
80. I recommend that the cover !
nor of the state be given the same !
power as is given to the governor |
of many of. the states to suspend or |
remove a sheriff or peace officer
who, IN the judgment of the COVER
nor, is guilty of such breach of duty !
as to require such action.
Opposes Masked Activities
eve have no room in Georgia for
invisible government of any kind or
character.
Government in Georgia should be
in tie open and above-board. [ have
no objection to the existence of Sc
cret fratelral organizations, whose
sole pur! ose and practice is the
cultivation CT civic virtues and So
cia! relations; but [ do object, with
all of the force and emphasis Of
which I am CAPABLE, to any secret
organization that assumes to censor
the conduct of ether persons or to
sit in judgment upon their actions.
Men who follow such practices are
themselves the worst of criminals,