Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1927-01-13
Governor Mclean to
the General Assembly
Recommends $3O,OOO,OOO for High
ways and Asks for Million Increase
in School Equalization Fund
PRAISES EXECUTIVE BUDGET
Biennial Message Contains Many
Recommendation

u
was. the governors second and last
general legislative message, and it's
contents covered an epoch in North
Carolina history. He reviewed the
first two years of his administration
and made recommendation for the
last two. He recommended a bond
issue of S30,00O,0OO for roads, urged
expansion of the public school system
and institutions of higher learning,
and stressed the Importance of con-
tanuation of the executive budget.
Text of Message
The message in part is as follows:
Mr.. President, Mr.. Speaker and Men,
bers of the General Assembly:
The constitution of North Caro-
INA provides that the governor shall,
upon the convening of each session
OF the general assembly, communi-
cate to it, in the form of a message,
information concerning the affairs of
state, together with such recommen-
dations as, in his judgment, are ne
cessary and expedient. This man.
date of our constitution has been
strictly adhered to by my predeces-
sOrs in office and it now affords me
sense of pleasure entirely without
affection to appear before this hon
orable body of able and patriotic
representatives fresh from the peo-
pie of North Carolina Also, | feel
deep sense of obligation.
With the convening of this general
assembly, one-half of my term as
governor has expired. | come to give
an account of my stewardship to you
and. through you, to the real and
only sovereigns in free state-the
people themselves. To them l, as the
chief executive officer of North Caro-
lima, am directly RESPONSIBLE, even as
you, constituting another coordinate
branch of our government, are also
responsible. Together, we owe them
a double responsibility, l as their
chosen spokesman, elected to recon-
mend for your consideration what |
conceive to be best for them, and
you as the body that enacts these
into laws and stat
utes for their goverance or that re-
poets them, as the case may be. My
powers are only recommendatory
Coercion is not one of the prerogra-
tive of the governor of North Caro-
lima, nor would have it SUCH
So, in the midst of my term of Of
flee, having faithfully endeavored to
put into impartial and unselfish prac-
tice the policies enacted into law by
your predecessors, two years ago,
/ come to give an account Of what
has been done and to make recon-
mendations for the future. | ask you
to pass judgment on behalf of the
people that elected us and be govern
ed in your deliberations by the ver-
diet you shall reach when you shall
have weighed the results | shall en-
deavor to place before you on this
occasion.
In the performance of the tasks
that have been imposed upon me, my
faith has at no time been dimmed.
There have been handicaps, of course,
but these have only served to
my determination TO do
the best | could for our people who,
when they elected me, elected your
predecessors TO receive whatever re-
commentators should make. Prac-
tically all of the measures | asked for
during the session of the general as
sembly of 1925 had been discussed
by me in my campaign. Of course,
emergencies that arose during the
session prompted some recommen-
dations that did not directly const1-
tute part of my platform when
seeking office. Yet, these fitted in,
as saw it, with the general policies
| had advocated.
| have striven to hold fast to the
vision-of still greater state, peo-
pied by happy and prosperous cltl-
zens. Spiritual values must never be
minimized. They must always be
brought into coordination with prog
ress and never divorced from it.
Idealism without practicabillty is
vain thing. But in our practlces. we
must always hold an ideal IN view;
II is my earnest prayer that the kind
that has permitted us to
become a great state will deliver us
from selfishness and keep us !ar
from the path of mercenary materlal-
ism.
Centlemen-and / take this occa-
sion to recognize the member OF the
onnosite sex who sits in your midst
are at the threshold of a most
;r,nor,.ant session. The results OF
YOUR deliberations when finally trans
lated into action should contribute
in large measure to the advancement,
general welfare and happiness OF the
neople of our beloved commonwealth;
/ have faith in yyou. that you ylll
interpret into legislation the e.E Rres1ne eoyne
needs of the state, as they shall come
to your attention; that you WIN
tboughtfully and tactfully shape such
policies for the next bienniqm as Will Will
make for the great well-being OF
North Carolina. . 20
shall not at this time attempt TO
discuss fully the fiscal affairs OF the
state. These will be presented TO
you later in the session, s.saa alio i s4ms +his
special matters not discussed IN 'his
The general assembly OF 1879
made great record of constructive
,Continued on Page Two)